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]

Perhaps, those who harbor and continue to transfer problem clerics >>

that practice has been stopped since 2002, wake up, open your eyes and read, much has been done.

[axes_of_weezles]

Well, I admit I may be wrong on the Phoenix Bishop.

I do recall the incident on the TV news. I may have the particulars wrong.

[pacpam]

I think it's time to assert the separation of church and state issue. The church - any church - cannot tell the state how to run the country.

[DuncanWaring]

I was living in Phoenix at the time.

If he (O'Brien) had just stopped when he hit the guy he would have been "home free".

[axes_of_weezles]

In Arizona .08 blood alcohol content is legally drunk. Having any is driving while impaired. Most of the serious drunk driving accidents are above .10 . I may have my decimal place wrong as well.

[rcocean]

One of the reasons, I thought about, but never did, convert to Catholicism.

Support for illegal immigration. Can't find that in my bible.

People come her to get richer, no one is REALLY poor in the real (biblical terms) in Mexico.

Everyone in Mexico lives better than almost every American did in 1900.

[Thumper1960]

Not enough.

Pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated. They are a scourge. Diocese officials in Brooklyn, NY shielded three priests, despite the so-called "guidelines". Two years after the "guidelines".

No matter where they exist. No matter where they might hide. Pedophiles of all stripes must be eliminated. By any means possible.

[SC33]

I agree. I'm not for the total separation of Church and State, at least not to the extreme it has been taken, but we do run a risk of blurring the lines too much, and that is a scary thought.

Look around the globe and see which countries are governed by the Church. They are among the most hostile nations on earth. The idea that it could happen in this nation is a frightening thought.

[Coleus]

Diocese officials in Brooklyn, NY shielded three priests, despite the so-called "guidelines". >>

no they did not. where are you getting this deluded information? And where is your proof that Archbishop Naumann didn't clean up his diocese as you stated in your first post on this thread? You can throw out all the deluded info. you want it doesn't mean you can back it up with facts. So far all I see is some catholic bashing. Seems you're the only one on this thread that's obsessed with the scandal. Par for the course, there is usually that ONE catholic-bashing freeper who has to mention the scandal when it's NOT germane to the subject matter of the thread as if your comment is something original, LOL.

And, like the others, you back up your very unoriginal statements with nothing.

[dsc]

"Look around the globe and see which countries are governed by the Church."

Okay. Name one.

[raybbr]

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

What do you mean by "we"? Are you referring to the individual or the state?

If you are referring to the individual have you given your money and assets to help?

If you are referring to the state, the state is not a Catholic entity. Even Bush is not a Catholic. Why would you expect the state to support a Catholic or even a Biblical tenet?

[MillerCreek]

Scripture calls us to welcome the migrant, the stranger.

Scripture DOES NOT CALL US TO WELCOME, ENCOURAGE AND REWARD ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.

Illegal aliens are responsible for illegal behavior.

This Bishop needs to stop manipulating Scripture.

Lecturing to criminals might be a good place to start and impress upon them that THE COMMANDMENTS REQUEST THAT WE NOT STEAL.

[MillerCreek]

The whole Church is not like this. There are regional Bishops, many of them Hispanic, in the Americas who obviously confuse -- perhaps intentionally mislead -- people as to racial preferences.

They're human beings and vulnerable to bad faults like the rest of us.

And, some of them need to retire, which many in the Church tend to agree with in most of their cases...the result of previous quite lazy-to-no reprimands for wandering, even wrong, behaviors by some of them.

[mthom]

Yes, YOU must be accepting of aliens. YOU must also give all your money and belongings to the poor. YOU should do these things and not vote to force your neighbor to do these things. You sound like Jimmy Carter and his argument that God demands high taxes so we can feed and house the poor. Unless you also support that position your position on open borders is inconsistent.

Also how much do you want to bet that if these 20 million illegals were muslim the Catholic Church wouldnt be so keen on "welcoming" them?

[jackbenimble]

Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, nor anything that is his

I believe that is one of the Commandments. Perhaps the Catholic Church should be counseling the illegals to quit coveting out country.

[WayneM]

Jesus also said we should to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

In this case Caesar, our government, has laws that regulate immigration.

In other words Jesus is telling me to be kind to the stranger and alien, but he also saying the law must be obeyed. And if the law is to be obeyed, then illegals should not be here in this country.

Do you disagree with this interpretation? And if so, how?

[Hat-Trick]

Apparently the Archbishop of KC's copy of God's Word is missing Roman's 13.

[G Larry]

Doesn't have much to do with ILLEGAL immigrants, now does it?

[F16Fighter]

Excellent post!

[arasina]

Thank you. Not my words but I did search for and find the appropriate reply. :o)