[hershey]

If these illegal immigrants were Baptists or Holy Rollers, the Catholic church would be less interested in their welfare. Why? Because the Catholic church has a horse in this race. Falling revenues, falling church attendance have plagued the US church, and here come millions of devout Spanish speaking Catholics pouring over the border. Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning.

[isrul]

Damn, that sounds so cynical. But 1000% correct.

[Barnacle]

Falling revenues, falling church attendance have plagued the US church, and here come millions of devout Spanish speaking Catholics pouring over the border. Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning.

Nice theory. But, it doesn't fly. These people have no coins to drop in the collection plate. They are just as much a liability to the Catholic Church as they are to society in general.

[toddlintown]

"Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning."

Not the experience in Chicago. Mexicans move in while Poles or Lithuanians leave for better neighborhoods. In a matter of time, the Catholic schools and churches start closing. Mexicans do NOT throw money (or sufficient money) into the basket on Sundays.

I got married in St. George's Church in 1974. At one time, the neighborhood was solid old Lithuanian DPs. Kids got married, moved to the suburbs and the old-timers died-off. Mexicans moved in.

The church was leveled a few years ago, and I believe the grammar school is closed too. The churches that stay open in Mexican neighborhoods are piss-poor.

[sinkspur]

Because the Catholic church has a horse in this race. Falling revenues, falling church attendance have plagued the US church, and here come millions of devout Spanish speaking Catholics pouring over the border. Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning.

You're spreading Jack-Chick-like propaganda.

The Catholic Church in the United States has had the current stance on immigration for 30 years. Go back and read some pastoral letters in the 1980s. They're identical to those issued today.

And the canard that the bishops are encouraging illegal immigration to make up for a revenue shortfall is idiotic. There is no shortfall; collections are back up to where they were prior to 2002.

Hispanics, as a whole, do not contribute to the Church. That is a statistical fact.

[Petronski]

If these illegal immigrants were Baptists or Holy Rollers, the Catholic church would be less interested in their welfare. Why? Because the Catholic church has a horse in this race. Falling revenues, falling church attendance have plagued the US church, and here come millions of devout Spanish speaking Catholics pouring over the border. Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning.

And the parade of baseless anti-Catholic slurs rolls on. At least this one hasn't yet called the Bishops pigs.

[sheana]

My sis in law works at a Catholic parish and that is exactly what she told me.....money. Last year they did over 1800 baptisms. I asked how many were to illegal alien parents, she said at least 50%.

[VOYAGER]

Hallelujah!

My, my how the truth refreshes!

[Mrs. Don-o]

You wrote: "[The Catholic church] can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning."

Whatever one thinks of the USCCB on immigration legislation, it is ---how shall I say? --- at least counterintuitive to argue that the Bishops are trying to increase their collections by siding with the lowest-income day-laborers, dishwashers and motel-bathroom-cleaners. Income-maximizing clergy are usually excoriated for siding with the rich, not with the poor.

[Coleus]

and here come millions of devout Spanish speaking Catholics pouring over the border. Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning. >>

you are so naive it's funny. First, not all of them are devout--far from it. Many belong to gangs and commit crimes against each other including: rape, robbery and murder. most of these immigrants have no or very little money, they either put change in the basket or a dollar bill folded up so small you can barely see it. They are a liability to the RCC just like they are to hospitals and schools. Those who receive the sacraments often do not pay for baptisms, marriages and funerals. Most do NOT send their kids to Catholic Schools and if they do the tuition is reduced or waived. Catholic Schools in the Hispanic Inner Cities all across America are closing for lack of enrollment. Read the papers and the FR.

Wake up already

[SuziQ]

Of course the church wants them coddled and cared for. They can hear the jingle of coins hitting that collection plate on Sunday morning.

Oh, please. These folks don't have two coins to rub together. They won't be putting big bucks in the collection basket. I believe the Bishops are operating under a misguided notion of Christian charity when it comes to illegals, but it's NOT all about the money.

[HitmanLV]

I am a lifelong Catholic and I agree with your observation.