Posted on 03/01/2006 9:49:07 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony called on Roman Catholics Wednesday to embrace immigrants regardless of their legal status, criticizing what he said was increasing hostility toward the nation's bulging undocumented population.
The cardinal also said he would tell priests to defy any law enacted that would try to force churches and other organizations to determine the legality of immigrants before giving them assistance.
Mahony, a longtime advocate of immigrant rights who oversees a racially diverse archdiocese of more than 4 million people, used Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season to urge Catholics to "make room" for immigrants.
"Unless you are a Native American, everyone in here is the son or daughter of immigrants," said Mahony, speaking during Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Mahony said he was concerned that "voices that are very much anti-immigrant, mostly in California and Los Angeles, are catching fire," but didn't name any particular group.
On Tuesday, Mahony criticized the Minuteman Project and other anti-illegal immigration groups, arguing their efforts were misguided and wouldn't solve national security issues.
"The war on terror isn't going to be won through immigration restrictions," he told the Los Angeles Times.
Minuteman co-founder Jim Gilchrist accused Mahony Wednesday of pandering to Hispanic immigrants, and said the cardinal's stances encouraged illegal immigration.
"Cardinal Mahony must be part of a lawless group," said Gilchrist. "The church has no business messing in the rule of law."
As the illegal population balloons, now an estimated 11 million people, most of whom are Hispanic, the debate on how to deal with the phenomenon is intensifying.
Anti-illegal immigration groups regularly stage protests at day labor sites where Hispanics wait for work, threatening to report employers who hire illegal immigrants. Immigration advocates have responded, staging counter protests and organizing campaigns against legislation to crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Mahony told those attending Mass Wednesday he was not in favor of "unfettered immigration," but that the current system was inhumane and inefficient.
Mahony said stringent laws and government bureaucracy meant immigrants were often separated up to 15 years from family members trying to immigrate.
"We need reform that looks to family unification," he said. "What we have now is broken and invites violation."
Reflecting positions of the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops, Mahony said reform had to include a guest-worker program and the legalization of undocumented immigrants.
Mahony said the church's stance was not political, but he made reference to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which is slated to take up immigration reform this week.
During an interview with Spanish-language press afterwards, Mahony vowed to instruct priests to disobey any law requiring churches and other social organizations to ask immigrants for legal documentation before providing assistance.
Such a provision was in the immigration bill passed by the House of Representatives in December.
"I would say to all priests, deacons and members of the church that we are not going to observe this law," said Mahony, speaking in Spanish.
When asked if he would be willing to go to jail for the stance, Mahony said "yes" because "helping people in need were actions that are part of God's mercy."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa backed Mahony's stance, saying the "church should not be in the business of enforcing our immigration laws" and calling "incredulous" the idea that church officials wouldn't help people in need based on their immigration status.
If the law says he can't provide charitible services to people without first asking for their legal papers, then yes I think he should call for civil disobedience.
If the law says I can't give money to a homeless person on the street unless I ask for his papers, then I'm going to committ civil disobedience. It would be one thing if I were knowingly helping someone who is illegal to evade the law. But normal acts of charity done by private indivduals does not need the government to butt in and tell people that they have to do law enforcement.
Similar thread here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588463/posts
SZ
Catholicism is not about the behavior of priests. It is about the Church through which Christ guaranteed He would be with us until the end of time.
Leaving a Church because one is upset that it is made up of sinners seems to be missing the point of what the Church is about.
Mahony is playing to his audience. He goes along with the U.S. Catholic Bishops who want amnesty for illegals and a guest worker program.
The following is from the Whittier Daily News:
Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly and a West Covina Unified School District trustee, said the bill in question would apply only to money that churches or social organizations receive from the federal government.
"Taxpayer money should go to those who are here legally, and not used as a resource to encourage people to break the law," Spence said.
As for Mahony's comments, Spence said they were "fine - and then we should ignore sending him taxpayer money for the services that he provides. He can ignore it but we don't have to give him the money."
Jackie Kolnick, a board member for the Whittier Area Interfaith Council, said the strings associated with federal money is the reason the council doesn't seek those funds.
"I've always felt that the way to overcome government restrictions is to not use their money," said Kolnick, who runs the council's Cold Weather Shelter. "There's just no way we could pay for the extra staff or guards to do that kind of screening, so we scrimp and save to get what we have.
"I don't know what the answer to the immigration issue is," she added, "but I think that if you really want to help, you'll find other ways to help."
[snip]
What kind of rabble rouser are you, bringing facts and reason into a discussion that was doing just fine with passion and prejudice? And what ever happened to the wise guy who posted this in the first place?
Hey, pull my finger!
And what ever happened to the wise guy who posted this in the first place?
Rumor has it that he is out doing some sort of revenge type stuff. (He's very secretive, you know!)
;^)
I'm lurkin' in da Bushes. ;-)
So nice of the good archbishop to volunteer to pay for the medication, education, and incarceration of these lawbreakers. The Catholic Church should be able to take care of this if there's any money left after paying off the victims of the pedophile priests. The taxpayers of the USA have no obligation to adopt Mexicans.
Cardinal Roger Mahony talks to his parishioners about immigration reform during Ash Wednesday service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 1, 2006. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mahony said he would instruct his priests to defy a proposed federal requirement that churches check the legal status of parishioners before helping them. (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera)
That clarifies that, thanks. It is federal money with the Catholic Church a conduit.
While I'm not a Catholic personally (currently allied with the A of G)I agree with you about Cardinal Mahoney's perspective in liberalism. I also recall in the Old Testament God saying He would raise up and protect the nations that hold Him on high. That was the point I was trying to make and I apologize for not making that clear.
Kind regards
How is Mahony not in prison?
Thank you. Sounds lovely.
He has broken no law.
No need to apologize. I think most sane people understand just what kind of miscreant people like mahoney really are. I suspect any conservative type who defends him does so out of misplaced loyalty to their church. I personally cannot understand that, because as Christians, it is the believers job to weed out the satanic ones among their faith. mahoney qualifies as a weed, imo. His tenure is long and is laced with constant anti American diatribes, this is just the latest. The only defense a Catholic can have is actually a dual edged sword, they can say he is loyal only to Rome and not the USA. At least then his words would be understood in that context. Rome does not want borders, Rome wants growth at any cost, as long as they become Catholics.
"Hatred"? The only thing I can be accused of at the link I provided is being a condescending jerk (to Sheehan, not Mahoney).
As for Mahoney:
http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/004751.html
I'll take care of the accusing, thank you.
Your'e too busy swatting imaginary flies.
Hope you are happy with all the loss of sleep you are causing Mahoney and Sheehan.
Corleoni Mahoney supports pedophile priests too!
Next thing you know you'll be telling us he drinks directly out of the milk carton, Karl.
Besides harboring the pedophile priest records.
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