Was Baby Jesus an Illegal Immigrant?

The American Spectator ^ | 12.23.11 | Mark Tooley

[moonshinner_09]

At Christmas time, should the Nativity story be interpreted as a tale of solidarity with illegal immigrants? Some religious voices, anxious to push some version of liberalized immigration policy as a Christian imperative, describe Jesus and the Holy Family as the most premier of illegal immigrants.

One recent blogger for the Progressive Christian Alliance even crafted a novelette called "Christmas Undocumented: Anunciación" about a pregnant 14-year-old girl named Ave who is smuggled across the Texas border so she can get to her boyfriend in Alabama. First, she visits her cousin Isabella in San Antonio, who "leaps" for joy when hearing about the pregnancy. Only the first installment of the story has been released, but presumably Alabama's new immigration enforcement law will affect young Ave, her boyfriend, and the new baby.

A recent column for the National Catholic Reporter similarly posited that Mary and Joseph, with Baby Jesus, were akin to today's illegals by "seeking posada, or shelter" but finding no room at the inn. "The Christmas season should remind us of how Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus also represented migrants and refugees who were rejected like today's immigrants," the columnist suggested. "What if those we turn away today include Mary, Joseph and Jesus?" A cynical commenter responded: "What if the illegal aliens we reject are Herod or the soldiers who crucified Jesus?"

[Gaffer]

IIRC, he was also “homeless”......

[KarlInOhio]

Mary and Joseph were ordered by Caesar Augustus to go to Bethlehem for a census and to be taxed. Jesus wasn't an illegal - he was being audited.

[illiac]

What a stupid story.....

[montag813]

Mary and Joseph were ordered by Caesar Augustus to go to Bethlehem for a census and to be taxed. Jesus wasn't an illegal - he was being audited.

If they really were illegal they would have used someone else's identity for the census, and NEVER would have paid taxes.

[silverleaf]

LOL!

To make a contemporary story, all mexican families would be ordered to return to their land of birth for a census, and Jesus would be born in Juarez

[Breto]

Taking the name of the Lord thy God in vane is a sin... What is in vane? In vane is using it to suit your purposed not his. Using God or Jesus to advance earthly political purposes is a sin.. Warning to all you “what would Jesus do” sinners....

PS its not about what he would do its about what he teaches....

Gods blessings to all of you this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our savior.

[LibLieSlayer]

Exactly. Those that use GOD instead of worshiping HIM will pay for their misdeeds.

LLS

[JustSayNoToNannies]

its not about what he would do its about what he teaches....

It's both, since He would do as He taught.

[17th Miss Regt]

Another approach might be to say the following. Mary and Joseph were required to leave their homes and become homeless to support the government tax system. Jesus was born homeless because Mary and Joseph were taxed out of their homes by a huge government.

[drpix]

Leftist BULL$HIT!!

Here's what Jesus did say about illegal aliens:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

John 10:1

[JustSayNoToNannies]

Based on this excerpt, it looks like the lefties are simply continuing their consistent policy of refusing to acknowledge the difference between legal and illegal immigrants.

[iowamark]

Vain, not vane.

[dog breath]

I might go for a reference to Mexican illegals as being compared to the despised Samaritans since there is the theme of hostility hostility between neighbors, but the comparison of the family of Jesus as illegals is a poorly thought out theme that falls apart.

[PGR88]

IIRC, he was also “homeless”......

And a community organizer!

[ConorMacNessa]

From the Gospel According to Luke (KJV):

2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Not only were they not illegal immigrants, they were taxpayers traveling to the husband's ancestral home to be counted pursuant to an imperial decree.

Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

[Breto]

“Vain, not vane.”

Thank you. I saw that right after the post click.... should have finished my coffee

[JustSayNoToNannies]

I saw that right after the post click

Isn't it funny how much better one's self-editing skills get the instant after one clicks Post? Happens to me all the time.

[Not A Snowbird]

Beat me to it.

[Hodar]

To make a contemporary story, all mexican families would be ordered to return to their land of birth for a census, and Jesus would be born in Juarez

Good luck with the 3 Wise men and a virgin ...