Posted on 10/16/2006 11:07:48 AM PDT by radar101
Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has sent a letter to President George W. Bush asking him to veto H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006 that would authorize construction of up to 700 miles of fencing and barriers along the southern border of Mexico.
"To be clear, the U.S. Catholic bishops are supportive of efforts to enforce immigration law and secure our borders, so long as the mechanism and strategies applied toward this end protect human dignity and protect human life," Bishop Skylstad wrote. "However, we are opposed to this legislation because we believe it could lead to the deaths of migrants attempting to enter the United States and increased smuggling-related violence along our border. We also believe it would send the wrong signal to our peaceful neighbor to the south, Mexico, as well as the international community."
Bishop Skylstad also noted that a recent study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found migrant deaths have doubled since 1995, about the time the government began a series of border enforcement initiatives designed to stem illegal entries at ports-of-entry and other traditional crossing routes. Since this time, close to 3,000 immigrants have died in remote portions of the southwest region of the country.
"In our estimation, the erection of a border fence would force migrants, desperate to find employment to support their families, to seek alternative and more dangerous ways to enter the country, contributing to an increase in deaths, including women and children," Bishop Skylstad wrote.
The Catholic Church bears witness to the poverty that drives desperate people to seek employment in our country, and these root economic issues that drive illegal immigration will not be solved by more fencing and barriers. "From this universal perspective, we strongly feel that the development of just global economic and trade policies designed to help create living wage jobs in countries of origin would permit persons to remain home and support themselves and their families," Bishop Skylstad said.
Following is the complete text of the letter.
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Oct. 10
Honorable George W. Bush
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to ask that you veto H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. As you know, H.R. 6061 would authorize the construction of up to 700 miles of fencing and barriers along our southern border with Mexico, among other provisions.
To be clear, the U.S. Catholic bishops are supportive of efforts to enforce immigration law and secure our borders, so long as the mechanisms and strategies applied toward this end protect human dignity and protect human life.
However, we are opposed to this legislation because we believe it could lead to the deaths of migrants attempting to enter the United States and increased smuggling-related violence along our border. We also believe it would send the wrong signal to our peaceful neighbor to the south, Mexico, as well as the international community. Finally, we do not believe it will solve the problem of illegal immigration faced by our nation.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently found that migrant deaths have doubled since 1995, about the time that the government initiated a series of border enforcement initiatives designed to stem illegal entries at ports-of-entry and other traditional crossing routes. Since that time, close to 3,000 migrants have died in remote portions of the southwest region of the country.
In our estimation, the erection of a border fence would force immigrants, desperate to find employment to support their families, to seek alternative and more dangerous ways to enter the country, contributing to an increase in deaths, including among women and children. It also would drive migrants to depend upon unscrupulous smugglers, who would exploit them and, in some cases, place them in dangerous situations which may cause them harm.
As you know, Mr. President, the U.S. Catholic bishops believe that the defense of human life at all stages is of utmost importance and priority.
Another likely result of a border fence is an increase, not decrease, in smuggling-related violence, as smuggling networks may attempt to devise more elaborate and, in some cases, more confrontational schemes to smuggle persons into the country. Increased competition among smuggling gangs could lead to more violence in border communities. As Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recently stated, violence against Border Patrol agents increased over 100 percent in 2005.
We also feel strongly that the erection of a 700-mile border fence would send a signal to Mexico and other countries in the hemisphere that the United States is not willing to work cooperatively to address the problem of illegal immigration. It could harm our relations with these countries and inhibit bilateral progress on mutual interests. As the world's greatest democracy and lone superpower, our nation should be able to address the issue of illegal immigration without resorting to the construction of fences and barriers.
Finally, Mr. President, we do not believe that a border fence will solve the immigration crisis in our nation. As you may know, close to one-half of all persons residing without documentation enter the country legally and overstay their visas. Moreover, as the Catholic Church is a universal organization which witnesses the economic conditions in sending countries such as Mexico, we do not believe that a fence will deter persons desperate to escape poverty from seeking employment in our country. From this universal perspective, we strongly feel that the development of just global economic and trade policies designed to help create living wage jobs in countries of origin would permit persons to remain home and support themselves and their families.
Mr. President, the U.S. Catholic bishops have appreciated your leadership on immigration and your support of comprehensive immigration reform. It is our view that the best way to secure our border is through the enactment of a comprehensive immigration reform measure, not by the construction of a border fence.
We hope that you will agree with this assessment and veto H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006.
Sincerely yours, Most Reverend William Skylstad Bishop of Spokane President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop William Skylstad
Washington, DC
PHONE
202-541-3000
What's the real deal behind this? Why do these bishops have such a beef with border security?
Bishop, go molest a little boy and keep the hell out of politics. We know what your open borders crap is all about, filling pews in Catholic Churches with illegal aliens. Sorry bishop, you're not going to turn my country into a third world sewer just because your church can't attract American church-goers. Try cleaning your ranks of pedophiles and maybe American Catholics will start showing up again.
Bush should veto a "fence" in favor of a 20 ft high steel reinforced concrete wall
Bush doesn't have to veto the border fence legislation. Loopholes allow the money allocated to be diverted elsewhere -- like to more pork-barrel highway projects!
ping
Because church attendance and involvement in the Catholic religion by American Catholics has dropped sharply, so American Catholic leaders want to open the borders so they can fill their pews, and thus collection baskets, with Hispanic Catholics.
A logical explanation is needed here.
Turns out that story was false. Republican Congressmen everywhere are vehmently denying this story and have shown using the language of the legislation that this claim is false. This story was a plant likely by Democratic operatives to suppress GOP turnout in November.
The title alone turned me off.
Is THIS the group harboring ILLEGAL ALIENS?
If yes, WHY isn't legal action being taken against THEM and ILLEGALS they are harboring?
and this is a bad thing why....?
When does Bush plan to sign this?
I think its more complicated than that lol. The Bishops would support a more comprehensive approach I would thing that was more in line with the Catechism and Catholic teaching
I think its more complicated than that lol. The Bishops would support a more comprehensive approach I would thing that was more in line with the Catechism and Catholic teaching
"However, we are opposed to this legislation because we believe it could lead to the deaths of migrants attempting to enter the United States and increased smuggling-related violence along our border."
Thank you for your input, U.S. bishops.
We'll file that with your 1980's nuclear disarmament document.
Correct. Unfortunately, the USCCB is a liberal organization as well.
Why the politics of immigration has anything to do with Catholicism or catechism or any ism is beyond me. Why is it my church has managed not to take a position on this other than that racism is wrong? Other than that, we largely stay out of politics. Why Catholic leaders cannot as well is beyond me, with all due respect to you.
What rubbish. A fence does something negative to human dignity. In my Catholic church, they keep valuables locked up, and I don't feel my human dignity is compromised.
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