Posted on 07/19/2014 8:41:01 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
Bill Donohue comments on remarks recently made by Pope Francis on the immigration crisis facing the United States:
There are those on the right and the left who have misrepresented what the pope has said about the immigration crisis. Understandably, those on both sides of this issue are unhappy with the pope’s comments, but that is no excuse for distorting them.
It may not please those on the right to learn that the pope implores Americans to care for children who have crossed the border seeking help. But that is exactly what Catholics are expected to do: to tend to the needs of the dispossessed, regardless of whether they broke the law to get here.
It may not please those on the left to learn that the pope has never said we should encourage illegal migration, or that the U.S. should adopt an open borders approach. But that is exactly what Catholics are expected to do: respect a nation’s sovereignty.
It is one thing to condemn racism and xenophobia, which the pope has done, quite another to say that the U.S. should take a laissez-faire attitude toward illegal immigration, which the pope has rejected.
In his statement on July 14, the pope explicitly said that the international community must press those countries involved to “inform the public of the dangers of the trip north and to promote development of the migrants’ countries of origin.” That is not exactly the equivalent of admonishing Americans that we need to welcome the world to our shores. Yes, the pope says we need to “help” these people, but he has never said that we need to retain them.
In short, the Catholic way is to treat all humans with equal dignity, independent of their legal status, while at the same time taking reasonable measures to secure our border.
Everyone has a right to disagree with this approach, but no one has a right to caricature what the Holy Father has said.
Once again, someone has to translate what they think the pope meant.
The implication is that we who wish to secure our borders are racist xenophobes, and it betrays a malignant attitude towards those who disagree with him.
No translation. The Pope said exactly what Donohue said he said. But it’s so hard for the haters to say anything positive about him don’t look for the truth to get out.
hehe
The Pope was misrepresented/misunderstood!
He’s one of the most visible players on the world scene. There’s no reason whatsoever he can’t clearly convey whatever meaning he intends to impart.
I think he’s just an intellectual lightweight who has no thoughts beyond platitudes. Pope Chauncey the gardener.
I admit to reading the headlines on what he says sometimes. I still wish he would be more concise.
Who said he was misunderstood?????????????????? You?
The "right" does not disagree with what the Pope said about having compassion for our fellow man, or in this case the young people illegally transiting the border.
The "right" DOES have a problem with the Pope's implied open ended commitment to caring for them.
He should have said 'feed & clothe them, and SEND THEM BACK HOME.'
The pope is welcome to take them all in at the Vatican.
I guess I miss the good old days, such as when John Paul II visited Nicaragua and publicly reprimanded that Sandinista priest who was a willing accomplice to the “Liberation theology” going on there … Each Pontiff is obviously different in temperament & knowledge, however clarity of expression is always good to hear from the Chair.
Perhaps Francis should try to get to Central America if it can help prevent this crisis from escalating to (literally) epidemic proportions.
Just remember that the headlines from the lamestream media that hate the Pope.
I wonder would the Pope be so welcoming of a like number of islamist kids camped beneath his Vatican window?
Or would they just storm the place and cut his throat?
The phrase “take care of” is the billion dollar question. Should individuals feel compassion for individuals who are helpless and innocent? Yes. Should the taxpayer pay for it? No. Should they be allowed to stay? No.
He should just be quiet because he does not live here. Let them go to Italy.
There’s the problem with this Pope. Someone always needs to come forward after the fact and make excuses for what he’s said, when it’s become clear he knows how his remarks will be interpreted and lets fly with that knowledge. Hence, I refuse to accept the excuses and “interpretations.”
The leader of the Catholic denomination’s message does get out, the later “explanations” are for this type of audience and only we see it, the media and the democrat voting Catholics see the real message from his statements.
Better yet, how about His Popeness urge other countries to “care” for these “children,” offer to pay for this help, or simply STFU?
Our national sovereignty isn’t even on his radar screen, so this isn’t his fight.
The Vatican is a huge place with lots of rooms...I say it could accommodate a thousand illegal immigrants...I mean we could send a couple of planes.
I’m all for it. Apparently the Pope’s backers are fine with his tacit encouragement for this invasion to continue.
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