Posted on 06/03/2010 2:10:54 PM PDT by NoLibZone
In a lengthy address delivered in Washington on June 2, Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, discussed various facets of migration to the United States, including immigration, human trafficking, and displacement induced by climate change.
Speaking to the Regional Consultation of the American Bishops' Conferences on Migration, Archbishop Vegliò said that “I follow with more than usual interest and admiration the courageous advocacy efforts of the USA Church for the regularization of the approximately 12 million undocumented migrants. Their existence will thus be recognized. However, should this also not be linked with a immigration reform which takes into account the demands of the labour market, and especially the continuing need for low-skilled workers?”
“One also has to realize that not workers will arrive, but human persons, with all its consequences, like living with their families,” he continued. “In order to achieve this, the necessary political will is required to address humanely undocumented migration.”
In his conclusion, Archbishop Vegliò stated:
What is most fundamental is the courage not to turn away from the eyes of the poor but to allow them to break our heart and shatter our world. To let them share with us how their children fear and suffer from acts of violence, how it feels to live together for years in a crowded refugee camp under a plastic sheet without hope for a decent life, how it hurts to be dehumanized and not to be seen as a human being, but as a number or a ‘vulnerable’. What is necessary to offer them perspective for the future? In concrete ways the Church in many countries is trying to answer this. Your efforts and activities are illustrations of this.
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
The Vatican agrees with the US Bishops on the issue of Illegals.
So the Vatican official also agrees with anarchy. Who could have seen that coming? For the most part I kept my yap shut while pedophiles and worse were shielded by the church, but there is only so much s—t I’m going to ignore. You start telling me I have to surrender my nation, and the gloves come off.
My additional thoughts are x-rated, so I’ll move on.
Let him go back to Italy and ask them how they would like a few Million Mexicans in their hospitals, taking their jobs and getting their welfare checks.
It doesnt matter what religion they belong to they need to take care of our spiritual needs, and stay the hell out of politics.
We certainly are willing to take as many immigrants as we have room for, after they apply and waith their turn. There is no way we can stand the influx of thousands coming over illegally every day.
This Catholic says to the Vatican: MYOB!
I’d like to see his nation take in just 20 illegals.
Just 20.
My country has taken in 12,000,000 illegals.
I understand that we should care for our neighbors. I applaud that, and welcome that. My difficulty is that these people came here, knowing that they broke the law here, knowing that people who do the same in their own country are severely punished. In the Church, doing wrong is a sin, and carries a need for repentance and atonement, as well as a need to show that you will not repeat the sin. I am a humble Catholic. If these were refugees, needing to make a new home, I would happily welcome them. Those words on the Statue Of Liberty mean a lot. However, when a person’s only desire and reason to come here is to remove the little wealth the country currently has, with no desire whatsoever to assimilate and join our great country, and I think of all the people here, that I personally know, who are out of work, I am greatly, deeply troubled. I cannot criticize, but I definitely must pray.
He said: However, should this also not be linked with a immigration reform which takes into account the demands of the labour market, and especially the continuing need for low-skilled workers?”
We do not have a market for low-skilled workers. Is he clueless about our uneployent figurea?
I am Catholic and loyal to the official teaching of the Church. This kind of stuff is not official. The Church allows all sorts of opinions on how to handle illegal immigration and this his is just one opinion
Dear Pope Benedict....We are LAW ABIDING CITIZENS......please stay out of this......or tell all of your Bishops to OPEN UP THE CHURCHES 24 HOURS A DAY!!
We accept a million legal immigrants every year. How many does the Vatican accept?
Just who are they, now, to dare instruct us on how not to "dehumanize" millions of people who have entered this country, in direct contravention of immigration laws, existence of which is universally-recognized as necessary for the survival of any sovereign nation? The unmitigated nerve of these "Godly" people.
I will not be lectured to, or have my country lectured to, or defined as somehow immoral, by any organization that fights tooth and nail against getting its own moral house in order. Get that big redwood log out of your own eye before you hypocritically whine about perceived splinters in ours.
And, just for comparison’s sake, what is the Vatican’s policy on illegal immigrants on Vatican property?
‘Compassionate’ Christianity will be the death of this nation unless we set limits.
I’m a lifelong Catholic. Devout, devoted to the Church and I say butt out Vatican. This is none of your affair. Thanks for your opinion...but no thanks.
To the Vatican: MYOB.
Fine take them to Italy then and MYOB.
Wow ... Our country desperately needs to be "lectured to", as it certainly does NOT have its moral house in order.
Get that big redwood log out of your own eye before you hypocritically whine about perceived splinters in ours.
This country has more than fifty million "big redwood logs" is its eyes ...
Wish I could disagree, but I’m the kind of guy that if I was a Catholic, my criticisms would be far more pointed.
I totally agree with you. The Church had better use common sense and have respect for the laws of the United States by supporting our immigration laws, OR they should keep quiet. My advice to the Church would be to clean up your own house, and stay out of the business of ours.
Bottom line is that politicians want the illegal vote, and the Church wants to fill the pews. No religious affiliation can survive without it, if the truth be told.
Pray for our country, the Constitution, freedom and liberty.
I hope the five — and probably soon to be six :( — Catholics on the Supreme Court are ignoring their church on this matter because they make up an unstoppable majority when they follow the Vatican.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.