Survey finds strong Catholic support for immigration changes

Washington D.C., Apr 27, 2013 / 01:09 pm (CNA).- A survey commissioned by the U.S. bishops finds that almost 80 percent of Catholics support legal changes that allow immigrants to gain “earned citizenship” through meeting certain requirements.

“It is clear that Catholics understand the importance of this issue,” Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, who chairs the U.S. bishops’ migration committee, said April 19 in response to the poll.

“As an immigrant church, Catholics from all walks of life understand the migration experience and accept the Gospel’s call to welcome the stranger.”

The survey, commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs, found that 77 percent of U.S. Catholics support citizenship for immigrants who fulfill requirements like registration, paying a fine, paying taxes, and taking English classes.

Eighty-four percent of respondents agree that requiring immigrants to register with the government in order to remain in the country would improve national security.

Another 75 percent of respondents said immigration law enforcement should be focused on “humane values” that deport violent criminals but “finds ways to work with people who have come to find a better life.”

Most respondents said that border security and humane treatment of illegal immigrants are compatible and most agree that the Church has an obligation to help those in need, even if they are illegal residents. Additionally, most believe that immigrants are good for the economy, and most thought that enforcement-only policy focused on deportations is bad for family unity.

Sixty percent of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more said that the immigration issue is very important to them.

The Catholic bishops have endorsed changes to immigration law, such as allowing an expansive “path to citizenship” for undocumented immigrants and expanding legal migration for low-skilled migrant workers.

Archbishop Gomez encouraged Catholics to ask their legislators to support “humane” immigration reform, saying this would “help our brothers and sisters come out of the shadows and become full members of our communities.”

To me, the biggest problem isn’t immigration - it’s the welfare state. Why a conservative would argue against immigration and for the welfare state makes no sense to me. Eliminate the free handouts....
I have nothing against legal immigration. I think it’s a net boon and benefit to America. I oppose illegal immigration and believe all those found to be in America illegally should be deported. I believe that consistant enforcement of the present immigration rules would drastically change the landscape such that many would leave of their own accord. But this would require consistant enforcement by deporting everyone, no exceptions, found to be here illegally....
Conservativism appeals to everyone. The problem is the welfare state - that you are removing people from the action of capitalism. People will not act according to the dictates of free market capitalism if they are sheltered from it. This is basic logic. Remove the welfare state, and you will see people prefer conservativism. The democrats get this. The democrats know that the more people that are dependent on them, the greater their hold on the electorate....

I believe in a party inclusive in backgrounds, but narrow on principles. If they are willing to side with us on the important issues, then great. Beyond that I don’t care. White, black, blue, brown, yellow. Young or old. Catholic or Protestant, or whatever. The demographic reality is that we are going to have to pitch our case for conservativism to hispanic people. Or fade into oblivion. That’s the reality. We can either choose to take that mission on or shrink from it. Your choice.

Sounds like two minutes of anti-Catholic hate to me. Or is that just your schtick?

I don’t get that vibe from any of you. I see it as you wanting an America that reflects your ideals and that anyone that doesn’t fit shouldn’t be a part of it. Catholics, especially.

If that's the vibe you're getting, you might try putting down the vibrator.

Back to the point ~ the hispanics hate American whites and despise American blacks. Whichever political party they take over they're going to be alone. That forever dooms them to a secondary role in the American political process.

That's an interesting assertion but I believe there may be something ignored in your analysis. Abortion.

Latinos generally are opposed to it, so given that, their population will grow at a faster pace than whites and blacks, generally speaking. Indeed, I do believe latest projections have Hispanics/Latinos as being the new "majority" in the US by 2020.

So really, taking this into account, whichever party Hispanics enter/take over will be ruled by them, and the blacks and whites are the ones that will take a "secondary role".

immigrant rates of growth dry up in a generation.

Also, several experiments in some really nasty parts of India found out women wre willing to begin counseling their reproductive habits simply by being told 'you don't need to have so many kids'.

Then, there are the marriages across ethnic lines ~ the chiquitas are always going to be more interested in the guys with good jobs than the homeless campesinos still wearing village costumes.

ALWAYS!!!

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