Posted on 04/29/2006 6:55:38 AM PDT by siunevada
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Several U.S. cardinals had a busy morning in Washington April 28 urging humane and compassionate immigration legislation as the Senate prepared to debate immigration reform.
The U.S. bishops want a "comprehensive reform" that deals compassionately with the millions of undocumented aliens in the United States, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington said in brief remarks at a photo opportunity between meetings on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. bishops have expressed support for many aspects of a compromise bill expected to reach the Senate floor in early May, but they are also concerned about harsh enforcement provisions in the legislation, including expedited removal of illegal aliens along the border and denial of protections to asylum seekers.
Cardinal McCarrick and Cardinals Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles and William H. Keeler of Baltimore started the day with a breakfast meeting on immigration reform with White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove and other White House aides.
Also attending that session was Vincentian Father David M. O'Connell, president of The Catholic University of America.
From the White House Cardinals Mahony and McCarrick went to Capitol Hill to meet with several senators on immigration reform legislation. Following a meeting with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston joined them and the three prelates met with Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.
A meeting with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., capped off the cardinals' Hill visit.
At a brief press conference following the meeting with Reid, Cardinal Mahony was asked his views on the proposed immigrant boycott of work and school on May 1, when demonstrations for humane immigration legislation were planned across the country. Activists working on behalf of immigrants were divided over the use of a work-school boycott as a demonstration tactic.
The cardinal said he hoped Los Angeles children would attend school that day to learn about immigration issues and write their legislators, and after school join a march planned in Los Angeles, which was to start at 4 p.m. in MacArthur Park.
During another brief media event before the cardinals' final meeting on the Hill, Frist said he hoped the Senate would be able to craft an immigration bill that would enjoy strong bipartisan support.
One of the key elements in immigration reform that the cardinals and the U.S. bishops have been working for is a program that would provide a path to citizenship for large numbers of undocumented workers already living in the United States.
The compromise bill the Senate will consider allows undocumented workers who have resided in the United States for more than five years to obtain a conditional immigrant visa and eventually permanent residency after fulfilling certain conditions; it sets more stringent rules and conditions for those who have been in the United States less than five years.
The cardinals were in Washington for the April 28 American Cardinals Dinner, an annual fund-raising event for The Catholic University of America.
Of course, most esteemed Senators and Cardinals, if one is illegal, obeying rules and regulations is not one's first inclination, is it?
Shall we all bash our foreheads against a brick wall repeatedly? It will accomplish as much good as this compromise legislation.
Not OUR foreheads....if you get my drift.
Yeah, they want all the illegals, when will they STFU and get back to what they are supposed to do. TEACH RELIGION, Christ said it "That man who enter not the front gate is a thief". now I maynot have the words exact but that is the essence of it, Look in JOHN.
The separation of church and state should cut both ways. If the cardinal wants to play politics he should register as a lobbyist and give up the cloth. It is about time we audit the church to see whether funds have been inappropriated diverted to political purposes.
Yes this is a good case for the church to stay out of state Business, as they are the ones that has caused the problem.
= AMNESTY
The Cardinals need to get their pontifical asses down to Mexico, leading protests of the flocks of faithful against the injustice of the Mexican authorities that continues to produce the poverty there.
If their political advocacy on behalf of Mexican nationalism keeps up, the non-profit status of ALL American Catholic churches should be revoked.
American conservative Catholics should be outraged at their Cardinals shilling for a Mexican nationalist political movement.
There are thousands of non-Latino legal immigrants in my local community. THEY are outraged. They thought they were immigrating their families to a just nation where they could rely in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob, which many of them left behind. They don't understand why ONE foreign language, Spanish, should be raised above English, on THEIR children; this is not what THEY came to America for.
There is a GIANT lie, in the GOP, in the Demorats and in the media. The "movement" is not for immigrants, and not particularly not for legal immigrants and most particularly not for non-Hispanic immigrants. It is a movement pushing for the right of any Latino to set foot on U.S. soil and claim, by their presence, and by nothing else, the right to be here. It is a movement to use a planted mob of immigrants to change the political framework of north America, to disregard national sovereignty and our Constitution.
It is treason.
Morning Snowman1,
I am a caholic and these alleged "kardinals" need to take their whiney liberal asses to mehico permanently.
They do not represent the majority of catholics views here in the USA.
They are nothing more than a liberal splinter group, who needs to be ex-communicated from the church.
We do not owe the illegals anything. They need to take their mehico flag waving asses back across the "rio grande."
I wonder what part of legal immigration they fail to understand?
I presume they feel special rights should be afforded to their criminal illegal entry in to the USA.
Oh by the way, F--- la raza and the pukes who are members.
As Capt "Regleg" Tyrell said, "Doin Right Ain't Got No End."
God Bless America, and our patriotic Americans and other(s) who came here legally.
America Para Siempre'
NSNR
Not when it benefits the RATS and Vatican! Just read on my local paper that the immigration problems is growing into a very serious matter. I live on a border town and INS is worried that the numbers of illegals is rapidly growing into a catastrophe! The number of illegals crossing has jump in an incredible number while our congresscritters are cowering under their beds, holding covering their ears and eyes...UGH! Expect to pay more taxes to support those who are making the journey over and those who are STILL illegally here. Our schools can't handle any more illegal children and our city hospital is busting at the seams, that includes our wallets as well...:(
Would the Cardinals consider asking their hundereds of hopstitals to provide free care for these poor illegal souls?
I hope the lawmakers told them "Your Eminences, forgiveness for sin is your business, not ours. Let the illegals repent in their home countries and join in with the Church on cleaning up the greed and corruption that made them leave in the first place."
Wow, you sure nailed that one good!
Now sit back and wait for the bushbots to call you "Nellie", "insane", and "racist" for such a simple statement of the truth.
"American conservative Catholics should be outraged at their Cardinals shilling for a Mexican nationalist political movement.
There are thousands of non-Latino legal immigrants in my local community. THEY are outraged. They thought they were immigrating their families to a just nation where they could rely in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob, which many of them left behind."
This Conservative American Catholic is outraged. How anyone can get past the ILLEGALITY of these aliens' actions from the first moment they come on our soil is beyond comprehension. This is a country of law. First, foremost and, I thought, always. If our governments, on all levels, do not enforce THE LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, then we have already lost the U.S.A.
To think that "leaders" of my church would encourage this kind of lawbreaking is outrageous and should not be tolerated by members of the church. We need to let these guys know what we believe.
Thank you cardinals.
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