Posted on 09/02/2015 3:42:25 AM PDT by markomalley
The leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Tuesday attacked Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's call for ending automatic citizenship for children born to immigrants living illegally in the U.S., saying the idea "plays on our worst fears and resentments."
"Some in public life — notably, but not only, Donald Trump — have called for an end to birthright citizenship," Archbishop Charles Chaput said in remarks prepared for a church forum that was part of the run-up of activities to a visit later this month by Pope Francis. "This is a profoundly bad idea."
The archbishop said he hoped immigration would be a key part of the discussions during the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and the pope's appearance during the closing weekend.
The pope has decried what he has called the "inhuman" conditions facing migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and encouraged frontier communities to not judge people by stereotypes but rather welcome migrants and work to end discrimination.
Without at first mentioning Trump by name, Chaput began his remarks by declaring: "At least one of our presidential candidates has already made the national immigration debate ugly with a great deal of belligerent bombast."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
While I, looking at the issue from a strictly apolitical point of view, can appreciate that illegal aliens are still human beings and, based upon that status as a human being, deserve the basic respect that comes with that status, the fact of the matter is that they have violated the law, either by crossing the border in an illegal fashion, remaining in the country outside of the purview of their visas, and, most likely, by working within the country without proper authorization either by working on a cash-only basis or through using fraudulent documents. In all of this discussion from any of the high-profile bishops, I see absolutely no acknowledgment of that fact. Literally the last time I've heard that mentioned was several years ago by Archbishop Gomez when he was still Archbishop of San Antonio.
Without that acknowledgment, there's no room for any kind of discussion. The biggest problem is that these high-profile bishops seem to utterly disregard Catholic teaching on the subject:
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. (CCC 2241)
Well stated. The bishops seem hopelessly befuddled on this matter.
What is this theological principle by which immigrants have no duty to respect the laws of the nation to which they migrate? We are bound to pay our coin to Caesar, but that duty is suddenly magically suspended for them?
Christian charity, yes. But our nation could be far more charitable by simply expanding legal immigration from Mexico.
Catholic bishops need to be educated on the Constitution at least as much as an ordinary person. The 14th Amendment does not say anyone born here is a citizen. It’s been interpreted as such by corrupt judges but that’s another story.
I hope Trump et al read the Catechism on this it also states that unchecked immigration is bad since it destroys the host country rendering it ultimately incapable of helping anyone
I am surprised this is going on with this particular archbishop.
This is a sovereign country. What is going on in some cities is citizens are shoved out of opportunities while aliens both legal and illegal are favored.
Trump should look at a typical job application
Non white Hispanics are favored in the interest of equal opportunity When have non white Hispanics ever been massively oppressed in this country?
White High school kids are routinely pushed aside in admissions to schools, in scholarships in favor of ‘non white Hispanics’ The language is blatant. And people pretend the kids are not seeing this as racist
What do people say about or to the countries of origin of these people?
And what do these pro immigration people ?
What is it with the bishops? Is it the leadership in this case of Gomez and Garcia Siller? These men are not even natural born citizens of this country. They are not, I don’t think, by agreement and law, by virtue of their immigrant citizenship status, allowed to criticize the laws of this their adopted country, particularly by virtue of their public status
But I am surprised at Chaput
Trump should get educated on this.
These people are rallying It’s unlawful and it is against Church doctrine. There is a substantial if not majority of Catholics shoved aside in this policy for invasion
Or criticizing Mexican government policies and leaving us US citizens alone to deal with our own 19 trillion dollar debt
Illegal aliens are breaking the law.
Breaking the law is a sin.
Therefore, anyone who aids or abets illegal aliens is aiding or abetting sin.
Why, then, do those high up in the church hierarchy not see this?
There has to be some hidden motive or agenda.
Liberation Theology?
Maybe Pope Francis will travel to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, etc, and reprimand them for their abuses of human dignity that results in their need to flee?
Around billion dollars in taxpayer monies to help assimilate the illegals could have something to do with it.
Ain't that the truth. Add to that traveling to Muslim North Africa and Muslim Mideast and heap scorn upon them as well (think about illegals in Europe).
Another excellent point. ISIS types are coming over the border to commit acts of terror. So it's our responsibility to let them in? Does the state not have an obligation in charity to keep these murderers out?
The whole thing is absurd. Might as well tell Catholics to remove any locks on their doors.
Our successors to the Apostles have far wandered away from the mission of Jesus Christ in their “political” endeavors.
Chaput is a phony. He writes “conservative” articles about the crises in church and society—but always ends up blaming the laity. The bishops don’t even exist. He pushes every stupid, lefty idea the Pope puts out. Chaput has an Augustinian priest in his archdiocese who has been publishing articles advocating gay marriage for several years. Chaput does nothing about him.
That's quite an imagination you have there!
Born December 21, 1956 (age 58)
San Luis Potosí, Mexico
On December 15, 1998, Garcia-Siller became a citizen of the United States.[6]
He led a rally last week under the pretense of attending a group of catholic of 2500 He claimed that the U.S. Govt is unjust in its attempt to practice immigration laws. More specifically he said the pope plans to speak with republicans about this cruelty
But he screamed it
I remember reading up on this whe Gomez was in charge And he is a source of the USCCB thought in immigration, that he, Gomez, was not allowed to criticize our government publicly by agreement of his citizenship
Have we become so open border that this sounds like strange policy ?
first cardinal dolan. now chaput have called out trump’s immigration plan. dolan says trump’s plan sounds the anti-catholic protestant sentiments of yester-century. i expect pope francis to declare trump’s plan to be sinful without refering him by name. then the media will egg trump to insult the pope. can trump resist?
As if there are serious problems inside the Church Chaput should be concentrating on right now. Fix your home first.
The bishops should NOT be engaging in politics.
The problem is birthright citizenship *abuse.*
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