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?”

[Coleus]

Arizona bishops release dramatic letter on immigration

[bboop]

I just love it when someone announces X is not the answer, but doesn't provide a solution. It is SO simplistic. The border fence is fine.

[willyd]

We would still welcome them to come here legally. We just want them to check in with someone and ungergo some sort of criminal background check.

[bboop]

The Bible does NOT say -- 'and when they get to your land, make sure they get welfare and medical and HUD housing and free this and that. And don't worry if they drive without a license or don't get insurance; it's not fair to ask the poor and downtrodden to follow LAWS.'

[MinuteGal]

Yep, the Bible does say welcome the stranger.

Where in the Bible does it say welcome 10 million strangers?

Leni

[Raycpa]

Whenever I try to explain this to Freepers as the reason for much of Bush's policy I get flammed. Oh well. The truth it the truth. We are called to treat the alien amoung us as our own. God's word.

[no-to-illegals]

has to be this cardinal is corrupt, and benefiting from the money being looted by the criminal aliens

[Hebrews 11:6]

Scripture also upholds the authority of the government, which in this case has established laws regulating immigration. The good Archbishop compares the USA with its immigration laws to societies which had none.

We are to extend charity appropriately. That doesn't mean ignoring laws. The Archbishop can work to change them, not flout them.

[CheyennePress]

"We would still welcome them to come here legally."


Let me fix this for you:

"We would still welcome SOME OF them to come here legally."


Much better, don't you think?

[axes_of_weezles]

So we can send bills for the Illegals to the Arizona catholic church, right?
If these bishops weren't such drunken sodomizers, they might actually interpret the Law of the Land as well as the Bible properly.
The Tucson Diocese is bankrupt because of their child molesting priests. I do not follow child molesters and sodomizers. The Phoenix Bishop was replaced after he ran over a pedestrian with a 1.8 blood alcohol.

[Adrastus]

I notice that nowhere does it mention welcoming a plague of locusts either.

with regard to those who don't seem to be able to suggests viable solutions, the word "pendejo" comes to mind.

[Raycpa]

Deuteronomy 24:13-15

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. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to yo

[Coleus]

and that's why so many catholic schools around the country are closing. the middle class pay too much in taxes and can't afford parochial schools, migrants are too poor to afford the tuition, the Bishops and priests usually support democrats and social programs and ignore republicans who make school choice and vouchers as part of their platform.

So, what you have are closed Catholic schools, minorities stuck in public schools, high taxes, a bloated social service agency and abortion on demand. Not to mention open borders for the 14,000 non-Hispanics who enter our country illegally, al qaeda perhaps?

[Raycpa]

Malachi 3:4

4 “ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

He is an aider and abettor of CRIMINALS and INVADERS!


Start building the fence.

It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.

I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.

[willyd]

Why not just offer citizenship to those that can pass a criminal background check for $5000? Around 10,000,000 would pariticipate and we would have $50 Billion to finance Katrina. End the program in 6 months and deport everyone that hasn't opted for the program. It would also take that same amount from the cartels that are getting that money now to smuggle people into the States. As citizens, they can start paying taxes, stop subverting wages, purchase insurance, get deported if they don't make it through their amnesty period of say 6 years without committing any felonies. Problem solved.

[Raycpa]

Our government also condones and supports homosexual relations and abortion. Doesn't make it in accordance with God's word.

[Raycpa]

Is your argument that we cannot afford to follow God's word?

[axes_of_weezles]

In chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's Letter to the Romans, the English translation reads, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed..." (Romans 13:1-2). Clearly, this is advice to Christians to follow the laws of their nation and to respect the laws of other nations.

[Draco]

What about obeying just laws first? This is why I dissociate myself from the formal religion of my birth. I wish it had felt so strongly about preventing further pedophilia. Clean up your act, Bishops.