[Mrs. Don-o]

Dear Bishop Stika,

I was proud to see the reports in East Tennesseee Catholic about your welcome pastoral activities with our Hispanic community, and especially with the farm workers in Unicoi. And I admired your reflections on the Triptych of Love. Yes, “the widow, the orphan and the stranger” are the objects of God’s special concern, as we are taught by the Prophets, and by Jesus Christ Himself. Your recognition of this triad in the husbandless mother, the unborn child, and the vulnerable immigrant is a valuable insight.

It seems to me, though, that in some respects you may have oversimplified your presentation in a way that is inadvertently inaccurate and unfair.

The complex controversy about the status of those who enter this country unlawfully is difficult in part because many of these illegal millions are simultaneously perpetrators as well as victims of injustice.

This was made clear by the testimony of Dr. Carol Swain, a VanderbiltUniversity professor of law and political science, who spoke in Washington, DC on Sept. 24 at the House panel on immigration just before Stephen Colbert (but didn’t get nearly the attention Colbert got). She made a quietly stunning case that it is the steady flow of cheap migrant labor which destroys job opportunities and depresses wages for poor blacks and other American minorities.

This is a legitimate argument against the acceptance of massive immigration. It stems from concern for a vast group of sufferers whose interests are rarely considered: the millions of poor Americans --- and particularly young, unskilled minority males --- who are substantially, and in some cases permanently, robbed of any prospect of gainful employment because they have been displaced by an invasion of foreign nationals.

That’s why I must ask you to resist reducing this controversy to racism or xenophobia. I hope you did not intend to imply, in your “Triptych” article, that the

present immigration controversy is attributable to the unreasonable fears and resentments of Americans in a difficult time.

I have read a number of statements of Christian activists advocating such things as:

• comprehensive immigration reform as proposed by President Obama and his legislative allies

• the wider availability of schooling, health insurance, public housing, food stamps and other incentives and subsidies for unlawful residents and recipients

• the DREAM Act, and other proposed paths to U.S. citizenship for some of the 11- 13 million people who are in this country illegally.

These advocates, while well-meaning, too often make a wrong-headed assumption: that those who favor the above measures care about justice and compassion, and those who oppose them, do not.

Many, like myself, would contend that all of the above proposals are injurious to vulnerable communities, legitimate immigrants, minorities and the poor. We have reasonable evidence for this judgment; and it is unjust to suggest that our arguments are without foundation or that they originate in fear or bigotry.

I appreciate the fact you’re trying to address the main issues in a clear, brief, and Christian way. (And I know how difficult that can be!)

I am putting a book in the mail to you, “On the Immorality of Illegal Immigration” by Fr. Patrick Bascio, C.S.Sp. Fr. Bascio, a life-long advocate for social justice, has worked in poor communities in the U.S., Tanzania, and the Caribbean islands. Fr.Bascio also has a PhD in Systematic Theology from FordhamUniversity, with an emphasis on the Morality of Economic and Political Systems.

I hope this will provide a valuable perspective.

Sincerely in Christ,

[Signed]

[FlingWingFlyer]

Opposing illegals DOESN'T = "Fear of Foreigners. It's We the People's way of telling the dumbasses up on Capitol Hill to stop creating laws if they don't intend to enforce them.

BTW: When are we going to see a little "comprehensive" income tax reform? I'm getting mighty tired of paying taxes. I work for my money, therefore, it's MY money.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Maybe useful a template for your own letter to your Bishop, Social Justice guy, pastor, preacher, or Sister of Mercy?

Comments?

Please don't bash the Church per se, whose doctrines on this subject are at once moral, practical, and persuasive. My gripe is against clerics who drape their prudential opinions with episcopal brocade but ignore some of the key requirements of Catholic Social Doctrine. For instance, this from Para 2241, Catechism of the Catholic Church:

"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens."

[Nea Wood]

If an American Christian were to sneak into Canada, steal some Canadian’s identity, work “under the table,” and/or receive healthcare, services and benefits paid for by Canadian taxpayers, would that be wrong? Clearly, it would be. Any such Christian would be told by her pastor (if he’s worth his salt) that she was being dishonest, covetous and thieving; that she should be in submission to the authorities over her and apply to live in Canada legally. But somehow, when it’s someone sneaking across OUR border, we must be sympathetic. We must let them stay. We must give them everything. I’m sick and tired of being told that it’s “un-Christian” to oppose illegal immigration. If being (supposedly) “poor” is reason to excuse crime, then anyone can shoplift, rob a bank, or mug a person on the street and it’s okay because the one who did it is “poor.”

[Jaded]

Thank you.

[Claud]

Very well done! My hat’s off to you Mrs. Don-o!

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thought you might be interested in this.

[maryz]

Maybe you could have added something about the appalling mistreatment of would-be immigrants themselves at the hands of the coyotes.

[Tennessee Nana]

Cue the APPLAUSE pic...

:)

[DLfromthedesert]

Well thought out letter; I hope he reads it with an open mind.

[Honorary Serb]

The Holy Gospel of Christ teaches us to care for the orphan, the widow, and the sojourner.

it does NOT obligate us to abide a full-scale barbarian invasion, as many Church Fathers—East and West—attest to.

America is being subjected to TWO barbarian invasions—one of muslims, and one across our southern border.

The REAL perpetrators of the second barbarian invasion are corrupt politicians and businesses in BOTH Mexico and the US, who exploit “immigrants” for cheap labor. The other main perpetrators are the Mexican drug cartels, and those in the US who collaborate with them. Now muslim terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and the KLA are collaborating with the cartels, making things even worse than they were.

Mexico is a resource-rich country, but most people are poor due to misappropriation by corrupt businesses, politicians, and criminals. Immigration is used as a “safety valve” to export poverty and crime to the US. Then evil politicians like obama bash Arizona when it tries to do what it can to alleviate the burden of crime and of the cost of illegal immigration on her people and her economy. This has got to stop!!!!

The US government, the business community and the churches should work with Mexico to alleviate its problems, and stop contributing to them as they do now. We should adopt a tough love approach to Mexico—a little aid coupled with restrictions on immigration, with the main burden on Mexico to solve its own problems.

Helping Mexico to become a better place for its people to live is the REAL way to care for the “alien”!

[GailA]

God Save Arizona by Ray Stevens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWpOcZVnBrc

[Lauren BaRecall]

A beautiful job. You're always so calm, respectful, and well reasoned, which is the perfect approach towards Bishops and others in religious authority. (I'm more of the Mark Levin School of Public Discourse. LOL!)

I've got to check out that book!

Thanks for the ping.

[EDINVA]

A predicate for the Bishop’s perspective is that he likely joined a seminary at a young age and has been in the priesthood ever since. Not to discount his work or sacrifice, but he’s never had to work for a salary to make ends meet. He’s never had to produce a job, and meet a payroll; he’s never had to pay rent/mortgage or auto/maintenance/insurance or his own medical/dental, much less groceries, clothing and other necessities. The house (rectory) needs a new roof? Paid for. Need a new car? Paid for.

The ‘vow of poverty’ doesn’t include all those basic life costs incumbent on the rest of us. Economically speaking, it’s a socialistic lifestyle. The Church replacing the State in this case.

What the good Bishop doesn’t understand is that the ‘remittances’ that are allegedly decreasing poverty in other countries results in considerably less in the US taxpayers’ pockets. While illegals receive a lesser salary than a legal, they aren’t paying taxes at the federal, state or local level. Their children’s education and their families’ health care is all being paid by US taxpayers. Most of those students require extra educational costs, i.e., ESL.

Those workers who have ‘discretionary dollars’ to send ‘home’ are leaving the US taxpayers’ families with fewer and fewer discretionary dollars. And it is reaching critical mass with the burden on our educational, health and, yes, criminal institutions.

The US has to stop offering free services to anyone and everyone who manages to enter this country illegally. From anywhere. There was a program in place years ago whereby workers could come into the country during planting thru harvest season, and then would return home. They were offered wages, but not all the freebies now available that have served as nothing but a magnet for ever increasing unlawfulness and sapping of our national resources.

It’s time these ‘well meaning’ clergy and others learn the difference between being charitable (with other peoples’ money) and being foolish.

[PGalt]

Thanks for your good work, Mrs. Don-o. I should take the time to list all posters...instead I’ll ping a couple of posters and BUMP-TO-THE-TRUTH for a great thread.

Words and deeds. Question everything and everyone.

[Sloth]

Good as Bishop Stika's intentions may be --- and I am convinced that they are the best

There's your mistake.

[Albion Wilde]

Beautiful letter. Thanks for sharing.

[AliVeritas]

Thank you so much. I’m so tired of the communist influence in the church. He has no clue the plans lined up for us.
And it’s a shame.

Thou shalt not steal is a commandment.

Has he seen the conditions and how they are mistreated in CA and other places? Doesn’t he see this also separates the father from the family (his role) and spawn second relationships and illegitimate children? Does he not care for those who immigrate legal (great cost, long waits), citizens who pay for these services and those (here anyway), who sit in the pews 40 years without attempting to resolve their status and no amendment of purpose? What example it sets to their children re: right and wrong?

Had our bishops preached marriage, the gospel of life and morals from scripture, this wouldn’t be the subject period.

Sorry for the rant, i’ll add it to my confession list for today.

[AliVeritas]

BTW, what are the bishops doing in the countries of origin re: the source? Why can’t they earn a living in their countries? I understand it could be dangerous in some places, they are charged to tell the truth in and out of season. The bishops here could speak out for them.