Well, this Immigration issue has kicked my family square in the teeth. (settle down for a lengthy read)
I have a Cousin 5 yrs older than me. We were raised almost like sisters after my father's passing when I was 7. It was her Dad who became my surrogate father.
One of her sons, career military, met a young woman and fell in love, while stationed in Japan. After a lengthy courtship, they decided to get married 3 years ago. They want to be married in the states (don't know why this is important to them, but it is). Breaking thru the red tape to allow her to come here on a permanent basis has been a true nightmare.
FINALLY her papers have gone thru. INS is giving her exactly 90 days after arriving on U.S. soil to get married, if she intends to stay here. She's been told if she stays here 91 days without being married, she will be immediately deported. Apparently, amnesty is only being considered for Hispanics.
The Catholic Church will not grant them an exemption to the Pre Cana requirement. My Cousin is devistated that her son, the former altar boy and currently U.S. Marine, cannot be married in the church (where he was baptised). Her husband (who also happens to be my husband's cousin) has sworn that he is going to discontinue his church support. This has upset my cousin even more.
I know your prayer lists are full right now. But our family would appreciate a good word on our behalf, if you can spare the time.
1. Call whoever you know who has influence with the government.
2. Go to the Bishop, and if he won't grant an exemption, ask if 3. They can be married in a civil ceremony, live apart, and still have a church wedding after they have completed the Pre Canna.
Oh my gosh. This is what upset me the most about the immigration matter. That people who are trying to go through channels and do the right thing are given such a hard time. And then because of those restrictions (which apparently don't matter when people come here illegally), they can't be married in the church.
They could get married in a civil service and get married in the church later. Has your cousin contacted her Congressmen? They are pretty useless but we have a friend here who had a similiar situation and her friend (now husband) was coming from Ireland and Sen. Strom Thurmond worked magic.
Prayers storming heaven as I type. Surely there is a priest somewhere that will marry them. Several dioceses have 'weekend' retreats instead of pre-marriage classes. I know they are held in K.C. at the seminary there or they were a few years back.
How sad and unnecessary. This young couple is trying to do things correctly and they get kicked in the teeth.
IG, we have all the time in the world to bend a knee and ask for intercession on behalf of your cousin. It's done.
We're back from Waco, and now we're on the way out to put a facing on the front and side of my little garden. I'll report any damage.
The hail of a storm we had last night did not to tree leaves than anything else. We checked Roomey's truck, in the local garage parking lot, where it's awaiting repairs, and saw no dents from the hail. Not trees down, no branches down, just tons of leaves.
I will pray for your family over the marriage. My cousin's son is going through much the same thing, except they followed INS advice, got married, she went to Peru to be legal (her student visa was going to expire) and is still there after three long years.