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?”

[Raycpa]

Personally if you want to give over your entire paycheck to fund illegal immigration that's your personal choice.

Who is your neighbor Jesus asked. Yes, even those illegal aliens are your neighbor. How you treat them is how you will be treated by Jesus. When I was hungry, etc.

[Singermom]

Yes, by all means care for your neighbor BUT that is for individuals to do NOT the government.

[Singermom]

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

Really? Where?

[Singermom]

By the way, thanks for your response.

[Raycpa]

Really? Where?

Exodus 22: 21 "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.

Leviticus 19: 33 " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 14: 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 16: 13 Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.

Deuteronomy 24 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.

Ezekiel 47: 21 "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign LORD.

Malachi 3: 5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

[Singermom]

Very interesting reply.

Theologically your choices stated that we, as christian people, are to reflect our Lord in all we do. Your biblical point is that back then God wanted it to become know that we, as christians, treat all people with justice and kindness as a witness of a loving and caring God.

We, as Godly people, treat all with respect and care. As a personal ideology is great. However, in today's society what has happened is that Illegal Immigrants are flooding our nation. They are NOT obeying our laws. We are a nation of laws. Without adherence to them we have anarchy.

Actually your attitude is unfair to those who do follow the rules and laws. Would God be pleased with that? According to you allowing Illegals to come in ahead of those who obey the laws is OK. I say no.

You can be a christian person and treat others as God would have us to do. But, it is wrong to allow illegal behavior.

Would you do the same for your child? If they are disobeyiing the laws would you not try to stop the poor behavior? You would still love them as Christ loves you, but they have to obey the rules. So do the people comming here illegally.

[kidd]

Want to drive the libs nuts?

Insist that illegal alien workers belong to a closed union shop. That would dry up the demand for illegals overnight.

[Raycpa]

You want to ignore God, go ahead but be advised you are rationalizing and making the words mean what you want them to mean. Its folks like you that rewrite the bible so that it supports homosexual behavior, abortion etc.

[Singermom]

In Exodus 22:19 it says, "Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death." and 20 "Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed."

Lev. 19: 27 says, "Do not cut the hair at the sides of yur head or clip off the edges of your beard."

Do you follow those rules as well? Or are you selective when it comes to following the rules of the OT? I could give you more examples, but I think you get the idea. If you shave are you going against God? Of course not. THe point is as I said before.

The reason scriptures say that about aliens is to show that those that follow God are a generous and caring people. It is to show that GOd is a benevolent God.

It does NOT mean that we should be over run with those chosing to break our laws.

[Raycpa]

Well, Jesus expanded on many of the laws and the ones dealing with neighbor's he made even stronger in the NT.

As far as the laws of Moses, these were agreed to in advance by the Hebrews. They were not forced on them by God. God has made it clear what his stance is on aliens, Malachi 3: (the last prophet in the OT) makes it clear that the Lord said he will testify against those who oppress and deprive aliens of justice.

I agree that Christians are no longer subject to the law except that which is contained in Acts 15. This new law is written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and it is founded in love. Jesus gave us the most important commandment and it is to love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. The second he said is like the first and it is to love your neighbor as yourself.

If you can demonstrate how deporting your neighbor demonstrates love for that neighbor then I would love to hear it. In fact, you sound a bit like the Jews who hated the Samaritans.

[Singermom]

Interesting. And what if the whole world wanted to come in. We would not be able to sustain that. I work where many form other countries come to study. Many of them would like to stay too, but the I-20 states that they must return to fulfill the contract. It is a struggle for many of them. Obey the rules or ignore the rules. What do you think is most ethical?

Also, what does citizenship mean then? If all can ignore the laws why have citizenship at all? After all, aren't we all citizens of the world?

What about sovernty?

What other laws are we allowed to ignore?


You wrote,"he will testify against those who oppress and deprive aliens of justice." what is meant by justice? Is is right for others to disobey the laws of others? God has placed government over us to maintain order in our society. How does giving those here illegally all of the rights of citizenship following that part.

We are a generous people. Please feel free to sponsor a person or adopt a child from another country. Then the payment for all of their bills falls on you and not society. That's why those exceptions are available.But ignoring our laws and forcing society to pay for the needs of the entire world who would like to immigrate here is not reasonable.

[Raycpa]

They thought the guy who said this was unreasonable too

Matthew 5:43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you,

[Singermom]

The rest of that verse is "that you mat be sons of your Father in heaven".

In other words, do good so that others may glorify your Father in heaven.

It, again, has to do with showing that our Father is loving and caring.

[Raycpa]

So, what your saying is that it doesn't apply ?

[monkeywrench]

God was the one who instituted borders, in the first place. He also instituted laws against theft and disobedience to the laws of the land. He made govts. Mexicans have their own govt., just as we have ours.

[Raycpa]

God was the one who instituted borders, in the first place. He also instituted laws against theft and disobedience to the laws of the land. He made govts. Mexicans have their own govt., just as we have ours.

Do you have other scripture that shows God changed how he wants aliens to be treated? We have many laws that are immoral and not according to the bible. When a law is immoral we are required to try and change it.

In your view we should never try to change abortion laws.

[monkeywrench]

The kindest thing to do for illegals is to send them home. There are many changes needed there. We can't do that for them. We owe our own families first. "Jerusalem first". Then the world.

God's principles never change. Allowing the criminality south of us, and allowing it to come here, is cruel to those we owe protections to.

[eleni121]

Must be the CC is losing parishoners big time.

Bishops should concentrate on making the attempt to clean the Augean stables from within... admit and confess the great sin of child sexual abuse AT THE HANDS OF THEIR PRIESTS!

Then they need to go down to Mexico and help keep the people there...and help the church there to solve their problems.

[savedbygrace]

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

So, what have you done to date working toward changing the law in this regard? Please be specific.

[WalterSkinner]

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD

Look at the context of those verses Ray.

Israel was a Theocracy, there was no division between spiritual and civil matters.

As a consititutional republic, there is a division-- we should render to Caesar (figuratively) those things which apply to law and civil authority--and for people of faith, render to God the things that are God's.

The problem many people have is distinguishing between the two kingdoms which exist in this present age.