On Tuesday, I told you about a member of my family who buys real estate in Philly. He remodels them and then either rents or sells them. The person who does the remodeling for him, Eduardo, is a legal permanent resident who has been here many years. On Monday of last week, he was detained by ICE because he left his green card at home. He was released on Friday, after losing five days of work and incurring the expense of a lawyer. I said then, and I'll repeat it now, that I have no problem with the removal of immigrants who have serious criminal records (violent crimes, drugs, theft). But I do have problems with doing sweeps of Home Depots, construction sites and restaurants. I do have problems with stopping someone simply because he is a bit darker in color. I do have problems with the unlawful arrests of legal permanent residents, citizens and veterans. And while I have no problem with those of you who are Trumpers, I am appalled that some of you think we all should all be required to present our papers on request to masked ICE agents. You may not like to hear it, and I am sorry to say it, but it really is fascism.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has just voted overwhelmingly (95%) for a special message condemning ICE tactics.
As pastors, we the bishops of the United States are bound to our people by ties of communion and compassion in Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care. We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status. We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools. We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones.
Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation. We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity. For this very reason, we feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.
Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks.
The Church’s teaching rests on the foundational concern for the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). As pastors, we look to Sacred Scripture and the example of the Lord Himself, where we find the wisdom of God’s compassion. The priority of the Lord, as the Prophets remind us, is for those who are most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger (Zechariah 7:10). In the Lord Jesus, we see the One who became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), we see the Good Samaritan who lifts us from the dust (Luke 10:30–37), and we see the One who is found in the least of these (Matthew 25). The Church’s concern for neighbor and our concern here for immigrants is a response to the Lord’s command to love as He has loved us (John 13:34).
To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). You are not alone!
We note with gratitude that so many of our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful already accompany and assist immigrants in meeting their basic human needs. We urge all people of good will to continue and expand such efforts.
We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials. In this dialogue, we will continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reform.
As disciples of the Lord, we remain men and women of hope,
and hope does not disappoint! (cf. Romans 5:5)
May the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe enfold us all in her maternal and loving care and draw us ever closer to the heart of Christ.
Bishops are nothing but politicians in capes who sucker believers out of their money, just like any other organized religion.
ReplyDeleteLouder for the people in the front pews! ;)
DeleteI agree, but unfortunately all religion is fiction. This would be like the staff of Hogwarts having an opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree on religion being fiction. The bible is just a fairy tale.
DeleteYet you will watch the news and believe it as gospel. Organized religion is no doubt corrupted by man. But I can promise you good and evil forces that are beyond our understanding exist. If you think this world spawned from a big bang and we are just a cosmic accident that evolved to this state of consciousness, than you are nothing more than an NPC that has been brainwashed to believe in your own meaninglessness. I pity you.
DeleteThis group, of the same group (Catholic Charities, Inc.) who made billions of tax dollars for helping to accommodate the throngs of illegal aliens who rushed over southern border during the Biden Administration. But now, that additional funding is gone. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteLook, the border crashers are being identified now under the Trump Administration. Those same visitors (not legal citizens) are being told to return back over the border and RETURN here the CORRCT way. Millions have opted to do just that, but not every visitor took this advice. American taxpayers have actually been paying for their return travel expenses back across the border!
What other accommodations can be made for those who broke our laws by ignoring our standard procedures ( exit date certain visas, etc.) for visitation here?
Where is the respect for the millions who became American citizens the RIGHT way, the non line-jumpers?"
Correcting this current situation is a huge task that will take years to accomplish. The process will be messy, and some mistakes made. Any such mistakes ARE being rectified, as the family example you described.
Who cares what they think they couldn't even patrol their own priest, they let them go with their young people. They are like you no credibility.
ReplyDeleteSo we should set national policy by what the Catholic Bishops put out?
ReplyDeleteBecause I can think of a few things you probably won’t agree with them about.
Can you write a post tomorrow about what the Catholic Bishops think about abortion?
ReplyDeleteThey are consistent. They believe in the dignity of all human life. They oppose capital punishment and bc they believe life begins at conception; they oppose abortion.
DeleteI'm a practicing Catholic. I always say I keep practicing, hoping to get it right some day. But the Catholic bishops, through Catholic Charities are a well-oiled Soros-like machine that rakes in millions in the illegal immigration trade, that results in unimaginable misery among the children who are trafficked and abused through their government funded efforts. I tithe to a small local parish and work with the St. Vincent DePaul societies who work on the ground to help our community's needy. I don't give a dime to the bishops and their trafficking operation. The Church is its people and not the greedy, pointy hat guys who enable so much misery around the globe.
ReplyDelete5:41, Pope Leo has been pretty outspoken against ICE as well. Is he part of this outfit as well?
Delete5:41, You claim to work with SVDP. Here is their stance on immigration: " A country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy. Immigration limits must be based on justice, mercy, and the common good. Immigration policy ought to take into account other important values such as the right of families to live together."
Deletehttps://svdpgeorgia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Voice-of-Poor-Immigration-Presentation-by-SVDP-USA_Jan-16-2025.pdf
The Catholic Church is not a democracy.
DeleteIllegal visitors CAN stay together under this enforcement effort! According to Tom Holman, if Mom or Dad is scheduled for deportation, the parent can simply take to kids along on the journey back to wherever they came from!
DeleteBernie - who do you think appoints the pope's? I am a Catholic as well. The Vatican is at the heart of the corruption. 5:41 perfectly captures the type of Catholic I am. Donate my time, energy, and some money to my local parish, and fuck the pointy hats.
DeleteAs far as your immigration argument goes, we didnt regulate our boarders for 4 years. Now we are trying to fix what the previous administration purposely broke. Why is that so problematic? Do you want chaos?
Keep practicing you need a lot of work start with the beatitudes
DeleteGo hang out at Home Depot and if the "Gestapo" shows up and asks YOU to show your ID, along with the "Brown People", so be it. If they only ask the people who DON'T look like you, then you will have a point. Prove me wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf an Immigration Official has a reasonable suspicion a person could be an ILLEGAL, the Immigration Official is certified to stop and question the suspected ILLEGAL. Some, after questioning, can be detained giving further time to determine actual citizen status.
DeleteThere is no question, day laborers at places like Home Depot, etc. are quite common in every community, especially those without an ID and unable to speak/understand the English language. In times like this, just carry the Green Card or a Valid VISA.
The point is that ICE is federal law enforcement. Standing outside of a Home Depot & simply asking ANYONE for their ID is an illegal search & seizure. Why aren't people understanding this concept? It really is that simple.
DeleteVisit www.govfacts.org and read its piece on "What can ICE do, or not do?" As I read that, it is clear ICE really CAN do what you claim it cannot do.
DeleteOtherwise, random persons walking into Texas and heading north on foot could not be challenged.
You do know it was never about securing the boarders and everything about getting anybody brown or black out of the country right?
ReplyDeleteThats crazy. But your opinion
DeleteI sure don't know that. Ridiculous assertion by you, I say.
DeleteThe same Bishops who asked parishioners to call their legislators regarding the statute of limitations proceedings to protect pedophile priests from being prosecuted and put in jail?
ReplyDeleteThe Catholic Church is a criminal enterprise. The main reason the Church leaders are against the ICE raids is because it might cut down on their incoming supply of Alter Boys.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad that the bishops published this opinion. I’ve been hoping the Catholic Church would come to its senses regarding Trump. The single issue of abortion as birth control has lead the Church’s thinking in its support for Trump, and it seemed to have blinded them from the raw cruelty of this administration and the violence of January 6th.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that Trump cares about what these people have to say?
ReplyDeleteCatholic organizations have been facilitating immigration forever, they were bringing in Chinese right here in eastern Pa. and are permanently stationed at the southern border assisting in illegal immigration. They would have no problem with millions more coming here, probably in the hope of expanding their dwindling numbers.
ReplyDeleteThe catholic church should worry about their problems and there are plenty.
ReplyDeleteLookin' like Bernie be gettin' some a dat Ol Time Religion. Maybe turnin' catlick.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an immigrant but my grand parents were. I'm dark skinned however and fifty seven years ago I was stopped by the police because a robber made a getaway in the same color car I was driving. It's trauatizing and todays ICE people are ALL A BUNCH OF TRUMPERS WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING US A FAVOR BE REMOIVING ALL THE MULTI COLORED PEOPLE HEAR.
ReplyDelete“How many divisions does the Pope have?”
ReplyDeleteThose Bishops should stay out of politics
ReplyDeleteUnless its to talk about abortion right? Trumpets are hypocrites. True Christianity is hard. Following the beatitudes takes a lifetime of practice.
DeleteTwo points:
ReplyDelete1) Stopping day laborers at Home Depot and asking for their ID (and green card, if applicable) is no more “unreasonable” than pulling people over at DUI checkpoints at 2am.
2). The Catholic Church and the Pope can lecture me about immigration when they tear down the wall at the Vatican and welcome everyone in. Until then, STFU.
So fckin what? You think that today's MAGA Republicans are truly Catholic, let alone Christian.
ReplyDeleteSo now because I have different opinions as does half the country we are not religious. More insanity ...this is the problem. Deal with that half the country thinks differently then you. We do.
DeleteGary, I do think that many Trump supporters are good and decent people. Many of them are far better persons than I. I understand their concerns about illegal immigration, and I hope they understand my concern that ICE needs to follow the Constitution and the law, should only be wearing masks in very specific situations. I do think people who have no problem with being stopped and asked to produce their papers need to read a bit more about fascism.
DeleteYou have made me think more on how this is occurring. The process needs improvement. We should be discussing what that looks like. How to meet the goal of illegal immigrants coming back legally and how to deal with changing the process so innocent legal people are not detained. There has to be a way to improve that
DeleteThank you for a comment that recognizes the difference between those of us who are here legally and those of us who are not.
Delete8:20 BOH: I agree.
DeleteI posted specifically about "MAGA Republicans" "Catholic philosophy" and acting Christian. I said nothing about being "religious". I'm a Devout Athiest. I had 16 years + of Catholic education until I got paroled.
If 6:19 believes that MAGA Catholics follow today's Bishops, the Pope or even the teachings of JC, he needs to "think differently ".
I'll post more next week about the 7 Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes.
How many migrants has the Vatican accepted???
ReplyDeleteHistorically, the Catholic Church is the most brutal and scandal ridden entity on the planet. If not for The Catholic Church, there’d be no Protestants.
ReplyDeleteThe current Pope always has the option of selling the stolen jewels, artifacts, and artwork that he hordes in his Vatican to support the 12 million illegal immigrants that Catholic Joe Biden and Mayorkas allowed in this country.