Where are the Bishops?: Immigration Reform Pt 1.
I just don’t get it, I am baffled, I don’t know what to think about the matter. About two days ago I stumbled upon this disturbing letter written by the Catholic Bishops of Mexico in response to Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 law the letter states, (You can read the entire article here.)
“With deep sadness, we have received the news that the immigration law SB1070 has entered into force,” the statement begins. Expressing solidarity with Latinos residing in the United States, the bishops “ask with insistence that the Lord of life and all the earth move the hearts of all people who do not know the Father of all and have not been able to discover brotherhood, tolerance, and mercy.”
“We value and we are thankful to the noble and generous people of the United States of America, who for years have offered a warm welcome and support to Mexico and so many countries in need on the continent and in the world,” the statement continues. “We are disappointed to see, and we firmly condemn, the selfish and irresponsible attitude of certain powerful groups which aim to separate countless families, leaving them to drown in deepest misery and poverty after having made enormous sacrifices and risked their lives in the search for a better life and a future of wellbeing and justice for their children.”
“We join our voices with those of all men and women of goodwill calling on Mexican authorities, and Mexican families and parishes, to warmly welcome with specific pastoral care our brothers and sisters forced to retrace their steps.”
“We intend to continue our activity to render our people of Mexico ‘A Home and a School of Communion,’ enabling them to be present in faith and prayer. We give them our blessing as Bishops and we commend them to the Heart of God, to His Son Jesus Christ, and to Holy Mary of Guadalupe.”
I can relate to the bishop’s concern for the welfare of their citizens but what about the citizens in our country who are being adversely affected by illegal immigration? I take great offense specifically with these lines:
“We are disappointed to see, and we firmly condemn, the selfish and irresponsible attitude of certain powerful groups which aim to separate countless families, leaving them to drown in deepest misery and poverty after having made enormous sacrifices and risked their lives in the search for a better life and a future of wellbeing and justice for their children.”
So in other words if you support securing the border then you are selfish and irresponsible? So if use this logic than what rights does any sovereign nation have to defend themselves against illegal immigration? So are we just supposed to let anyone come into our country that has a desire to? What about the sacrifices made by the people who legally immigrated into our country? It is so discouraging and distressing to think that these bishops could be so clueless and insensitive to our Arizona’s right to protect themselves. Let me prove my point with this tragic account…
On March 27 Robert Krentz a rancher from Arizona was killed when he was checking his fencing and water pipes. His only crime was that he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The suspect who killed Krentz fled 20 miles south to Mexico to escape the charges. Fortunately he was eventually apprehended, but it was discovered that the suspect was an illegal immigrant, who also worked as a drug smuggler. I realize fully that most illegal immigrant are not murderers, most if these immigrants are fleeing for the right reasons, to have a slice of the American dream, a better life for themselves and their families. My problem is not with these good people my issue lies mostly in the injustice that is caused upon everyday Americans as a result of illegal immigration.
One does not need to look far to realize the enormous cost of illegal immigration on our border states. It is estimated that billions of dollars are spent each year on healthcare, schooling, crime prosecution, etc. For example in California the state just recently declared bankruptcy. A large contributing reason to this was attributed to illegal immigrants. (Although the media conveniently did not report this fact)With California declaring bankruptcy thee great fear and expectation is that the other border states such as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas might follow suit if this illegal immigration problem does not get resolved.
I am upset because I feel that their sentiments do not reflect the attitudes of a majority of Americans, most of who are not wealthy, and are being directly impacted by their state’s financial ruins. Where are the bishops’s to support these families who have been adversely affected by illegal immigration? Where were the bishops when Robert Krentz was savagely murdered?
My great concern is that there is a severe disconnect from bishops to the authentic needs of their parishioners. It seems that most bishops are simply content to recite the same, clichéd platitudes of social justice, even at the expense of their parishioner’s safety. Another glaring example of this ecclesiastical disconnect came throughout the pedophilia scandals of 2002. Most of the cardinals and bishops did nothing to protect the victims of the abuses, most of these weasel bishops hid behind established protocols, even at the expense of the dignity of the parishioners they were supposed to protect in the first place. Even throughout the world especially in countries such as Ireland, Germany, and Belgium, where the sex abuse scandal are only beginning to surface a consensus is building from the local state authorities that a great reason for the problem was that the bishops did nothing or little to protect their flock from these predator priests. They simply choose to ignore the needs of their parishioners and relocate the priests somewhere else. Through these events a disturbing trend is beginning to take shape, most of our bishops do not care, they will not protect us, they are far too disconnected from everyday reality.
For me the illegal immigration takes on a deeply personal tone. I am a proud first generation American, the son of two European immigrants. My mother was from Slovakia while my father was from Italy. Both of my parents left their respective homelands in search for a better life, here in America. Both of my parents also went through the grueling process of legalized immigration to become naturalized citizens. (My mother could not even attend the funeral of her father.) My question to the bishops of Mexico and the US where are you in defense of the immigrants who became naturalized citizens? Are they in support of unfettered amnesty for all illegal immigrants? If this is the case this is an injustice, a slap at the face of those millions of immigrants who like my parents made painstaking sacrifices to become naturalized citizens. I would even argue that this stance in not Christian even though it might be mistaken as, since a key virtue of Christianity is justice as St. Paul writes,
“I do not mean that other’s should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time, should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there is equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8: 13-15)
What’s striking about this passage is that Paul advising the community at Corinth to be judicious in their helping of those in need. Notice that Paul is not just saying that the poor should be helped at all costs, he is advising instead that the help should be distributed proportionally to the abundance of the helper. If the helper does not have the resources then the helper is not bound to help the poor person. It is almost the same message where Jesus reprimanded Judas for criticizing Mary for using expensive ointment to wash Jesus shockingly responds, “The poor you have always with you but you not always have me.”(John 12:7) I understand that the context that Jesus was speaking about was his upcoming death, but the reason I quoted this verse is to show that serving and helping the poor should not trump one’s walk with Christ, or justice. Our country has a duty to protect its citizens; this basic duty has allowed our country to function freely and safely without the threat of anarchy or tyranny. If our country forfeits this right then what becomes of our nation? Of this world?
I believe wholeheartedly that we should welcome and encourage immigration into our country. Each person should have the chance to better their lives, but not at the overburdening expense of our hard working tax payers. My final question is what does our country gain if we continue on this path of allowing status quo illegal immigration? We might win some sentimental, emotional victories, but at what expense? What happens to the rule of law when it is truncated and not enforced? I shudder to think of the consequences. It is my prayer that our bishops wake up to this reality before it is too late.
“With deep sadness, we have received the news that the immigration law SB1070 has entered into force,” the statement begins. Expressing solidarity with Latinos residing in the United States, the bishops “ask with insistence that the Lord of life and all the earth move the hearts of all people who do not know the Father of all and have not been able to discover brotherhood, tolerance, and mercy.”
“We value and we are thankful to the noble and generous people of the United States of America, who for years have offered a warm welcome and support to Mexico and so many countries in need on the continent and in the world,” the statement continues. “We are disappointed to see, and we firmly condemn, the selfish and irresponsible attitude of certain powerful groups which aim to separate countless families, leaving them to drown in deepest misery and poverty after having made enormous sacrifices and risked their lives in the search for a better life and a future of wellbeing and justice for their children.”
“We join our voices with those of all men and women of goodwill calling on Mexican authorities, and Mexican families and parishes, to warmly welcome with specific pastoral care our brothers and sisters forced to retrace their steps.”
“We intend to continue our activity to render our people of Mexico ‘A Home and a School of Communion,’ enabling them to be present in faith and prayer. We give them our blessing as Bishops and we commend them to the Heart of God, to His Son Jesus Christ, and to Holy Mary of Guadalupe.”
I can relate to the bishop’s concern for the welfare of their citizens but what about the citizens in our country who are being adversely affected by illegal immigration? I take great offense specifically with these lines:
“We are disappointed to see, and we firmly condemn, the selfish and irresponsible attitude of certain powerful groups which aim to separate countless families, leaving them to drown in deepest misery and poverty after having made enormous sacrifices and risked their lives in the search for a better life and a future of wellbeing and justice for their children.”
So in other words if you support securing the border then you are selfish and irresponsible? So if use this logic than what rights does any sovereign nation have to defend themselves against illegal immigration? So are we just supposed to let anyone come into our country that has a desire to? What about the sacrifices made by the people who legally immigrated into our country? It is so discouraging and distressing to think that these bishops could be so clueless and insensitive to our Arizona’s right to protect themselves. Let me prove my point with this tragic account…
On March 27 Robert Krentz a rancher from Arizona was killed when he was checking his fencing and water pipes. His only crime was that he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The suspect who killed Krentz fled 20 miles south to Mexico to escape the charges. Fortunately he was eventually apprehended, but it was discovered that the suspect was an illegal immigrant, who also worked as a drug smuggler. I realize fully that most illegal immigrant are not murderers, most if these immigrants are fleeing for the right reasons, to have a slice of the American dream, a better life for themselves and their families. My problem is not with these good people my issue lies mostly in the injustice that is caused upon everyday Americans as a result of illegal immigration.
One does not need to look far to realize the enormous cost of illegal immigration on our border states. It is estimated that billions of dollars are spent each year on healthcare, schooling, crime prosecution, etc. For example in California the state just recently declared bankruptcy. A large contributing reason to this was attributed to illegal immigrants. (Although the media conveniently did not report this fact)With California declaring bankruptcy thee great fear and expectation is that the other border states such as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas might follow suit if this illegal immigration problem does not get resolved.
I am upset because I feel that their sentiments do not reflect the attitudes of a majority of Americans, most of who are not wealthy, and are being directly impacted by their state’s financial ruins. Where are the bishops’s to support these families who have been adversely affected by illegal immigration? Where were the bishops when Robert Krentz was savagely murdered?
My great concern is that there is a severe disconnect from bishops to the authentic needs of their parishioners. It seems that most bishops are simply content to recite the same, clichéd platitudes of social justice, even at the expense of their parishioner’s safety. Another glaring example of this ecclesiastical disconnect came throughout the pedophilia scandals of 2002. Most of the cardinals and bishops did nothing to protect the victims of the abuses, most of these weasel bishops hid behind established protocols, even at the expense of the dignity of the parishioners they were supposed to protect in the first place. Even throughout the world especially in countries such as Ireland, Germany, and Belgium, where the sex abuse scandal are only beginning to surface a consensus is building from the local state authorities that a great reason for the problem was that the bishops did nothing or little to protect their flock from these predator priests. They simply choose to ignore the needs of their parishioners and relocate the priests somewhere else. Through these events a disturbing trend is beginning to take shape, most of our bishops do not care, they will not protect us, they are far too disconnected from everyday reality.
For me the illegal immigration takes on a deeply personal tone. I am a proud first generation American, the son of two European immigrants. My mother was from Slovakia while my father was from Italy. Both of my parents left their respective homelands in search for a better life, here in America. Both of my parents also went through the grueling process of legalized immigration to become naturalized citizens. (My mother could not even attend the funeral of her father.) My question to the bishops of Mexico and the US where are you in defense of the immigrants who became naturalized citizens? Are they in support of unfettered amnesty for all illegal immigrants? If this is the case this is an injustice, a slap at the face of those millions of immigrants who like my parents made painstaking sacrifices to become naturalized citizens. I would even argue that this stance in not Christian even though it might be mistaken as, since a key virtue of Christianity is justice as St. Paul writes,
“I do not mean that other’s should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time, should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there is equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8: 13-15)
What’s striking about this passage is that Paul advising the community at Corinth to be judicious in their helping of those in need. Notice that Paul is not just saying that the poor should be helped at all costs, he is advising instead that the help should be distributed proportionally to the abundance of the helper. If the helper does not have the resources then the helper is not bound to help the poor person. It is almost the same message where Jesus reprimanded Judas for criticizing Mary for using expensive ointment to wash Jesus shockingly responds, “The poor you have always with you but you not always have me.”(John 12:7) I understand that the context that Jesus was speaking about was his upcoming death, but the reason I quoted this verse is to show that serving and helping the poor should not trump one’s walk with Christ, or justice. Our country has a duty to protect its citizens; this basic duty has allowed our country to function freely and safely without the threat of anarchy or tyranny. If our country forfeits this right then what becomes of our nation? Of this world?
I believe wholeheartedly that we should welcome and encourage immigration into our country. Each person should have the chance to better their lives, but not at the overburdening expense of our hard working tax payers. My final question is what does our country gain if we continue on this path of allowing status quo illegal immigration? We might win some sentimental, emotional victories, but at what expense? What happens to the rule of law when it is truncated and not enforced? I shudder to think of the consequences. It is my prayer that our bishops wake up to this reality before it is too late.
Unfortunately, my dear brudder, bishops are political players just as much as they are governing their respective Dioceses. I wouldn't put much stock in what they say. Very few that i notice are actually "on fire". You are doing the right thing by exposing their hypocrisy for even St. Paul wrote:
ReplyDeleteRomans 13:1-7 states: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
... Note: St Paul wrote this at the time when Nero (the most evil and insane emperor) was in power.
I've heard some strange stuff on this subject as well from Catholic media. They seem to be ignoring the fact that that illegal immigrants are always by definition breaking the law. Furthermore, the United States is not a charity organization, it is a government. It's job is not to help the needy in foreign countries, but to protect its citizens by making and enforcing laws. Individual Americans are perfectly capable of helping the needy without the government's help.
ReplyDelete