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Posted on 04/28/2013 11:41:29 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
As chairman of the U.S. Bishops Migration Committee, I've been working with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the U.S. Bishops' president, and many of my brother bishops to study the new comprehensive immigration reform legislation that has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
[snip]
Because we are an immigrant Church, this debate over immigration is a debate about the future of the Church and our Catholic people. The Mexicans and other Latin Americans at the center of this debate - the millions whose fate is being decided by our politicians - are mostly fellow Catholics.
Earlier this week, the U.S. bishops held a press conference on the reform legislation, which is known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.
This bill has many of the elements the bishops are looking for. The job now is to improve this legislation so that all can come out of the shadows and are able to pursue the American Dream.
We are concerned about the border-security "triggers" in the bill. These are certain conditions that must be met before undocumented immigrants could even apply for permanent residency or citizenship.
My brother bishops and I are deeply concerned about the security and sovereignty of our country. The Church has always taught that governments have the duty to defend and secure their national borders.
I lived for many years in Texas, which has our nation's longest border with Mexico, so I know these issues first hand. I agree with the Senators who drafted this legislation - we absolutely need to secure our borders to stem the flow of drugs and crime and to reduce risks of foreign terrorists entering our country.
But I also think we need to make sure that these "triggers" don't become "moving targets."
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
“As the old joke goes, a conservationist is someone who already own a vacation home in the mountains. An evil developer is someone who wants to. That joke characterizes the immigration debate too. Those of us whose ancestors came to America for a better life effectively own the vacation home in the mountains. The Mexicans are those who want to......Let us not forget that Jesus, Joseph and Mary were immigrants, illegally fleeing their king when they fled to Egypt. “
Really...you’re going to excuse this ILLEGAL incursion on ‘bibical principals’? Pathetic!
What about that commandment...”You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
There are DOZENS of biblical quotes against illegal immigration and admonishing aliens to follow the law.
[snip]The whole concept of lawful versus unlawful entry into our nation – also the foundation of Arizona’s new SB-1070 — is based on principles of property rights that flow from the 10 Commandments. Those who violate our immigration laws by jumping the fence are stealing rights of citizenship (to live and work in America) and, in essence, coveting and stealing their neighbors’ property.
http://www.lenmunsil.com/2010/08/christian_ethics_do_not_suppor.php
BTW...I owned a home in the mountains...got run out by armed illegal alien drug cartels growing dope on your public lands!
“We are a nation if immigrants that, for the last 160 years, does not have a good track record of welcoming immigrants.”
More nonsense. The United States allows more legal immigrants than the rest of the world COMBINED! Many of whom have been very difficult to deal with...like the IRISH and the Italian crime syndicates!
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." - John 13:34
How much did Jesus love us?
How many of Norquist’s conservatives are really just *conservatism inc*. Opportunism is what is tearing this nation apart and there are plenty of opportunists in the conservative movement. Let Norquist drift off to sea, have nothing to do with him. There are other fish in the sea, as they say.
Please, please, somebody who can get to Abp. Gomez: Tell him that we need to stop the flood of PRO-ABORTION voters into our country.
“Let Norquist drift off to sea, have nothing to do with him. There are other fish in the sea, as they say.”
How do we convince all the republican politicians he has a hold over to do that?
We can’t ‘vote’ him out, you know.
Sell your phony religiosity to someone else.
I think this is an important point. Do we really expect people who break the law to suddenly become law abiding citizens when amnesty is passed? I live in the midst of illegals and some welfare recipients. I've had to pay thousands of dollars to repair property damage caused by illegals next door. I don't recall ever having to repair/replace property when citizens on public assistance lived next door. Call me biased and prejudiced if you like, but I don't see how rewarding this type of behavior will result in anything except more crime.
Also, have you heard any illegals expressing gratitude for ANYTHING? Is there ever a thanks for the leniency this country has shown? For the generosity of the US taxpayer in subsidizing their children with free food, a free education, low cost or free housing, free health care, etc? If all these freebies are unjust and discriminatory for noncitizens, just how many more benefits will it take to satisfy them as citizens?!
Millions of immigrants have entered this country and have done well. Don’t keep dredging up old history from more than a century ago. Those immigrants that we have often seen arriving at Ellis Island at the turn of the 20th century went on to make a life for themselves. Their children got an education paid for by the tax payers which gave them an opportunity to succeed in ways that their parents could not have realized back in the old country. Look at the area all around New York City, that whole area around New York and New Jersey was populated by those immigrants and their children. They have done alright for themselves.
With all due respect, how do you know his sentiments are are phony? He may be filled with more Christ-centered love than the both of us combined!
Where I disagree with him is the matter of confirming another in their sins. I don't see how it's anything else to reward someone for ongoing, long term violations of multiple laws. I don't see why the govt (or the church) gives them special status. If I can't get absolution for repeated lawbreaking, why the illegal alien? If the feds don't cut me slack for breaking the law, why do it for illegals? I don't like it when the bishops or the govt excuses some from following the rules the rest of us are supposed to follow.
Would you like to live in a community with Latino gang members spray painting their gang signs all over your garage door?
If this Mexican culture is so religious and family oriented, why are there thousands of Mexican gang members? My ethnic group is also immigrant but there are very few people involved in crime. Our neighborhoods are safe, people buy houses and improve them, they keep their streets clean and they do not drive without licenses, they do not carry multiple identities and they do not teach their children to disrespect America. We do not bite the hand that feeds us.
Being judgmental is easy for those of us not punished with being born poor in Mexico. If we were we too would seek ways to improve our lot and that of our families even if it meant sneaking into the US.
Hopefully by making our feelings known to conservative organizations that still do business with him. We are going through a transisition now where we are finding out that many of our leaders have been wolves in sheep clothing. I guess we just have to keep influencing our conservative organizations to turn away from him.
Do you know the names of conservative organizations that have left CPAC?
Perhaps you did not realize that this is the Religion Forum.
Are you saying I’m being judgmental?
With all due respect, please don't tell me what to do :) I disagree with name calling (Mt 5:22) or questioning someone's commitment to Christ (I assume that's why you put ' ' around the word Christian)
Natural Law asked a legitimate question: How did Christ love? My answer is that he loved fully but he did NOT confirm others in sinful lifestyles nor did he confiscate from one group to give to a more preferred group. He specifically said to sin no more. And he submitted to the laws of his nation. Therefore I don't see the bishops' confirmation of some in law-breaking and entitlement-seeking as necessarily Christlike.
There are about 100million people in Mexico, about 500 million in Latin America and 7 billion in the whole world. Move over you’re going to have a lot of company.
My point is that it is not completely justified to blame only the Mexicans. We have created an incredible welfare salt-lick and in doing so created the incentive and reward for illegal immigration.
Peace be with you
Many Mexican workers take jobs working in the building trades. These have always been good paying blue collar jobs. Now many American dads cannot find work in the building trades because they have been undercut by illegal labor. Why do you think that tens of thousands of Californians have left their state?
American dads also love their children and they want them to have a decent life. They also want to keep their self respect by earning a living rather than going on welfare. They want their children to have self respect and learn the work ethic from seeing their dads work everyday. They do not want their children growing up in the culture of welfare.
You hear many touching stories about Mexican parents who who want to give their children a better life but you do not hear stories of American parents who are out of work and struggling to keep their families together. Why is this? Is it because there are no American families who are in poverty? Could it be that this is because the illegal aliens have a huge industry of people helping them out, LaRaza, LULAC, MALDEF etc., etc. These organizations are being funded by the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and many other foundations and corporate sponsors. If you want to find out who some of their donnors are-there is a really long, long list—go onto www.nclr.org and see for yourself. Keep in mind that we the taxpayers are also giving money to their organizations. Workers whose jobs are being replaced by illegal workers are actually paying taxes to lobby politicians against their own best interests.
You really have to learn more about this issue.
Oh, yes, I'm in 100% agreement with you there!
On the subject of love though, one of its defining characteristics is that it's freely given. It can't be coerced or compelled. IMHO taxes to subsidize public benefits aren't reflective of love because of their compulsory nature (unless you're a government official, then payment seems to be optional). For me then, this isn't about the way Jesus loved, rather it's about serving the needs of the less fortunate without surrendering sovereignty of the nation we cherish. I don't think we need amnesty and reinforcement of criminal behavior to love as Jesus did or to serve the less fortunate in ways that please Him.
Peace be with you too :)
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