Posted on 06/15/2007 9:52:56 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
BOISE, Idaho (CNS) – Boise Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, in a pastoral statement on immigration, called on the people and parishes of his diocese "to recognize Christ in the person of every immigrant and to proclaim the church's message of hope and welcome in our local communities."
"I challenge all parishes and individual Catholics to pray for and with all those affected by this (immigration) crisis, to become educated on the reality of immigration in our country, to work for the creation of a just and realistic immigration policy," the bishop wrote.
He issued his pastoral June 4, three days before immigration reform legislation was stalled in the U.S. Senate. A procedural vote intended to bring the bill to a vote failed June 7.
After the vote, Bishop Driscoll urged Catholics in Idaho to write their senators urging them to pass immigration reform legislation.
"As Catholics, we should be supportive of immigration reform," he told the Idaho Catholic Register, the official newspaper of the statewide Boise Diocese.
In his pastoral he said that "for the Catholic Church immigration is not a political issue, but a fundamental moral issue which impacts human rights, human life and human dignity."
"Because of this, we implore our national legislators to reform current immigration policy in a way that protects our national security, respects our common humanity and reflects the principles of justice upon which our country was built," he wrote.
Bishop Driscoll echoed points that had been previously outlined by the U.S. bishops about immigration reform, saying it should include a fair and realistic pathway to citizenship and should allow family members to remain united. He also called for the reform of an employment-based system and due process protection for immigrants.
The bishop acknowledged that the church's teaching "may be at odds" with popular sentiment, but said that Catholic social teaching compels believers to work for change.
But he said, "We stand firmly with our faith tradition which calls us to protect human life and dignity, to serve the poor, the vulnerable and the stranger in our midst and to challenge unjust public policies."
Immigrants have played a key role in the development of this country, Bishop Driscoll said. "From the earliest days, our nation has been a nation of immigrants. ... Yet today, we find ourselves at a critical juncture regarding our openness to newcomers."
"Our common faith in Jesus Christ implores us to 'hunger and thirst for justice' and to 'welcome the strangers' among us as our neighbors," he wrote. "In light of this Gospel mandate, we can do no less! It is my hope, and that of many other people of faith, that our hearts will become more open to the plight of the immigrant and that our elected federal officials will enact comprehensive reforms which are humane, realistic and responsible."
The day after a June 12 immigration raid on a produce plant in Portland, Ore., Archbishop John G. Vlazny of Portland issued a statement calling the action "an affront to a nation whose tradition has always welcomed the stranger in search of the security and livelihood which he cannot find in the country of his origin."
The archbishop noted the stress and turmoil such raids place on the family members of those arrested and encouraged "Catholic parishes and individuals to offer assistance and support to families that have been affected by this raid."
In an article that appeared in the June 4 edition of America magazine, Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, said Americans must embrace each other as brothers and sisters in faith regardless of their ethnic background.
Although he did not take a position on current immigration legislation before Congress, Anderson noted the rising number of Hispanic Catholics in the United States and said that as they "breathe new life into our parish communities" Catholics should help them become assimilated into parishes and communities.
"If we Catholics were to view Hispanic immigrants as brothers and sisters in faith, and if we were to share that vision with the rest of our country we could significantly shape the future of the church, the country, the continent and the hemisphere," he wrote in the national Catholic weekly published by Jesuits.
I really don’t care if I draw attention. Maybe you should.
I disagree. There is no "basic justice" in the DMV :)
If there is a Heaven (not that I'm doubting), IMO it's something akin to a 36-hole golf course with a well-stocked Pro shop And if there's a Hell, I'm certain it's like spending the day at the DMV without having the right paperwork.
And no water hazards.
Absolutely we should love our neighbors as ourselves; and absolutely God is color blind and blind to nationalities. God trieth and knoweth the hearts ('...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart'.).
But how is it love to encourage people to break the laws? How is it love to effectively penalize those that do obey the laws (e.g., wait in line for years to immigrate legally into the land)?
I have zero respect for pretenders of the faith, no matter what titles they bestow upon themselves, who take what they want out of Scripture to buttress their political arguments - but ignore the Message. Christ is our focus. Not the 'Almighty Dollar'. There is nothing wrong with being poor, and those who have (on their own volition -- not at the end of the taxman's gun) should give to those who have not. But while we sojourn here on the earth -- follow the laws of the land (as long as they don't work contrary to the laws of God). Don't break the laws to gather more 'stuff'...
Boise Bishop Driscoll is one of the worst. I pray that the illegals will start respecting the laws of our country. No amnesty.
“BTW, I didn’t ask for your posts to be removed.” 8-)
Was it?
Sometimes I just get bent out of shape when it comes to these types of threads.
If more of us did, ...
Guess there is a first time for everything at FR.
Could have been worse. (But it won’t)
God love all of us!
Guess there is a first time for everything at FR.
Could have been worse. (But it won’t)
God love all of us!
Guess there is a first time for everything at FR.
Could have been worse. (But it won’t)
God love all of us!
Guess there is a first time for everything at FR.
Could have been worse. (But it won’t)
God love all of us!
Fine, but that still doesn’t mean I have to welcome people who came here illegally.
Wow! A rare Quad!!!!! Sorry folks! ;D!
ping
Amen!
Christ instituted them at the Tower of Babel.
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.