Catholic Church Position on Immigration

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A couple of more comments here…when I was attending ministry classes with my archdiocese, we had a Hispanic woman who headed that ministry in her parish. We got along well and I really enjoyed hearing her share. I later told her of my private study of Catholic history in Mexico as one just usually hears that bad. I was very impressed and appreciated people coming here from that heritage.

Last year I joined a fraternity that meets in a local parish…It has a large Hispanic presence with both Anglo and Hispanic priests. A Hispanic priest is in charge of our group and he wants to build bridges between the two cultures. But the first day I came to start, the woman I had met years ago stomped of the steps. She didn’t say hello or how was I doing, she said, “This is now a Hispanic parish!!” and stormed off.

I asked an Anglo woman in the fraternity awhile later if the parish was now Hispanic, and she gave a puzzled look and replied no.

Then I was at our fraternity meeting picnic. All the Hispanics were there and no Anglos. So I went there and sat with them. A few minutes later, they all started having a conversation in their language excluding me while I am sitting with them at the table. They all dress well and have good jobs … here. I saw this same behavior by some immigrants back home who would talk incessantly on their jobs in front of American workers…and I suggested to one who was defending this behavior that he turn on a radio with a foreign language at the same decibels as they would be talking and see if they could concentrate. It is just plain rude.

So back at the picnic, I said a prayer and then started to ask them spiritual questions reflected in this fraternity, how do they live it out, and then they all stopped and we began to focus on the Lord and our common bond.

There is also a lack of leadership in our culture to help people assimilate because people don’t know what to do in these situations.

As I said before, when I worked overseas, the moment a person came into the room who spoke a different language — we were from different countries, we would all switch to the common language we used in our ministry. I was at an American sisters’ home, and if a sister or visitor came into the room, the topic immediately stopped and a new one started to include the newcomer…

We need to work on our common etiquette in this melting pot America.
Well that is good I know how you feel I have also felt that between hispanics in our own parish but some people I guess you just can’t change. I am nice to every one and have always gotten along with everyone.

So I am sorry if I took that comment that I quoted you on a little to the extreme or if i made it seem like that. We both have a common belief and our backgrounds shouldn’t be much of a factor because we have the universal belief. :highprayer:

God Bless
 
No problem, Eddy…

Yes, the universal spirit is the response to all of this…I also look at Mary of Guadalupe, and all of the burden of this is immediately removed.

I see the only safe place in faith is the universal, apostolic faith…and that Jesus stands at the heart of every human being.

The other point is that people do change. Those who offended me 30 years ago have changed.

I have learned that we are hurt and these images and experiences of people become frozen in our minds…and we do not know that when they offended us, unbeknownst to us, they were immediately convicted afterwards, saw their transgression, and then repented…but we had took off across town never to come back again, never seeing their change of heart.

God bless you and remain where you are!
Kathleen
 
There’s a wealth of ethnic pandering in my area, central California, illegal farm worker headquarters USA. My wife, a filipina, gets really tired of it. Our missals say UNIDOS EN CRISTO at the top and at the bottom say united in Christ…all the songs have a spanishy flair: El Cuerpo de Cristo, etc. They sing songs going back and forth between languages.

At confession time as the Mexicans come in, they all shake hands with one another and when they get to me or any other anglos they give you a scowl or look away. There’s a tension, not brotherhood as Catholics by any means.

My wife was really ticked when, at a Mass on Saturday afternoon (vigil) they called up this girl who was having her Quinciniera. She was a teen about to enter this cultural rite of passage that I totally don’t believe in or much less care about. Anyway, there were well over a 1,000 people in that enormous Church and yet monsignor thought we all should do a special ceremony for her. It went on FOREVER! If we did that for every mexican turning fifteen we’d be there till doomsday.

Too much ethnic pandering. We now have a Spanish Mass, spanish bulletin, spanish everything. That is one thing I’m truly enjoying about my Anglican parish.
No problem, Eddy…

Yes, the universal spirit is the response to all of this…I also look at Mary of Guadalupe, and all of the burden of this is immediately removed.

I see the only safe place in faith is the universal, apostolic faith…and that Jesus stands at the heart of every human being.

The other point is that people do change. Those who offended me 30 years ago have changed.

I have learned that we are hurt and these images and experiences of people become frozen in our minds…and we do not know that when they offended us, unbeknownst to us, they were immediately convicted afterwards, saw their transgression, and then repented…but we had took off across town never to come back again, never seeing their change of heart.

God bless you and remain where you are!
Kathleen
 
As you refuse to learn Spanish.

Why are you any better?

Did God reveal to you that English was His sacred language?
this isn’t about religion. If I were to immigrate to Mexico, believe me…I’d have to learn Spanish…and since when did God reveal to anybody that Spanish is His Sacred Language? Catholics speak almost every language…and historically, there is this feeling that God’s language was Latin. ;)…and nobody speaks THAT anymore, except liturgically.
Because you and a lot of other Anglo-nationalists sure talk as if He did.
Get over yourself. Whether you LIKE it that we won the Mexican American War or not, we did. Just as the Spanish conquered most of South and Central America. The US national boundaries are what they are, and Hispanics from the south of us do. not. have. the. right. to. invade. our. nation. and. break. our. laws. just because they want to.

Funny…I haven’t seen ANY of you object to the Mexican immigration laws.
Do unto others as you would have them to unto you. That means that if you would appreciate them learning English, you learn Spanish. That’s a command straight from Jesus.
Of course. I actually did take Spanish. Of course, I speak Old and Middle English better, but…if I ever decide to immigrate to Mexico, Spain or any other nation in which Spanish is the ‘official’ (or ‘semi-official’) language, be certain that I will learn to speak it.

You DO realize that you are actually telling us that since Hispanics are invading (that IS what you call it when a group of people crosses national borders against the will of the target nation for the purpose of living there…even when, or especially when, they break the laws of that new nation by doing so) us, and you have the incredible chutspah to tell us that WE have to learn YOUR language, accede to YOUR customs, and hand over all the entitlements that WE count on…and that this little matter of y’all BREAKING OUR LAWS shouldn’t be a problem?

EXCUSE ME???

(disclaimer…the ‘y’all’ is general. I have no idea whether you are an illegal alien or not, but it is to them I address my points.)

To bring it back, sorta, to the topic of the forum and the thread, don’t you think it’s a little presumptuous for the Catholics to make a nation…which has more non-Catholics than Catholics in it, solve the problems that the church should be solving in the areas where the suffering people actually live?

It would be better if the Catholics here who scream ‘social justice’ in terms of illegal aliens, and and read it’s own catechism regarding it…there is NOTHING in there about it being ok to invade a neighboring nation in order to steal their jobs, homes and culture.
 
Well I never thought I’d agree this much with a Mormon…common ground indeed! I couldn’t agree more that the Catholic social justice mumbo jumbo in the Mexican communities is absolutely absurd. I think it’s mostly self-serving since the Hispanic community is, by and large, Catholic. You don’t see the same level of concern for Palestinians or other groups. I often wonder why there is no Tagalog Mass anywhere? Why isn’t there Chinese, Korean, Farsi, and the rest? I’m really burned out on the illegal immigration sympathy. The Catholic bishop here in this area is a hardcore illegal sympathizer. And Mahoney in L.A. is even worse! And the bad news is his protege soon to take over is just like him, liberal as heck. Good times…
this isn’t about religion. If I were to immigrate to Mexico, believe me…I’d have to learn Spanish…and since when did God reveal to anybody that Spanish is His Sacred Language? Catholics speak almost every language…and historically, there is this feeling that God’s language was Latin. ;)…and nobody speaks THAT anymore, except liturgically.

Get over yourself. Whether you LIKE it that we won the Mexican American War or not, we did. Just as the Spanish conquered most of South and Central America. The US national boundaries are what they are, and Hispanics from the south of us do. not. have. the. right. to. invade. our. nation. and. break. our. laws. just because they want to.

Funny…I haven’t seen ANY of you object to the Mexican immigration laws.

Of course. I actually did take Spanish. Of course, I speak Old and Middle English better, but…if I ever decide to immigrate to Mexico, Spain or any other nation in which Spanish is the ‘official’ (or ‘semi-official’) language, be certain that I will learn to speak it.

You DO realize that you are actually telling us that since Hispanics are invading (that IS what you call it when a group of people crosses national borders against the will of the target nation for the purpose of living there…even when, or especially when, they break the laws of that new nation by doing so) us, and you have the incredible chutspah to tell us that WE have to learn YOUR language, accede to YOUR customs, and hand over all the entitlements that WE count on…and that this little matter of y’all BREAKING OUR LAWS shouldn’t be a problem?

EXCUSE ME???

(disclaimer…the ‘y’all’ is general. I have no idea whether you are an illegal alien or not, but it is to them I address my points.)

To bring it back, sorta, to the topic of the forum and the thread, don’t you think it’s a little presumptuous for the Catholics to make a nation…which has more non-Catholics than Catholics in it, solve the problems that the church should be solving in the areas where the suffering people actually live?

It would be better if the Catholics here who scream ‘social justice’ in terms of illegal aliens, and and read it’s own catechism regarding it…there is NOTHING in there about it being ok to invade a neighboring nation in order to steal their jobs, homes and culture.
 
Well I never thought I’d agree this much with a Mormon…common ground indeed! I couldn’t agree more that the Catholic social justice mumbo jumbo in the Mexican communities is absolutely absurd. I think it’s mostly self-serving since the Hispanic community is, by and large, Catholic. You don’t see the same level of concern for Palestinians or other groups. I often wonder why there is no Tagalog Mass anywhere? Why isn’t there Chinese, Korean, Farsi, and the rest? I’m really burned out on the illegal immigration sympathy. The Catholic bishop here in this area is a hardcore illegal sympathizer. And Mahoney in L.A. is even worse! And the bad news is his protege soon to take over is just like him, liberal as heck. Good times…
:ehh: It had to happen sometime, gurney. After all, I’ll bet we also agree that the sky is blue quite frequently, grass is green (usually…when we can water it enough), that we should love our spouses, raise our children well and honor our promises; that Jesus is Lord, that heaven is a good thing and that hell is something to be avoided.

…and that politically conservative Catholics have a lot in common with politically conservative Mormons. 😉
 
I like riding bicycles, too. And I own a white shirt!
:ehh: It had to happen sometime, gurney. After all, I’ll bet we also agree that the sky is blue quite frequently, grass is green (usually…when we can water it enough), that we should love our spouses, raise our children well and honor our promises; that Jesus is Lord, that heaven is a good thing and that hell is something to be avoided.

…and that politically conservative Catholics have a lot in common with politically conservative Mormons. 😉
 
But seriously, after all we know about Joseph Smith, the anachronisms of the BOM, the flimsy theology that amounts to polytheism, the Kolob stuff, the lost tribes coming to America, the crazy claims Smith made that he had translated the lost “Book of Abraham” from an egyptian scroll that turned out to be nothing but how to embalm mummies (which Smith claimed was a book about the life of Abraham LOL), the plural marriages in the 1800’s, the racism toward blacks and the Lamanite stuff, the idea that people are sealed in marriage and are eternally married (despite what Jesus obviously tells the Sadducees) and make spirit babies, that idea that there’s a mother goddess that compliments God, God the Father has flesh and bone, retrobaptism, seriously being a learned guy like yourself how can you buy into that? I looked into Mormonism years ago, read the BOM a couple of times, studied the life of Smith and Young, totally thought it was beyond any weirdness I’d ever seen in my life. It’s weirder than scientology and is by no means Christian. To deny the Trinity is the basic recipe for not being Christian? And to believe in some great apostacy is the most absurd idea of it all? Jesus promised the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against his church BUT for the better part of 1800 years it would collapse into obvlion until a guy would dig up some plates in Palmyra, NY and “translate” them and resurrect the true religion. Honestly, do you really believe that stuff, Dianaiad? I know I’m off topic here but wowzers I can’t buy into that stuff…

To me the proof of the falseness of Mormonism is the fact they once had plural marriage. Any guy that would want double the hormones, double the drama, double the chick flicks, double the headaches, and all that stuff must be a loon! 😛 King David must’ve been one miserable dude in that estrogen castle!
That’s nice. I do neither. 😉
 
May be it is time we start raising the bar…and expect newcomers to show common respect.

I am going back to this fraternity meeting…talking with the Hispanics…the priest/director is from Guatemala and he states he is going to work on building unity.

Too much pandering…it is not right.

I had to speak a foreign language to be on common ground. And we worked with people of various dialects…I had no Americans with me…I always had to ask what was being said…never got a clear picture of things at time, but so be it.
 
I also think people are afraid to speak to their pastors about the cold shoulder given by other people in the parish…the pastor should know.
 
But seriously, after all we know about Joseph Smith, !
(sigh…)

gurney, this thread is about the Catholic position on immigration. If you want to go on and on and on and on about how stupid/unbelievable/ridiculous/whatever Mormonism is, then…do it on another thread, OK?

There was really no need to screw up our quiet little moment of mind meeting on politics by another anti-rant.

Really.
 
this isn’t about religion. If I were to immigrate to Mexico, believe me…I’d have to learn Spanish…
Probably you would. Because you would be surrounded by Spanish-speakers.
and nobody speaks THAT anymore, except liturgically.
Perpaucas vere occasiones habeo linguam nobilissimam Latinam loquere, et barbarus essem in oculis hominis temporis “Renascentiae,” ne dicam in oculis antiqui Romani. Non tamen omnino incapax sum locutionis in hac lingua.
Get over yourself. Whether you LIKE it that we won the Mexican American War or not, we did.
But this gives you no claim in justice to insist that the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of those lands speak English.
Just as the Spanish conquered most of South and Central America. The US national boundaries are what they are
Indeed. Human conventions maintained by coercive force.
and Hispanics from the south of us do. not. have. the. right. to. invade. our. nation. and. break. our. laws. just because they want to.
Interesting. What is the difference between their “invasion” and the U.S. invasion of their lands in the 19th century? I can think of four differences:
  1. Their invasion is mostly bloodless
  2. It is present–the other one happened 150 years ago;
  3. The U.S. invasion was eventually confirmed by a treaty; and
  4. The U.S. invasion benefits people of your culture.
Point 1 in in favor of the Hispanics; and points 2 and 4 are irrelevant. Point 3 is the only one that has any weight in your favor, but is irrelevant to the debate actually going on. No one thinks that illegal immigration should remain illegal. The question is whether the presence of these people on U.S. soil should be given legal sanction. If that were to be done, it would erase the point in your favor. So while you have a valid reason to object to illegal immigration, that really isn’t the issue–the question is whether illegal immigrants should be deported or should be made legal.
Funny…I haven’t seen ANY of you object to the Mexican immigration laws.
I do not live in Mexico, and I have not heard of the vast hordes of needy people who are being harmed by these laws. However, I have no problem believing that the Mexican laws may well be unjust. It just doesn’t directly affect me.
(disclaimer…the ‘y’all’ is general. I have no idea whether you are an illegal alien or not, but it is to them I address my points.)
I’m a legal alien, actually. And I don’t speak Spanish. My ancestral language (on my father’s side) is Norn, but no one has spoken that (as opposed to Norn-flavored Scots) for a couple centuries, I believe.
To bring it back, sorta, to the topic of the forum and the thread, don’t you think it’s a little presumptuous for the Catholics to make a nation…which has more non-Catholics than Catholics in it, solve the problems that the church should be solving in the areas where the suffering people actually live?
Oh yes. Christianity is very presumptuous. Perhaps that is why you prefer a heretical perversion of Christianity which worships white American identity in an idolatrous fashion. Much less presumptuous. (Actually Mormons were considered very presumptuous originally–the main thing I like about you guys:p)
It would be better if the Catholics here who scream ‘social justice’ in terms of illegal aliens, and and read it’s own catechism regarding it…there is NOTHING in there about it being ok to invade a neighboring nation in order to steal their jobs, homes and culture.
If you are in desperate need, then yes, such an “invasion” (if nonviolent) is legitimate.

And the question really isn’t about what the immigrants should do, but about what those of us who live in the U.S. legally should do.

Edwin
 
The government (of the people) has the right to set the rules.
Of what people? Clearly there are a lot of folks in this country who are not represented by the government, and yet this is used to argue that they, not it, are illegitimate. Yet this country was founded by people who had no better right to be there (they invaded the lands of others, after all), and yet made all sorts of claims about their “rights.”

Edwin
 
Well I never thought I’d agree this much with a Mormon
I suppose it’s too much to hope that you might consider whether that’s a good thing? After all, there are good reasons why Mormons would take an idolatrous view of ethnic identity.

For that matter, Anglicans historically suffer from the same fault–the perversion of orthodox Christianity is just much subtler and milder.

Edwin
 
Probably you would. Because you would be surrounded by Spanish-speakers.
As illegal aliens crossing the border into the USA find themselves surrounded by English speakers…or they would if they weren’t invading en masse…
Perpaucas vere occasiones habeo linguam nobilissimam Latinam loquere, et barbarus essem in oculis hominis temporis “Renascentiae,” ne dicam in oculis antiqui Romani. Non tamen omnino incapax sum locutionis in hac lingua.
Didn’t get quite all of that…(only had a year of Latin, and don’t actually use it…) but from what I can barely decipher…yes, Latin was the prefered and universal language for early church leaders and the nobles, because it was a language (BECAUSE of the church, actually) that bridged all other languages. The 'lingua universalis"…trade speak, diplo-speak.

Today, that place is mostly taken by (wait for it) English.
But this gives you no claim in justice to insist that the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of those lands speak English.
Boy, is that a straw man. I have NEVER insisted that Spanish speaking inhabitants “of those lands” speak English. They may speak whatever language they wish in their own countries. They may speak any language they wish in OURS…but they have no right to insist that we alter our culture, signs, schools and documents to put their languages in preference to English, especially when English IS turning out to be the global language.

By the way, that isn’t me claiming that English is a superior language in any way. In many ways it is not a pretty language; Romance languages are kinder to the ear, and MOST languages have easier and less complicated grammar structures. English is becoming universal because a: it has by far the largest vocabulary available because b: we have absolutely no compunctions about stealing vocabulary from other languages when our own doesn’t quite do the job. English, then, is becoming a creolization of a BUNCH of languages. (sorry…my job, my fascination, my field…somewhat of an obsession. I can get side tracked. )

OK, I’m back. ANYway…just as I would, if I moved to Mexico, expect to speak Spanish in public, read all public signs and documents in Spanish, and pretty much handle my life in Spanish–no matter what language I speak at home–I expect those who move to the USA to do the same. In English, of course. ESPECIALLY when those folks are breaking our laws by being here in the first place.
Indeed. Human conventions maintained by coercive force.
It’s who humans are. Unless of course you believe that your front door should be unlocked, and that any stranger has every right to enter it, get your food out of the fridge, eat it, and leave? Perhaps sleep in your bed, swim in your pool, use all your shampoo, order pay-per-view sports events on your TV set and leave his laundry for you to wash?
Interesting. What is the difference between their “invasion” and the U.S. invasion of their lands in the 19th century?
We won.

to be continued
 
conti…
I can think of four differences:
  1. Their invasion is mostly bloodless
  2. It is present–the other one happened 150 years ago;
  3. The U.S. invasion was eventually confirmed by a treaty; and
  4. The U.S. invasion benefits people of your culture.
No it doesn’t. LEGAL immigration does. People who enter through the door with the welcome mat do. Nobody here illegally helps us. A bloodless invasion is still an invasion. The stranger who enters your home without your permission or invitation is still stealing from you, even if he never lays a hand on you.
Point 1 in in favor of the Hispanics; and points 2 and 4 are irrelevant. Point 3 is the only one that has any weight in your favor, but is irrelevant to the debate actually going on. No one thinks that illegal immigration should remain illegal.
Of course not. Those on the side of the illegals want their actions rewarded by making them legal…thus rewarding them for jumping the queue, and making it HARDER for those who are actually attempting to obey the rules to do so.

The fact remains: they are here illegally. They are breaking our laws. They should not be rewarded for doing so. There have to be consequences for their actions, and those consequences should be such that others who think of following their example will decide to try doing things the legal way.
The question is whether the presence of these people on U.S. soil should be given legal sanction. If that were to be done, it would erase the point in your favor. So while you have a valid reason to object to illegal immigration, that really isn’t the issue–the question is whether illegal immigrants should be deported or should be made legal.
Both. My personal opinion is this: they managed to GET here. That means they can leave. They MUST leave. Once they are out of the country, then I think we should have a system where those who have been here for a specific length of time, or have children born here, can apply for legal residency and have that granted quickly so that they can return and be legal. Perhaps even within days.

But they MUST LEAVE.
I do not live in Mexico, and I have not heard of the vast hordes of needy people who are being harmed by these laws. However, I have no problem believing that the Mexican laws may well be unjust. It just doesn’t directly affect me.
It certainly points up the hypocrisy of Mexican nationals who decry OUR laws.
I’m a legal alien, actually. And I don’t speak Spanish. My ancestral language (on my father’s side) is Norn, but no one has spoken that (as opposed to Norn-flavored Scots) for a couple centuries, I believe.

Oh yes. Christianity is very presumptuous. Perhaps that is why you prefer a heretical perversion of Christianity which worships white American identity in an idolatrous fashion. Much less presumptuous. (Actually Mormons were considered very presumptuous originally–the main thing I like about you guys:p)
Well, you ‘like us’ for something we aren’t, then. (shrug) but you think as you wish.
If you are in desperate need, then yes, such an “invasion” (if nonviolent) is legitimate.
And it is JUST as legitimate for those being invaded to a: not like it and b: stop it.

The real problem is the one I have already mentioned, and that brings the topic back to the thread: Most of these illegal immigrants are CAtholic, and frankly, the Catholic church, if its people are that desperate, should be helping them WHERE THEY ARE, not sending them to a different nation that, quite frankly, doesn’t want them and where their lives are NOT going to be as gold plated as they think.

You know, like Mormons do. (and yes, that WAS a dig. We take care of our own where they are, and we do it pretty darned well.)
And the question really isn’t about what the immigrants should do, but about what those of us who live in the U.S. legally should do.

Edwin
WE should insist that those who are here illegally should leave, and come back in a manner that shows that they actually respect our laws and the country they want to make their home.
 
Contarini,

What do you think of Mexico’s action to provide maps for illegals to get into Arizona??

Recall what Mexico would do to its illegals.
 
The maps show highly detailed routes along our borders that have enabled 460,000 illegals to enter Arizona alone…

How can Arizona support them, and what make do of the sainted Mexican government?

Why won’t Mexico take care of its own and instead lead them into such routes…where 23,000 illegals and Americans have died since 2003? And up to 6,000 Americans who have been murdered or died in accidents caused by illegals in our country? What about our dead? the innocent children raped and murdered???

We have a most deadly operation going on, bringing in drug cartels and Middle Eastern 5th columns…where are the rights of our people and the dignity of our people who work and respect the law?

We must face the evil on all sides. That is only fair.
The Catholic Church upholds the sovereignty of one’s country and for the newcomers to respect one’s host…manners on a global, universal scale.
 
But does the Catholic Church really support and respect sovereignty of nations? Look at the free-flowing sanctuary city mentality the Church has and the way so many bishops have advocated harboring illegals or aiding them. Our bishop here harps on a monthly basis about how we should support illegals and support amnesty and respect and dignity for people breaking our laws. The Church has a pretty liberal, sympathetic view of illegal immigrants and I don’t think they respect our sovereignty at all.
The Catholic Church upholds the sovereignty of one’s country and for the newcomers to respect one’s host…manners on a global, universal scale.
 
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