Posted on 03/18/2006 9:19:19 AM PST by sanormal
In a tiny house on the West Side, two nuns provide a daily break for Mexican immigrant mothers struggling to raise families in a foreign culture.
The nuns teach English, computer skills and arts and crafts. They celebrate birthdays and invite residents to the local Catholic church for Masses. If requested, they give advice on applying for citizenship.
It's free. No questions asked. Not about religion. Not about legal status.
But the work of the 7-month-old Presentation Ministry Center and similar organizations could be in jeopardy, according to opponents of a bill approved by the U.S. House in December.
As part of a proposed overhaul of immigration law, the House wants to make it a crime for any individual or group to knowingly assist the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
Whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Islamic, religious leaders say critical social services to the undocumented potentially could be reduced — if not stopped — should that part of the bill become law.
It could force them into a moral quandary: Obey civil law or God's mandate to show compassion to the poor.
Many religious leaders already have made their choice.
"If they want to put a bunch of priests and ministers in jail, then we're going to have to face the consequences," said Father Jim Loiacono, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Eagle Pass, four blocks from the Texas-Mexico border. "It's heartless because these are people who are so desperate there's no way we can turn them away."
(Excerpt) Read more at mysanantonio.com ...
No. It isn't a matter of "luck". It's God's plan for my life. There is no luck involved. I am fortunate not to have been born elsewhere, and for that I am grateful.
You have no clue what I have or have not given to others so please dismount from your high horse. Get the log out of your eye before you worry about the mote in mine.
Matthew 20
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle,[a] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’[b]
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”[c]
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death
I guess I did miss your point. Still don't have any idea what it was.
susie
I'm not interested in what you have or have not given. I'm dismissive of your attitude which seems to be that you somehow deserve the good things that have been given you. However, If that is not your belief then there is no reason for you to take issue with anything I've said.
That the world isn't fair. I thought I was clear. Any argument that is based essentially on the the idea such that "I deserve this because of _______," is utterly meaningless in the face reality.
I know. I thought it might help you.
I confess to needing all the help I can get from the Lord. That said, you might study to show yourself a workman approved, and try to pull the log out of you own eye prior to attempting to pull the splinter out of your neighbor's eye.
I have merely posted scripture and asked questions on this thread. I think you have attributed to me something that is not there. I am glad about your certainty in regards to God's desire for our treatment of aliens. I had hoped you would shed some light on that but instead you got angry because I wanted more from your answers.
I apologize if I caused you some of that anger. I think because you have a personal issue in this you might not be able to look at it as clear.
I prayed before posting to you today and the steward story above was placed in my mind and that is what I think God told me how to understand our conversation. I can't say I understand I know what it means for me and much less you in this respect.
Since he did not understand the meaning, then your source was not God.
So, you're saying that because someone works hard they do well, that's not deserved? You think that those who do well are just lucky?
susie
And many people who work hard receive no benefit for their labor. Do they deserve what they get? We would likely not be happy if we all got what we truly deserved.
You may as well state:" You are a cockroach, but if you aren't, then don't worry about me calling you a cockroach." I will call a spade a spade. You are a sanctimonious, holier than thou, ignoramus who infers nonsense from common sense, and apparently has reading comprehension difficulties. I suggest that you read Proverbs. There is a great deal of information about fools. You will feel right at home.
We are dealing with a Jehovah's Witness in Raycpa and a socialist in Paypal, or what ever it's moniker is. Save your breath. I've sent my last post to them.
As to me being particularly “sanctimonious,” yes I do tend to write with a bit of an arrogant effect I suppose. Please forgive me and ignore it in the future. The mood of an argument cannot effect its objective validity either way.
Socialism is a heresy.
I do not believe that alien is synonomous with ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTs on American soil.
I think alien just means foreigner.
Regarding the illegals here, we should feed them, clothe them, give them medical and financial help and send them home unless they are political refugees or truly coming for their lives.
No one has a right to take from others to the point they are becoming impoverished, which is what is happening to the lower and middle class in America. Every year a million more people go on the poverty rolls, as a million illegals come in.
Well, I would agree, from a sin standpoint we are lucky we if we do not get what we deserve. However, for most folks who work hard, they do deserve what success they get.
susie
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