Here in the Central Texas, we live off one of the busiest paths in the country that brings people and products to and from Mexico. Many of us have spent a considerable amount of effort planning how to be navigate through or around I-35 so that we can get to the places we need to go, but we usually take for granted how much it connects us to our neighboring country.
In Texas, immigration plays an even larger role than it most other states, but it’s also important to remember that our immigrants extend from far beyond those that come from Mexico. We’re blessed to have a very rich, diverse community with representation from all over the world. When I first moved here, it was very noticeable to me, and it’s remained one of my favorite characteristics of Austin.
The issue of immigration often gets confusing for many Catholics in the United States. To put it bluntly, many have based their opinions on the views of a political party over those of our faith.
Just as we prioritize a pro-life approach to politics, we must also support the respect and inherent dignity of all people out of the womb. It’s easy to see the defense of those that are cute and innocent, but we have to also defend the dignity of the marginalized and forgotten.
In these situations, families are the ones that need the most defending. There are many innocent children that should not be punished because of their parent’s legal status. In my family, my parents immigrated here from Mexico under the Eisenhower administration’s bracero program to facilitate exchange of immigrant workers. My parents later became naturalized American citizens, so we were blessed to never have to deal with any legal issues. My father came because he saw an opportunity for our family, and God blessed him with a simple path to enter. Unfortunately things have changed and many people have not been blessed to have it so easy.
The corporal works of mercy remind us to feed the hungry, give drink to thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. While it is not explicitly listed as a corporal work, Catholic social teaching reminds us that we have to show love to strangers. I recommend reading more about what our church teaches about immigration.
Earlier this week Cardinal Dolan said it simply, ” this isn’t some wild, left-wing cause, this is classic Catholic teaching.” We’re Catholics first, not Republicans or Democrats.
Like so many issues today, finding a solution for immigration reform will be very complicated and costly, but we have hope that we can do it for the good of our nation. We are a country of immigrants that has thrived through bringing together people from all over the world. We must find a way to treat those that are in need while simultaneously working to keep our borders safe.
“We are part of a Church where, yes, all are welcome, but, no, not a Church of anything goes.”
– Cardinal Dolan
Here is Texas, the spill over of the drug wars have shown us the need for better border security, and none of us are arguing against this point. At the same time, we have seen the richness that immigrants have given to our culture, and we believe that all people are deserving of respect as they seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for their families
I don’t know what the solution is for the best reform, but I pray that our bishops are heard and that our politicians seek God’s guidance. Please join me in praying for this cause.
Recommended Reading
http://cardinaldolan.org/index.php/all-are-welcome/
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2013/04/were-gonna-be-judged-on-whether-or-not.html
Several years ago when Gregory Aymond was Bishop of Austin I heard him say that no issue generated as much hate mail as when he spoke on immigration. These wre letters to him from lay Catholics telling him to shut up about the topic.
It’s a contentious and complex issue and does not split along easy liberal-conservative lines that many observers like to draw around everything.
It will require serious political courage from our elected officials to address this issue – as it will to address many of the complex problems in the world today.
Thanks for posting the link to USCCB, I’ll admit now I had a vague understanding of the Church’s stance on immigration. After reading it, I do understand where the Church is coming from, but my question is at what point do we stop the influx of illegal immigrants and what of those families that are trying to get here by legal means?
The conservative stance, is that we are first and foremost a nations of laws – often we don’t agree with laws and have means to change them – hence our stance against judicial activism (just look at Roe v Wade and the current same sex marriage laws.) A person, here illegally, has no respect for the laws that make this a country worth trying to obtain entry. An open border policy would be unsustainable, at some point we would have to say “okay, that’s enough.” Right now, we’re a country with at least 16 Million unemployed, an unsustainable debt that’s being passed onto our children, and local and state resources already exhausted by those who pay into the system. My fear is a total collapse of the system that would be no good for anybody (which is why I loathe Obamacare.)
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing the richness diversity in Our Church. I mean from the Nigerans, the Indians, folks from Asia, and all the folks from South of the border. I mean, going to church on Sunday now, you feel the universality of our Church. I think about these folks a lot and wonder the hardships they had to endure to get here by legal means. That’s not say I don’t sympathize with a plight across the Sonoma desert. I’m blessed and grateful I was born here. Still, I feel the need to protect what they fought hard to obtain. We can’t do that by rewarding illegal behavior. Amnesty would encourage more illegal behavior and cost lives.
I’m torn on this one and will continue to pray about it. I have good and wonderful experiences with illegal aliens, but I fear the realities that accompany outright amnesty and the message it fosters.