[bpjam]

I think the Catholic church just burnt their last bridge to any elected Republicans with their militant demands on behalf of foreign citizens illegally being harbored in the U.S. Sorry, they can't have it both ways. If you want to get into the political debate, you need to choose sides. And they were on the wrong side last month and the bad taste in still in the mouths of too many in the GOP (and no, that wasn't a gay pedophile joke)

[TheCrusader]

Do you know what you're talking about when you claim the Catholic Church supports illegal immigration? What does the Vatican say about it, I'd like to know?

[Antoninus]

I think the Catholic church just burnt their last bridge to any elected Republicans with their militant demands on behalf of foreign citizens illegally being harbored in the U.S.

You really do have no idea how the Catholic Church works, do you? The opinions and actions of a few bishops--particularly when they are against what's taught in the Catechism--do not in any way represent the entire Church.

That said, you shouldn't try to hijack this thread, which is about stoping homo-"marriage" dead in its tracks. It's an important issue and the bishops have shown themselves to be predominantly on the right side of it.

[SuziQ]

I don't believe the Church supports illegal immigration. The Bishops want some sort of balance to maintin family integrity; not forcing families apart. They want a policy built on compassion, not punishment. They think that blanket deportation is wrong. Knee jerk policies always are. It has taken decades for this problem to develop; it won't be solved overnight, or even in a year. GOOD immigration policies need to be developed, and this is what the Bishops and many Catholics are looking for.

[Coleus]

And they were on the wrong side last month and the bad taste in still in the mouths of too many in the GOP >>

they are on the right side of many issues: against communism and socialism, abortion, homosexual marriage, embryonic stem cell research, etc. If Bush decides to build a wall, hire more border agents, abide by the constitution and protect our borders the RCC would not complain. But when you have a spineless republicrat party running the executive and legislative branches and do NOTHING in 6 yrs. in regard to illegal immigration and ALLOW millions of aliens into the USA then the USA has an obligation to care for these people. That's the way it is. You let them in then you have to take care of them.
If you keep them out, so be it, the church won't complain.

[Miss Marple]

Cardinal Mahoney doesn't speak for the whole Church. Our monsigneur said that while one must be compassionate, laws must also be followed.