Archbishop Naumann: Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the migrant, alien

CNA ^ | 02.03.06

[Coleus]

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Archbishop Naumann: Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the migrant, alien

Kansas City, Feb. 03, 2006 (CNA) - In his latest column, Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann weighed in on the volatile national immigration debate, saying that Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the stranger and the alien, not as an option--but as a responsibility.

The Archbishop wrote in regard to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Justice for Immigrants Campaign which advocates comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S.  Citing a joint pastoral letter drafted by the Bishops of the U.S. and Mexico in 2000 called, “Strangers No Longer: Together On a Journey of Hope,” Archbishop Naumann said that the Biblical Abraham himself as well as his descendents “knew what it was like to be strangers in a strange land.”

The document points out that “The key events in the history of the Chosen People of enslavement by the Egyptians and of liberation by God led to the commandments regarding strangers (Ex 23: 9; Lv 19: 33).”

“Israel’s conduct with the stranger” it continues, “is both an imitation of God and the primary, specific Old Testament manifestation of the great commandment to love one’s neighbor… the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes, who executes justice for the orphan and widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.”

“So you, too,” scripture exhorts, “must befriend the alien, for you once were aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt”(Dt 10: 17-19).

Archbishop Naumann added that “During the Christmas season, we were reminded how Jesus, Mary and Joseph were migrants and refugees, having to flee their homeland to avoid the maniacal efforts of King Herod to kill Jesus.” Likewise, “In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples when they welcome a stranger, they welcome him.”

In short, the Archbishop said that “For the American Catholic, being concerned about the plight of immigrants today is not just an option but a responsibility.”  Admitting his lack of “expertise or competence to design the precise solution for our current immigration challenges,” Archbishop Naumann said that he is “confident that if we — as Americans — set our minds and our hearts to the task, we will succeed in devising a solution that both protects our security and welcomes as many newcomers as possible who share our yearning for freedom and our desire to have the opportunity to work hard.”

Each immigrant and newcomer, he wrote, “possesses the image of God engraved on their heart. Each migrant is of such worth that Jesus Christ gave his life on Calvary for them.”  How then, the prelate closed his column, “can we ignore the plight of those who are so precious in the eyes of the Lord?”

[Coleus]

Arizona bishops release dramatic letter on immigration

[bboop]

I just love it when someone announces X is not the answer, but doesn't provide a solution. It is SO simplistic. The border fence is fine.

[willyd]

We would still welcome them to come here legally. We just want them to check in with someone and ungergo some sort of criminal background check.

[bboop]

The Bible does NOT say -- 'and when they get to your land, make sure they get welfare and medical and HUD housing and free this and that. And don't worry if they drive without a license or don't get insurance; it's not fair to ask the poor and downtrodden to follow LAWS.'

[MinuteGal]

Yep, the Bible does say welcome the stranger.

Where in the Bible does it say welcome 10 million strangers?

Leni

[Raycpa]

Whenever I try to explain this to Freepers as the reason for much of Bush's policy I get flammed. Oh well. The truth it the truth. We are called to treat the alien amoung us as our own. God's word.

[no-to-illegals]

has to be this cardinal is corrupt, and benefiting from the money being looted by the criminal aliens

[Hebrews 11:6]

Scripture also upholds the authority of the government, which in this case has established laws regulating immigration. The good Archbishop compares the USA with its immigration laws to societies which had none.

We are to extend charity appropriately. That doesn't mean ignoring laws. The Archbishop can work to change them, not flout them.

[CheyennePress]

"We would still welcome them to come here legally."


Let me fix this for you:

"We would still welcome SOME OF them to come here legally."


Much better, don't you think?

[axes_of_weezles]

So we can send bills for the Illegals to the Arizona catholic church, right?
If these bishops weren't such drunken sodomizers, they might actually interpret the Law of the Land as well as the Bible properly.
The Tucson Diocese is bankrupt because of their child molesting priests. I do not follow child molesters and sodomizers. The Phoenix Bishop was replaced after he ran over a pedestrian with a 1.8 blood alcohol.

[Adrastus]

I notice that nowhere does it mention welcoming a plague of locusts either.

with regard to those who don't seem to be able to suggests viable solutions, the word "pendejo" comes to mind.

[Raycpa]

Deuteronomy 24:13-15

14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to yo

[Coleus]

and that's why so many catholic schools around the country are closing. the middle class pay too much in taxes and can't afford parochial schools, migrants are too poor to afford the tuition, the Bishops and priests usually support democrats and social programs and ignore republicans who make school choice and vouchers as part of their platform.

So, what you have are closed Catholic schools, minorities stuck in public schools, high taxes, a bloated social service agency and abortion on demand. Not to mention open borders for the 14,000 non-Hispanics who enter our country illegally, al qaeda perhaps?

[Raycpa]

Malachi 3:4

4 “ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

He is an aider and abettor of CRIMINALS and INVADERS!


Start building the fence.

It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.

I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.

[willyd]

Why not just offer citizenship to those that can pass a criminal background check for $5000? Around 10,000,000 would pariticipate and we would have $50 Billion to finance Katrina. End the program in 6 months and deport everyone that hasn't opted for the program. It would also take that same amount from the cartels that are getting that money now to smuggle people into the States. As citizens, they can start paying taxes, stop subverting wages, purchase insurance, get deported if they don't make it through their amnesty period of say 6 years without committing any felonies. Problem solved.

[Raycpa]

Our government also condones and supports homosexual relations and abortion. Doesn't make it in accordance with God's word.

[Raycpa]

Is your argument that we cannot afford to follow God's word?

[axes_of_weezles]

In chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's Letter to the Romans, the English translation reads, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed..." (Romans 13:1-2). Clearly, this is advice to Christians to follow the laws of their nation and to respect the laws of other nations.

[Draco]

What about obeying just laws first? This is why I dissociate myself from the formal religion of my birth. I wish it had felt so strongly about preventing further pedophilia. Clean up your act, Bishops.

[willyd]

We could take $10 Billion to build the wall and distribute the other $40 Billion to the American taxpayers as a refund on the Katrina debaucle. That would certainly help our economy out as well.

[Raycpa]

If the law is contrary to God's word, it is immoral and Christians must work toward changing it.

[no-to-illegals]

I'll continue to turn away an alien as long as said alien is in the nation illegally.

I'm tired of picking up the tab for these criminals, and the truth is, in the eyes of the law, these people are criminals.

These criminals deserve no rights, yet just as our congress wants to give terrorists rights, they also seek to give these criminals rights. I forget more often than not whether the 'rule of law' exists because the 'rule of law' is completely ignored. So when the alligator turns to eat you, you will lay down and wait to be devoured? Be my guest!

[Coleus]

I don't see the word "illegal" in that bible quote. Most of us living here in the USA had family members who were once aliens.

And, the bible also quotes that we MUST obey civil authority and from the last I heard, illegal immigration, is against the law just ask any border patrol or ICE agent.

Jesus also told us to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, so I guess you love to pay high taxes, if you don't then you are not following Jesus' commands.

[axes_of_weezles]

I had that same idea about 8 months ago.
I have given up any chance of change (read hope) from the current administration. I doubt they care or even have a clue of what is happening in the hinterlands with Mexico.

[Raycpa]

I'll continue to turn away an alien as long as said alien is in the nation illegally.

Take it up with God on judgement day then.

Malachi 3:4

5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness.... And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts. 6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change;

[Raycpa]

I don't see the word "illegal" in that bible quote.

That because it applies to all aliens. You want to use clinton type parsing with God, be my guest.

[Coleus]

I'm surprised you could not understand what I wrote.

[no-to-illegals]

don't have to when an individual who want to see the law broken is supporting the law breaker and standing in front of me....and you are one of those types of persons I see...
in this case it is called aiding and abetting a criminal action. In the eyes of the law you are as guilty as the alien.

[willyd]

It makes sense to me...is there something that we are missing? It seems like a win win situation. You take money from the cartels, you finance Katrina, you increase the tax base for the federal government, you get the wall to prevent the problem from getting out of hand in the future and you make drug smuggling just a little bit harder. The economy gets a boost as well....anyone see the downside?

[bordergal]

It's called McCain/Kennedy, and that isn't going to fly.

[Raycpa]

You cited financial reasons why we must keep aliens away when God demands we treat them as we treat ourselves. You indicate we cannot follow God because we cannot afford it.

[Raycpa]

In the eyes of the law you are as guilty as the alien.

Those laws are immoral according to God. Just like the laws supporting abortion.

[no-to-illegals]

maybe this one is illegal?

most criminals use the same excuse of not understanding and of being 'not guilty'

[no-to-illegals]

okay ...now you have my attention....
what does being an illegal alien have to do with abortion?

[willyd]

You're right about that...there is no way they would let that $50000000000 slip through their fingers back to the American public. Aside from their objection to giving up that money, why would they reasonably object?

[axes_of_weezles]

Well, Gods word per the Bible says slavery, indentured servitude and polygamy are fine as well. Does that make it morally correct in todays world?

My ancestors came here to escape the catholic church and church of england, and for religious and economic freedom.

If this bothers you so much, you are free to move your mission to Mexico and make it a better place, so the illegal aliens do not have a reason to come here.

Christianity is a foreign import to Mexico.

I dont see any references to the "day of the dead" in the Bible.

[rwa265]

"has to be this cardinal is corrupt"

Archbishop Naumann is not a Cardinal. He isn't corrupt, either. While I am not sure what position to take on the immigration issue, I do know Bishop Naumann from his time in St. Louis. He is a good man and a good Bishop.

[no-to-illegals]

his support for criminals is appalling

[Iscool]

and welcomes as many newcomers as possible who share our yearning for freedom and our desire to have the opportunity to work hard.”

These folks can have freedom and work hard in their own country...

I don't see a 'Welcome' sign posted at the Vatican...That building there could house thousands of Mexicans...What's up with that, Pope???

[Raycpa]

okay ...now you have my attention.... what does being an illegal alien have to do with abortion?

Abortion is legal. Using your argument I must support it because its legal.

[Raycpa]

If you are serious about following God, you have to be accepting of all aliens.

[no-to-illegals]

maybe the Pope is like a lot of other people. He wants the US population to bow down and worship the criminal. No enforcement of the laws of the nation, no, that isn't politically correct. I think it is great everyone wants to be a US citizen but I have common sense and realize it simply is not possible. The US can't keep the world in food, clothing, or money, it is simply not possible but there are persons who want more and more and more from the people of the US and those people want the US to bend over and accept their criminal activity and be happy about it. Sorry, I wasn't brought up to respect criminals.

now watch someone try to tell me Jesus was a criminal.
Insane the world has become. Insane not wanting to hear the truth and heaven forbid someone print a cartoon in the newspaper, there will be someone running through the streets crying, 'off with the honest law abiding ones heads'

[VOYAGER]

The Tucson Diocese is bankrupt because of their child molesting priests. I do not follow child molesters and sodomizers.

The Phoenix Bishop was replaced after he ran over a pedestrian with a 1.8 blood alcohol.

Maybe this "Polly Anna" priest was in his cups again when he was contemplating his nit wit solution to this illegal invasion.

Par for the course for one who has grandiose delusions about his great amount of foresight or in his case the lack of it!

[no-to-illegals]

I don't like the abortion arguement either but a legal is a legal and an illegal is an illegal....

now think about that....it be the truth.

[theBuckwheat]

In Genesis 25, starting in verse 29, we read of the account where Esau sold his priceless birthright for a meal. The account ends in verse 34, "...So Esau despised his birthright."

The lesson of Esau is to not treat carelessly what God has given. Esau did not exercise *due care*. He was negligent. Once gone, because of his negligence, God allowed his example to stand as a warning for all humanity instead of restoring what he traded for so little.

When it came time for Issac to convey the blessing of the birthright to Jacob, Esau wept because of what he had done (Gen 27:38)

Many well-meaning people, like this cleric, are ignorant of the lesson of how Esau despised his blessing. They want the US gov't to allow anyone to come into our country. If we do so, we are not exercising *due care* about who is here and who is not. It is not that we don't want everyone to be as prosperous as we are. Indeed, if Mexico was prosperous, a lot of Mexicans who are in the US would want to go home.

Once people are here, it is easy for them to hide out and work for cash. It is just a lot better for everyone if we control our borders and carefully control how many we let in. That is prudent.

The countries of France and Denmark right now are alight because they allowed far more people in than could be assimilated. Let the clerics work to improve Mexico rather than to import Mexicans to the US. If we don't stop the flood, some day we may regret with tears that we sold our birthright for cheap day-laborers.

[itsahoot]

If the law is contrary to God's word, it is immoral and Christians must work toward changing it.

Feel free to go to Iran or some other friendly place, actually just try imigrating to Mexico, it ain't easy.

[primeval patriot]

If you are serious about following God, you have to be accepting of all aliens.

I think I'm gonna hurl.

[axes_of_weezles]

Well, then I guess you wont mind if I drive down to Nogales with a few printed posters in spanish with directions to your house, your telephone number, your social security number, and of course everyone is welcome.

If you think that enforcing border laws are immoral, then you should have no troubles absorbing 35 million in your house.

King Herod is not after their babies. They do not fear for their lives. They are coming for the almighty dollar. They know coming here is illegal.

Of course the Catholic church has some obtuse doctrines, that happens when you cannot escape corruption.

So, what do these fine Bishops of the Catholic church have to say about sodomy? I trust they are 100% behind the current Pope.

Don't make me pay for your moral absolutism. God helps those that help themselves. Mexico is an oil and gas producing country. They have no reason for being in "El Norte". There is food clothing and shelter, and plenty of natural resources in Mexico to support and sustain the entire population. The reason they are coming here is the legacy of the Spanish and the Catholic church and the corruption both spawned and endures to this day in Mexico.

If the Catholics want to provide for indigent Mexicans they can empty the coffers of the Vatican. It's immoral/amoral for the Catholics to have someone else pay for the mistakes of the Catholic church.

God helps those that help themselves.

[itsahoot]

You indicate we cannot follow God because we cannot afford it.

Give all you have to the poor and follow me.....Have you done that one yet?