Bishop Frank J. Dewane sent the faithful of his diocese, of which I am one, an e-mail correspondence in which he expressed his desire for support of the American Catholic Bishop's in 'lobbying for' and 'encouraging public policy' in order to 'provide a legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and laborers.' This, on the surface, sounds very Catholic, and very compassionate. We all know the familiar plight of the migrant worker--good citizen, good family person, good Catholic, legally here through a work visa.
But then I hit the linked attachment to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to find a petition with a disturbing and all too familiar ring!
The petition in question: http://www.capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=62312721&type=CO
The petition starts with a respectable call for 'compassionate immigration reform.' It appeals to the 113th Congress, however, with an all too uncomfortable 'Obamian' ring. For it's first request is to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country--without distinguishing between those legally here with work visa's and those who climb walls, crawl through tunnels, and shoot past immigration officers--disrespecting existing laws! It is true that Catholic Social Teaching always seeks first 'a preferential option for the poor' in faithfulness to the Judaeo-Christian understanding of the plight of the underprivileged and defenseless. But it also respects the right of nations to self-govern, to protect their citizens, and expects immigrants to apply legally for citizenship while respecting all just laws.
And it is a just law that America expects people of other nations to enter this land legally!
The petition, moreover, is couched in feel good Catholic lingo such as 'Preserves family unity,' and 'Provides legal paths,' and 'Addresses the root causes of migration,' while slipping in a suspicious phrase like 'due process.'
Due process: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process
Yes, all Catholics, and all people of good will, want to preserve family unity. But so do two other groups as well! Existing citizens want to preserve family unity against illegal-alien criminals allowed to come to our nation legally! And hundreds, if not thousands, of immigrants on a long waiting list, applying legally, and patiently, want to preserve their family unity as well! And to 'provide legal pathways' should mean that if your here illegally, you have to go to the back of the line and wait your turn like a good, law abiding citizen! And the root cause of massive Mexican, and South American, migration is the rampant criminal activity exercised in these countries by both corrupt government and powerful and violent drug lords! Does amnesty provide a pathway for them? And 'due process,' hmmm? Of course every human person on God's green earth should be treated with respect, even those found breaking laws. But they should be given due process just as someone found breaking a law!
Illegal immigration is still a crime! http://www.americanpatrol.com/REFERENCE/isacrime.html
Finally, have the Catholic Bishops forgotten that they are 'lobbying' with the same people who want to persecute the Church through the HHS mandate? President Obama does not want amnesty for purely humanitarian reasons! He wants more people on entitlement so that his government will grow in power, and America will be 'fundamentally changed.' 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...' American qualities respected by Catholics, are being attacked by the very people who will whore the Bishops for amnesty!
Agree? tranz4mation@comcast.net
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