Posted on 08/21/2008 5:47:37 PM PDT by buccaneer81
R.I. bishop wants objector status for ICE agents
PROVIDENCE -- The bishop in the nation's most heavily Roman Catholic state called on U.S. immigration authorities to stop arresting illegal immigrants in mass sweeps in Rhode Island and allow federal agents not to participate if they feel the raids violate Christian teachings.
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, head of the Diocese of Providence, made the request in a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Boston that was published on the diocese's Web site today.
His letter comes during a heated debate over illegal immigration in Rhode Island, where authorities recently raided six Rhode Island courthouses and arrested 31 people, mainly Hispanic immigrants who are overwhelmingly Catholic. In a separate raid, ICE agents apprehended 42 suspected illegal immigrants in Newport and Middletown.
The letter, signed by 15 priests, urges ICE agents to consider the morality of their actions.
"If their discernment leads them to the conclusion that they cannot participate in such raids in good conscience, we urge them not to do so. If ICE agents refuse to participate in immigration raids in conformity with their faith and conscience, we urge the Federal Government to fully respect the well-founded principles of conscientious objection," the letter said.
In an interview with a Journal reporter today, Tobin said he had invited the pastors to meet about three weeks ago after hearing anecdotally from parishes around the state that many Hispanics were afraid to leave their homes to attend Mass, were shopping at night for fear of being picked up and were not enrolling in school their children, who are American citizens.
"Now when we get involved in that area -- the ability to practice their faith -- that becomes a concern for me right away,'' Tobin said.
He continued that the diocese recognized that some immigrants are here illegally. "But keep in mind many of them are here because the system itself is broken. We've gone two decades... with this current immigration policy that has enabled and allowed this situation to develop.
"People who came here did not come here with the express purpose of breaking the law. They came to make a living for themselves and their families and the government has allowed that to happen ... because of the lax interpretation of immigration laws and the fact that there hasn't been enforcement.''
He added, "I know for sure what Jesus would not do. He would not sweep into a community, gather up large groups of people, separate family members, one from another and deport them to another country. I know for sure he would not do that.''
Later today, ICE spokeswoman Paula Grenier said of Tobin's letter:
"The men and women of ICE have sworn an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and it is a duty and responsibility we take seriously. While we fully intend to continue to enforce the law, I would stress that we do so professionally and with an acute awareness of the impact that enforcement has on the individuals we encounter.
"While we have great respect for Bishop Tobin and his colleagues, we believe their congregations and communities would be better served by helping individuals to comply with the law or working to change those laws rather than asking law enforcement agents not to enforce it."
Earlier this year, Governor Carcieri issued an executive order aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. He said he did so because the federal government has dropped the ball on immigration reform and left state taxpayers to pick up what he said are the considerable costs of illegal immigration.
Several R.I. religious leaders decried that order, including Tobin, and asked Carcieri to reconsider it, saying it threatened to ignite widespread vitriol against immigrant communities.
Today, Tobin also said, "I think we need to work toward good laws. But in the meantime, treat people decently.''
Extra: In a 2007 special report on projo.com, read what the bishop has to say and hear him speak about immigration issues.
-- With reports from the Associated Press, Journal staff writer Tom Mooney and Journal archival reports
Roman Catholic and other faith leaders have repeatedly criticized immigration raids that target migrant workers as opposed to illegal immigrants who are violent or commit crimes.
Tobin's request is unusual because it suggests the raids are forcing immigration agents to choose between their jobs and their religious faith.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has called U.S. immigration policies "morally unacceptable" because they keep families divided, encourage the exploitation of migrants and enable abuse by human traffickers. During an April visit to the U.S., Pope Benedict XVI said the U.S. needs a coordinated immigration policy that is humane and provides for the well-being of families.
Tobin carries political clout in Rhode Island, where 60 percent of residents call themselves Roman Catholic.
Tobin now sits on an advisory panel that Carcieri formed to monitor the implementation of his executive order on immigration.
At the panel's first meeting last month, the state police superintendent said the state would not launch immigration raids. As Carcieri spoke, state police and ICE agents were arresting suspected illegal immigrants who worked as janitors at six state courthouses. social bookmarking
Tags Bishop Thomas J. Tobin ICE illegal immigrants immigration raids
No problem, just fire them.
Unfortunately there are way to many in the Catholic hierarchy who support illegal immigration.
ICE agents can have conscientious objector status:
they can resign.
So, if the deadbolt on the front door of your house is broken, it's your fault if a criminal breaks in?
Ya know legally immigrating would have eliminated all those concerns the Bishop has. One of the reason the Government has a legal immigration policy is because it is humane.
When our RC bishops our wrong they are never wrong in a trifling way. Nope they are wrong in a big way. It is quite possible to enforce immigration laws without sacrificing Catholic conscience. And if being separated from one’s family is grounds for claims of intolerable cruelty I say we disband those Armed Services right now.
Christian teachings also are rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s ... and in this case it’s the laws of our country.
OK, Your Eminence. If I am poor and need to feed my family, I might steal your offertory collection. I didn't mean to break the law, but my family was hungry. And the police never came to investigate. The government allowed that to happen. No enforcement.
How's that grab you?
Hey moderator!!!.
Thanks moderator.
give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s..... - pretty clear
There are many Catholic priests who abused little children. Would he also say the system itself is broken and needs to be changed, rather than give sanction to those crocked priests? There is a reason why the US law (and Church law) is in place, and needs to be observed.
There are many Catholic priests who abused little children. Would he also say the system itself is broken and needs to be changed, rather than give sanction to those crocked priests? There is a reason why the US law (and Church law) is in place, and needs to be observed.
That’s pretty good. I think I’ll try it too...
“The job you hired me to do is against my religion. Please forward my paycheck to my vacation home at the beach.”
Not to mention the divorce/child custody laws the Church never speaks out against.
Otherwise, membership and enrollment declines will close many Churches and schools (not to mention dollars coming too pay for students.)
Foe shame, their “conscience” compels to fight for a day when we are a backward ,indolent, uneducated ,drug gang controlled, kidnapping epidemic, single parent country. Where is your humanity, give up your country, they neeeeeeeeddddd it.
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