Immigration reform church goal, cardinal says

ElPasoTimes ^

[Happy2BMe]

Immigration reform church goal, cardinal says

Louie Gilot
El Paso Times

The time for immigration reform has come, U.S. and Mexican Catholic workers assembled in El Paso said as the groundbreaking Binational Migration Conference opened Thursday.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., said the church owes it to its Hispanic faithful to push for change, as high-profile delegates gathered at the Camino Real Hotel.

"The church in the United States is very, very Hispanic and what a blessing that is. They (Hispanic immigrants) come with the values that are so needed in the United States today. When there is a moral issue that concerns so many of our people, we have to speak," McCarrick said, alternating between English and Spanish. "This is a special moment in the history of the Catholic church and the history of migration."

About 150 diocesan staff members attended the first day of the conference, the first ever along the U.S.-Mexico border. The conference will end Saturday.

Cynthia Colbert, the executive director of Catholic Charities for Central Texas, said she wanted to hear about strategies she can use back home in Austin. "We want to support the campaign (for immigration reform) through educating our own community on the benefits of immigration for all of us. It's a social justice issue for our brothers and sisters," she said.

In a training session Thursday, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops representatives outlined their plan for reform, which included:

• A path toward legalization for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
  
  
• Permits for immigrants to work legally in the United States.
  
  
• Expedited family reunification. Now, processing of reunification visas can take five years.
  
  San Bernardino, Calif., Bishop Gerald Barnes, chairman of the conference's migration committee, said, "The status quo is unacceptable."
  
  McCarrick's keynote speech after dinner dealt with migration, including from the standpoint of the Gospels, the church and the bishops' conferences.
  
  "The simple truth is clear: We must welcome the stranger, for in his or her face we see Christ," McCarrick said. "Sadly, the migration experience today, according to the bishops of both countries, is far from the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed."
  
  The conference started with a tour of the El Paso Processing Center, the immigration jail at Montana Avenue and Hawkins Boulevard, for the bishops of El Paso, Tucson and Orlando, Fla., and 27 other Catholic workers.
  
  "This is probably one of the best facilities in the country," said Ouisa Davis, executive director of the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. "We wanted them to see how it can be done. ... So they have a basis of comparison when they go back to their sectors."
  

[Happy2BMe]

Boldness reaches new heights in the Catholic Church's alliance with illegal alien immigration.

[Happy2BMe]

The "STATUS QUO" is unacceptable . .

(The Illegal Alien Immigration Gospel according to the Catholic Church?)

=====================================================

In a training session Thursday, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops representatives outlined their plan for reform, which included:

• A path toward legalization for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
  
  
• Permits for immigrants to work legally in the United States.
  
  
• Expedited family reunification. Now, processing of reunification visas can take five years.
  
  San Bernardino, Calif., Bishop Gerald Barnes, chairman of the conference's migration committee, said, "The status quo is unacceptable."
  

[HiJinx]

Status Quo?

[Pyro7480]

I'm Catholic, and I disagree with the Cardinal. He's forwarding his personal opinion, and it's no more valid than mine in this instance. However, the Church bureaucracy is supporting his stance. That is a problem.

[William Terrell]

In the war on illegal immigration and the effects of same Balkanizing a once united America, it appears that the Catholic church is an enemy.

[Lobbyist]

It's the American version of Liberation Theology. Read what Cardinal Ratzinger wrote about these people.

http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/ratzinger/liberationtheol.htm

[blackie]

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Be Ever Vigilant!

Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!

[DumpsterDiver]

"The church in the United States is very, very Hispanic and what a blessing that is. They (Hispanic immigrants) come with the values that are so needed in the United States today. When there is a moral issue that concerns so many of our people, we have to speak," McCarrick said, alternating between English and Spanish. "This is a special moment in the history of the Catholic church and the history of migration."

"The church in the United States is very, very Hispanic much in favor of illegal aliens (if they're Catholics) and what a blessing that is for our collection plates. They (Hispanic illegal aliens) come with the values (i.e. disrespect for the law) that are so needed in the United States today. When there is a moral issue that concerns so many of our law-breaking people, we have to speak out in favor of their values," McCarrick said, alternating between English and Spanish. "This is a special moment in the history of the money hungry Catholic church and the history of illegal migration."

The "Church" needs an attitude adjustment.

[KittyKares]

I'm Catholic, too, and don't agree with this. Maybe any donation checks we sign should read "Not for political purposes"

[Happy2BMe]

"In the war on illegal immigration and the effects of same Balkanizing a once united America, it appears that the Catholic church is an enemy."

==================

It appears Pope John Paul's successor has some housecleaning to do - he must act and act swiftly on this matter. He cannot remain silent on this. It is a precedent that must not be allowed to stand.

(Surely the Church has learned from being silent during the genocides of Nazi Germany that sins of ommission are as great as sins of commission.)

[HiJinx]

Here's what the new Pope said in '84 in an introductory letter about Liberation Theology, which is what the conclave posited above is pushing:

The very radicality of liberation theology means that its seriousness is often underestimated, since it does not fit into any of the accepted categories of heresy; its fundamental concern cannot be detected by the existing range of standard questions.

Pretty strong stuff. In the article linked at post 7(?), Ratzinger links Liberation Theology with Marxism.

[Pyro7480]

If you're going to criticize the Catholic Church for being "silent" at the time, then you have to criticize several other parties, our government for example.

[Pyro7480]

Given your past comments, you already thought that before this issue came up.

[Happy2BMe]

The very radicality of liberation theology means that its seriousness is often underestimated, since it does not fit into any of the accepted categories of heresy . .

==================================

I've never seen the Catholic Church take such an openly political and volatile stand on such a distant issue from the core of Church theology. This is purely political - any spiritual good anyone thinks would come of this will be shadowed by the politically-driven aspect of it.

[Happy2BMe]

A FReeper's Guide To Immigration Reform

[HiJinx]

If you've paid any attention to Happy's posts over the last 5-6 months, you'll see that Happy has been an extremely vocal critic of our government.

In the case of this thread, the subject of the article is a group within the Catholic Church that the current Pope has come this close to calling heretics. See post 6.

[Happy2BMe]

The last time I checked this was still a government that was created to protect the citizens of The United States of America and the Catholic Church was created to spread The Gospel throughout the ends of the earth.

Let me know what has changed.

[Pyro7480]

Nothing should have changed. But it has. The Catholic hierarchy in the U.S., to a certain extent, are a bunch of pedophile-abetting, illegal-immigrant supporting, fools. What Catholics have to remember, though, is that they have to respect the office of bishop, and not necessarily the person in the office.

[Happy2BMe]

Thank you for your thoughts.

I cannot however respect an entity that propagates a form of subversion that essentially advocates an invasion of illegal aliens into this (or any other) country.

This at best is heresy and at worst is treason.

[sinkspur]

It appears Pope John Paul's successor has some housecleaning to do - he must act and act swiftly on this matter. He cannot remain silent on this. It is a precedent that must not be allowed to stand.

This is an issue that Benedict XVI will allow the US bishops a lot of leeway on.

If he were pressed on it, it's likely that Benedict would agree with McCarrick.

[Pyro7480]

As long as your criticism is directed towards the bureaucracy and not toward the belief system, I agree with you.

[ozarkgirl]

I have an idea for the Catholic Church, why don't they work with Mexico and the citizens there to make Mexico a wonderful place to live and stay with their families? If they truly have compassion, I think that would be the better way to go.

[backtothestreets]

I'm shocked! Rather then taking a stance against the Mexican government and widespread corruption that makes migration the only hope of most of these people, the Catholic Church is seeking ways for other countries, in this instance ours, to accommodate the problem. They need to take another look at the problem, and look to the cause.

[stevio]

I have an idea for the Catholic Church, why don't they work with Mexico and the citizens there to make Mexico a wonderful place to live and stay with their families?

I've asked that question to myself and others who would listen many times. It's almost like the rest of the world is Hell and America is Heaven.

[William Terrell]

If the Pope does nothing, or actively supports illegals, and with the normalization/protection of homosexuals insurgence into the Church, the Church could be lose a lot of political capital, if not face a backlash.

[zerosix]

To quote Robert (sheets) Byrd, "Wrong, wrong!"

Catholics take one step forward and a mile backward in my opinion.

[William Terrell]

Given your past comments, you already thought that before this issue came up.

And so. . .? I support the Catholic Church when it supports the integrity of America. Unhappily, I haven't seen a lot of that behavioral policy from the leadership.

[Pyro7480]

There is a difference between the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and the larger Catholic Church, fyi.

[Plutarch]

They (Hispanic immigrants) come with the values that are so needed in the United States today.

This is a temporal matter, not spiritual. This is the business neither or the Cardinal nor the RCC.

[Happy2BMe]

"This is the business neither or the Cardinal nor the RCC."

==============================

I'm sure if Christ were at those meetings he would quietly leave through the closest available exit.

[William Terrell]

Whatever the source within the Catholic Church structure that actually affects the debate and the actions recommended couldn't mean anything. The leading edge is all the public and the political process sees.

Which shot from behind which bush doesn't matter to the deer. All it knows is that it's shot.

[janetgreen]

Expedited family reunification.

It would be in America's (and Mexico's) best interests if "family reunification" occurred in Mexico.

[janetgreen]

BTTT!

[William Terrell]

I'm sure if Christ were at those meetings he would quietly leave through the closest available exit.

You know, Paul, in his letters, had to deal with human agency, human blindness and human corruption, even then.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

bump

[Travis McGee]

The Cardinals and Bishops would be better served by getting their own house in order, and rooting out the homosexual pederast priests.

---

U.S. Constitution Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[swampfox98]

He can say that but I live in a different world and it just isn't happening. Catholic Churches in our area are bringing illegals in by the hundreds of thousands, giving them something called a maticular ID card, and daring the citizens to complain when we tax payers have paid the bills for the 10th baby for the thousands of Mexican mamas.

And I'll tell you another thing. They (illegals) are an arrogant bunch, telling us they are here and they intend to stay and we'd better get used to it. They know they have the power of the Church behind them and the newspapers are on their side. The American citizens are the ones living under siege.

[California Patriot]

Can't wait until this liberal idiot retires.

Go back to sleep, Cardinal.

[DLfromthedesert]

Hmmm; I wonder if that police officer in Colorado looked into the face of the illegal who killed him and saw Christ.

[Happy2BMe]

" I wonder if that police officer in Colorado looked into the face of the illegal who killed him and saw Christ."

========================================

I strongly believe that politics is the realm of power that crucified Christ. The gluttonous, slithering, writhing filth of mankind is woven deep into the fiber of politics.

That is why Christ instructed to "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's."

This Cardinal and those propagating the demise of the United States through a deliberate and gradual siphoning off of her national strength and wealth are doing no more than exercising political power which means little or nothing to the "Great Commission" to which they profess to have been called to in the first place.

Christ called them "Hypocrites" and "Ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing."

[Conservative til I die]

Cynthia Colbert, the executive director of Catholic Charities for Central Texas, said she wanted to hear about strategies she can use back home in Austin. "We want to support the campaign (for immigration reform) through educating our own community on the benefits of immigration for all of us. It's a social justice issue for our brothers and sisters," she said.

McMoron sounds like he's looking for acceptance from the tolerance/diversity crowd. He can't retire soon enough. And watch out for the "social justice" mention. Sure sign that these people are not our friends.

[Conservative til I die]

(Surely the Church has learned from being silent during the genocides of Nazi Germany that sins of ommission are as great as sins of commission.)

Good lord. The Church saved about a million Jews during the Holocaust. How many did you? Yeah, I thought so.

I hate when Catholic news is brought up in the regular forums. The Know Nothings crawl out of their dung heaps in droves.

[Conservative til I die]

Thank you for your thoughts. I cannot however respect an entity that propagates a form of subversion that essentially advocates an invasion of illegal aliens into this (or any other) country. This at best is heresy and at worst is treason.

Whether you are correct or not in your position here, I won't argue, though you're generally in the right.

However, I will say is that language about "subversion" has been oft used to denigrate Catholics throughout American history.

[Conservative til I die]

Catholics take one step forward and a mile backward in my opinion.

Well, you'll be glad to know us Catholics (all billion + of us) don't really hinge our belief system on how zerosix might take it.

[Happy2BMe]

Didn't the Church issue an apology to Israel a few years back for remaining silent during the Nazi occupation of Germany during the years leading up to WWII, the WWII years, and the attempted genocide of Adolph Hitler on the Jewish race?

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Some info:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1323573/posts

[Barnacle]

"The very radicality of liberation theology means that its seriousness is often underestimated, since it does not fit into any of the accepted categories of heresy; its fundamental concern cannot be detected by the existing range of standard questions."

Pretty strong stuff. In the article linked at post 7(?), Ratzinger links Liberation Theology with Marxism.

Wow! That is brilliant. It describes the very frustration we face in debating against Liberalism (Leftism) in general. Regrettably, the Leftists know it too. That's is why, when debating ideas with a Leftist, I invite them to present their solutions in full, thereby exposing the many flaws of their reasoning. Only then, can their false concepts be shot like fish in a barrel.

Also, I agree with Pope Benedict that Liberalism (Leftism) indeed has its roots in Marxism, and thus is intrinsically evil.

Thanks for you post. I am heartened by that quote from our pope and am considering adding it to my home page.

Best Freegards.
Barnacle

[Barnacle]

Didn't the Church issue an apology to Israel a few years back for remaining silent during the Nazi occupation of Germany during the years leading up to WWII, the WWII years, and the attempted genocide of Adolph Hitler on the Jewish race?

If it wasn't noisy enough for your taste, it was because the pope knew any more objection would result in more deaths of innocents in the occupied countries. As just one example, 3,000 Polish priest were murdered in concentration camps.

If you have any doubt about the role of the Catholic Church saving Jews from Nazis during World War II, contemplate this... The head Rabi of Rome converted to Catholicism at the end of the war.

[Happy2BMe]

"The head Rabi of Rome converted to Catholicism at the end of the war."

============================

O.K., that is good to know.

[mthom]

"Ratzinger links Liberation Theology with Marxism."

I dont think they ever tried to hide that fact.