Opposite sides of the fence.It is nice to know that some of the clergy in this country are willing to speak out regarding certain issues no matter how unpopular. In "Catholics without borders A number of NGOs have adopted the "Without Borders" tag, inspired by Doctors without Borders.
The church considers the problem of migrants from the standpoint of Christ, who died to gather together the dispersed dis·perse v. dis·persed, dis·pers·ing, dis·pers·es v.tr. 1. a. To drive off or scatter in different directions: The police dispersed the crowd. b. children of God (John 11:52), to rehabilitate re·ha·bil·i·tate v. 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. the marginalized, and to bring close those who are distant. Therefore immigrants must be treated not just humanely but with dignity regardless of status. Migrants, like all persons, possess inherent human rights that should be respected. The church must guard against attempts to make our brothers and sisters scapegoats for local problems. When confronted with prejudice and xenophobic xen·o·phobe n. A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples. xen attitudes, the church must not fail to speak up for the vulnerable. In the church no one is a stranger. The church is the place where illegal immigrants illegal immigrant n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa. (See: alien) are also recognized and accepted as brothers and sisters. Today illegal migrants come before us as that "stranger," in whom Jesus asks to be recognized. To welcome immigrants is a duty of hospitality and a show of fidelity to the gospel. Olivia Cornejo Orange, Calif. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U.S. bishops should quit lamenting the fate of illegal immigrants and stop waiting for the Good Samaritan Good Samaritan man who helped half-dead victim of thieves after a priest and a Levite had “passed by.” [N.T.: Luke 10:33] See : Helpfulness Good Samaritan , a.k.a. the U.S. taxpayer, to help. Catholic bishops can help relocate the illegal immigrants by simply insisting that their parishes have a special collection for that purpose every month. And as for concern over reuniting immigrant families, Bishop Soto should recognize that a great many Americans are also separated from their families by military service, divorce, or the need to find work. I admit that my in-laws missed their families when they immigrated to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and never saw them again. On the other hand, had their relatives come, the family members still overseas would miss those they left behind. Dick Windgassen Venice, Fla. |
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