Posted on 04/15/2008 6:12:28 PM PDT by Pyro7480
The following is a rush transcript of comments made by Pope Benedict XVI to reporters aboard the papal plane, on his way to his first pastoral visit to the United States....
Fr. Federico Lombardi: ...Well have a question from our colleague Andres Beltramo, from the Notimex agency in Mexico.
Beltramo: Ill ask the question in Italian, but we would love to have just a greeting in Spanish. With the enormous growth in the Hispanic presence, the Catholic church in the United States is becoming steadily more bilingual and bicultural. Yet theres also a growing anti-immigrant movement in America. Do you intend to invite the United States to welcome immigrants well, many of whom are Catholic?
Benedict XVI: Unfortunately Im not ready to speak in Spanish, but I offer a greeting and blessing for all the Spanish-speakers! Certainly Ill talk about this subject....
It seems to me that we have to distinguish between measures to be taken immediately, and longer-term solutions. The fundamental solution [would be] that there is no longer any need to immigrate, that there are sufficient opportunities for work and a sufficient social fabric that no one any longer feels the need to immigrate. We all have to work for this objective, that social development is sufficient so that citizens are able to contribute to their own future.
On this point, I want to speak with the President, because above all the United States must help countries develop themselves. Doing so is in the interests of everyone, not just this country but the whole world, including the United States.
In the short term, its very important above all to help the families. This is the primary objective, to ensure that families are protected, not destroyed....
(Excerpt) Read more at ncrcafe.org ...
There is no anti-immigrant movement in America. Most Americans have immigrant ancestors somewhere in the family tree.
There is an "anti-illegal" movement in America since the Rule-of-Law is a core value of American society.
btt
Viva il Papa!
I think the pope has it. Mexico with all its resources ought to be able to take care of its people. It cannot, because its political culture will not allow development. Wealth in concentrated in the hands of a few thousand families, and these families lack the entrepeneural spirit that grows an economy. Simplistically perhaps, I blame it on the culture that the conquistadors brought to America, which owned much to the Arabs the Spanish Christians displaced.
There is a sense of having been invaded. And its has been done with the complicity of business and government leaders.
Interesting. Whereas the Australians are saying (to muslims) leave your baggage behind, this Pope is saying just don’t come.
My friend, I must object.
Mexico is a MARXIST corrupt violent hell-hole.
Let's give credit where credit is due.
!Viva Cristo Rey!
(just curious).
I'm remembering a well known political cartoon from the 20s or 30s, where a pig-like priest in the confessional is telling the poor campesinos, "Obey your padrone and work hard and you will get the 10,000 indulgences."
Only in Mexico could you have a political party whose name means "Party for the CONSERVATION of the Revolution." Oxymoronic, but much of Mexico is that way.
There is an "anti-illegal [immigrant]" movement in America since the Rule-of-Law is a core value of American society.
Needs to be repeated. Benedict XVI has a deep, insightful understanding of many contemporary pressing social issues. I'm certain he understands the distinction between legal and illegal immigration.
In commie-speak, “the revolution” refers to the institution of communism as the governing principle. Any effort to institute something else is “counter-revolutionary”, or “reactionary”. Hence, once “the revolution” has been accomplished, it must be conserved or preserved against the “reactionary counterrevolutionaries” (That would be folks like us). So, conserving revolution is not oxymoronic at all. Moronic, perhaps, give the real results of the revolution.
Absolutely! You should hear the libs in my church. They act as if the rest of the world is waste land and this is the only country worth coming to, for the welfare anyway.
"Id like to say that Im going with joy. Ive been in the United States several times, I know this great country, and I also know the great life of the church despite all the problems. Im happy to be able to meet in this historical moment, both through the church and my visit to the United Nations, this great country."
Here's what Pope Benedict XVI says about it -it's quite Scriptural, and is in direct agreement with the Framers of our Constitution:
"..an authentic...theology: [is] one that puts:
[1] God and the life of the spirit first,
[2] DIRECT charitable care of others second,
[3] and only then draws consequences for a just social order."
And here's more:
Pope John XXIII, On Establishing Universal Peace In Truth, Justice, Charity, And Liberty, April 11, 1963 Excerpts:
"Man's personal dignity requires besides that he enjoy freedom and be able to make up his own mind when he acts.
In his association with his fellows, therefore, there is every reason why his recognition of rights, observance of duties, and many-sided collaboration with other men, should be primarily a matter of his own personal decision.
Each man should act on his own initiative, conviction, and sense of responsibility, not under the constant pressure of external coercion or enticement.
There is nothing human about a society that is welded together by force.
Far from encouraging, as it should, the attainment of man's progress and perfection, it is merely an obstacle to his freedom."
"Hence, a regime which governs solely or mainly by means of threats and intimidation or promises of reward, provides men with no effective incentive to work for the common good.
And even if it did, it would certainly be offensive to the dignity of free and rational human beings."
"Consequently, laws and decrees passed in contravention of the moral order, and hence of the divine will, can have no binding force in conscience, since 'it is right to obey God rather than men.' " ~
*
"[Some are involved in] a disastrous confusion between the poor of the Scripture and the proletariat of Marx." ~ Pope Benedict XVI Theologies of Liberation
*
Pope Benedict XVI, notes that proper stewardship of our environment is one of the individual Christian's responsibilities toward God - - - BUT only in this order:
"..an authentic...theology: [is] one that puts:
[1] God and the life of the spirit first,
[2] DIRECT charitable care of others second,
[3] and only then draws consequences for a just social order."
*
C.S. Lewis: "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under live robber barons than under omnipotent moral busibodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
I know, but it still sounds funny. Political schizophrenia in action. It’s deadly, of course - somewhere I have an old political cartoon of the Mexican presidents from Juarez on a totem pole — the number of them who did NOT die in their beds is astonishing.
Read is somewhere a couple of years ago. (perhaps fairus.org but not certain) Article claimed 57% from Mexico, an additional 18% from central and south America, and 25% from rest of world.
You think they'd ALL go home?
A Mexico that isnt corrupt, envious of its Northern neighbor, and happy to roll up its sleeves and get busy in its own house instead of exporting problems elsewhere?
Thank you Pope Benedict
&&&
AMEN!
Plus their upper crust is terribly resentful of foreign influence.
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