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?”

[axes_of_weezles]

Sorry but I use daemons too. FreeBSD.

I take no political authority from pederasts,drunks,sodomites and Liberal Democrats.

The responder I wrote responses to opened himself up to a whole lot of self imposed criticism.

The Catholics and their tolerance of corruption and syncretism made Mexico what it is today.

Read the thread. Even other Catholics said the bishop author was wrong by current doctrine.

[axes_of_weezles]

Re: #117

When they start obeying the laws of the land, maybe.

[pacpam]

-----But the church should instruct the state on how to do its duty before God......, and by the way, there is no "separation of church and state" in the Constitution or bill of rights------

Since when does the church have a right to transfer over to the state the responsibilities THEY have accepted. Never. My reference to separation is that it is not a one way street, it goes both ways. The state shall not establish a religion, and neither shall a religion dictate to a state.

[axes_of_weezles]

RE# 118

Read Exodus 14:14/14:15

[gipper81]

The only thing they got Bishop O'Brien for was "Leaving the scene of a fatal accident". And I've never seen blood-alcohol expressed as "1.8".

This is correct, since he was "unavailable" for days. However, everyone knew he had a healthy blood-alcohol level.

[gipper81]

Why don't you come down to Houston and see the effects of this Invasion.

Exactly. It is easy for good-ol-ray to mouth off from CT, several thousand miles away. Several posters on this thread are still waiting for his address to send the next coyote vanload.

[dsc]

"Just to be clear, I was not referring to the catholic Church. As to your question, take your pick in the Middle East."

There is some entity in the Middle East that is referred to as "the church" and which controls countries?

[DLfromthedesert]

So are you telling me you have a family of illegals living in your home?

Talk to the ranchers who have their fences cut, their land strewn with human feces, etc etc

Where is that in the Bible?

[DLfromthedesert]

Thou shalt clean up thy neighbors' poop from your land.

[Raycpa]

You want to argue with God's word, go ahead. God's word says we must treat aliens as we treat ourselves.

I would treat an alien no different that any other neighbor.

Curious, how do you decide which parts of the bible to follow? Only those you agree with?

[DLfromthedesert]

First of all , President Bush is not "ruling" the country; there IS a congress and a judicial branch. This is silly; there is nothing wrong with communing with God through prayer before making an important decision. That does not imply he is infallible; no human is, and he is awre of that, too.

[Singermom]

You have this issue correct.

It has to do with the kingdom of the Right and the Left.

The Right being the Kingdom of God, the believers who practice forgiveness and Grace.

The Kingdom of the Left is the government we have set in place. We have chosen those who implement our laws. It is the government that regulates the laws that we live under. It is they who are to implement the laws. They are NOT doing their job. They even take an oath to do that and they are ignoring their duty.

It is wrong to confuse the two parts. People often do. Tolerating illegal activity (law breaking) is wrong.

Forgiving those who sin is compassionate and God-like.

[Singermom]

Treat Illegals as you would others is OK, but ignoring their illegal presence is wrong. You can forgive the law breaker, but the consequences of their illegal activity must be punished. In other words, forgive them, but according to our laws SEND THEM HOME. It is two seperate issues.

Same with a murderer. You can forgive his sin if he is repentant(Kingdom on the Right), but he still goes to jail to suffer the consequences of his sin (Kingom on the Left). Get it?

[Busywhiskers]

One more reason why scripture should be interpreted in its historical and literary context.

[Raycpa]

You can forgive the law breaker, but the consequences of their illegal activity must be punished.

That is NOT what God told Moses about aliens. It is not what Jesus says either. I'm am also sorry to report to you that theologically Christians are aliens in an alien world.

God's law requires aliens to be treated THE SAME as residents. If we apply God's laws to this then if aliens are illegal then so to are residents.

[Singermom]

You wrote, "If we apply God's laws to this then if aliens are illegal then so to are residents." What???

Christians can treat and should treat all of God's people the same, however God places our government over us to keep order in society.

That's the difference between law and gospel. Christians should always grant the gospel. God showers His grace upon us as sinful people and we should do the same to all of His people.

However there is also the law which requires punishment for wrongs. That is what death is all about. Jesus came to save us, but death is still the consequence of our sinful selves.

While by God's grace we are saved we still have the consequence of death before eternal life.

It is against the law for Illegal Immigrants to work in our country. If they want to proceed legally to come in and work that avenue is open to all. However just because we are to treat all of God's children with the grace He has afforded us does not meant that there is no consequence to their disobeying of our laws.

[Singermom]

It really is two seperate issues. The kingdom on the Right (Grace) and the kingdom on the Left (Law).

If you theory is correct then there should be no punishment for any wrongs. After all is not one wrong, or sin, the same as another?

Then we should have no jails or punishment for any wrongs.
Murderers, rapists, or any breaking of laws would not be needed.

[Singermom]

Also, what is the benefit of citizenship if any and all people of the world can come in to the USA and receive benefits that are supposed to be for citizens only?

Then let's just open up the entire world to recieve the benefits of American citizens paid for by those stupid enough to fund such nonsense.

Personally if you want to give over your entire paycheck to fund illegal immigration that's your personal choice. Just don't demand that I do the same because you think it is the right thing to do.

[Raycpa]

However there is also the law which requires punishment for wrongs. That is what death is all about. Jesus came to save us, but death is still the consequence of our sinful selves.

THe bible says it is immoral to make them illegal. I'm sorry if you don't like that but its the truth.

[Raycpa]

f you theory is correct then there should be no punishment for any wrongs. After all is not one wrong, or sin, the same as another?

We have the bible for guidance on right and wrong and the bible doesn't contradict itself. It is simply God's law that we treat them the same. Throwing them out is not the same.