Catholic stand point on refugees?

[hausofferni]

I always thought that as Christian’s we should accept and love everyone with open arms, especially those in need of help, but a lot of other Christians don’t see it that way. All I have to say is, wasn’t Jesus a refugee? And then I think about this bible verse: Exodus 23:9. “Do not oppress a foreigner; for you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; because you were foreigners in Egypt.” How should we treat this situation?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I always thought that as Christian’s we should accept and love everyone with open arms, especially those in need of help, but a lot of other Christians don’t see it that way. All I have to say is, wasn’t Jesus a refugee? And then I think about this bible verse: Exodus 23:9. “Do not oppress a foreigner; for you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; because you were foreigners in Egypt.” How should we treat this situation?

There seems to be a bit of a disconnect between what we as Christians are called to do in Holy Scriptures, and what we do in the real world, out of our own selfishness. I believe that Thomas Aquinas said, “On like manner this applies to those also who are in great fear, for they are so intent on their own passion, that they pay no attention to the suffering of others.”

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

My priest said in his homily that we should not let in the Syrian refugees. A large influx of Mohammedans would be dangerous for our country since the people in nations that have Muslim majorities are suffering, both Christians and Muslims alike, and they bring with them the error of their religion. There are also terrorist hiding among the refugees and we already have terrorists hiding in this country.

It is a permissible position for a Catholic to be against letting the refugees in. He said the Church is not completely supportive of people leaving their country, but the Church is more supportive of the immigrant already in the country. An interesting note that he added was that we, as Catholics, have the right to go wherever we please because we always bring good & truth with us, which can only benefit the society which we live in.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

My priest said in his homily that we should not let in the Syrian refugees. A large influx of Mohammedans would be dangerous for our country since the people in nations that have Muslim majorities are suffering, both Christians and Muslims alike, and they bring with them the error of their religion. There are also terrorist hiding among the refugees and we already have terrorists hiding in this country.

It is a permissible position for a Catholic to be against letting the refugees in. He said the Church is not completely supportive of people leaving their country, but the Church is more supportive of the immigrant already in the country. An interesting note that he added was that we, as Catholics, have the right to go wherever we please because we always bring good & truth with us, which can only benefit the society which we live in.

Goodness. I am speechless.

 

[Elizium23]

Inspired by Pope Francis, U.S. Church Rises to Help Syrians

A massive outpouring of new volunteers from U.S. Catholics, parishes and dioceses to assist in the refugee crisis has emerged, U.S. Catholic Charities affiliates told the Register, in the wake of Pope Francis’ Sept. 6 appeal for Europe’s parishes and religious houses to each welcome and take in a refugee family.

“We went from zero to 10 or 15 inquiries a day,” said Susan Rauscher, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The diocese is a member of the USCCB’s Office of Migration Services, which resettles 30% of the refugees that come through the federal resettlement program. The USCCB’s resettlement program is based on helping refugees find jobs, safe housing and receive needed medical attention — including for post-traumatic stress from their experiences.

Although the diocese’s charitable arm has not yet resettled Syrian refugees, Rauscher said it has informed the USCCB that it stands ready to increase staff and resources to accept as many as they are assigned.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I always thought that as Christian’s we should accept and love everyone with open arms, especially those in need of help, but a lot of other Christians don’t see it that way. All I have to say is, wasn’t Jesus a refugee? And then I think about this bible verse: Exodus 23:9. “Do not oppress a foreigner; for you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; because you were foreigners in Egypt.” How should we treat this situation?

I’m reminded of the entire Holy Family, Jesus, His mother Mary and Joseph, seeking refuge in an inn. They could not find a room.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Goodness. I am speechless.

No more speechless than I am and I come from a Catholic background.

 

[Rence]

My priest said in his homily that we should not let in the Syrian refugees. A large influx of Mohammedans would be dangerous for our country since the people in nations that have Muslim majorities are suffering, both Christians and Muslims alike, and they bring with them the error of their religion. There are also terrorist hiding among the refugees and we already have terrorists hiding in this country.

It is a permissible position for a Catholic to be against letting the refugees in.

That sounds prudent at this time. Most refugees don’t have terrorists slip in with them.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I always thought that as Christian’s we should accept and love everyone with open arms, especially those in need of help, but a lot of other Christians don’t see it that way. All I have to say is, wasn’t Jesus a refugee? And then I think about this bible verse: Exodus 23:9. “Do not oppress a foreigner; for you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; because you were foreigners in Egypt.” How should we treat this situation?

Christians are also called to avoid scandal. In the New Testament, John the Baptist, sensing the insincere hearts of the scribes and elite who were looking to be baptized, called them a “brood of vipers” and told them to come back when they were sincere.

Compassion should be extended to everyone ideally, not just to refugees, but there needs to be a process to vet people coming into a nation. The Catholic Church has said that movement of people is fine but that also sovereign rights must be respected.

The fact is that nefarious parties most always take advantage of these mass migrations, including criminals, sex traffickers, pirates, drug dealers and terrorists.

So the Catholic Church’s view overall is practical. It doesn’t say shut people out because they are different, but also calls for vigilance.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I’m reminded of the entire Holy Family, Jesus, His mother Mary and Joseph, seeking refuge in an inn. They could not find a room.

I’ve seen comparisons to the Holy Family and to Jewish WWII refugees.

And again, I ask, how many of those refugees were being coached to blow themselves and as other innocent civilians up with the ultimate goal of forming a Jewish global government?

 

[holyrood]

There seems to be a bit of a disconnect between what we as Christians are called to do in Holy Scriptures, and what we do in the real world, out of our own selfishness. I believe that Thomas Aquinas said, “On like manner this applies to those also who are in great fear, for they are so intent on their own passion, that they pay no attention to the suffering of others.”

Haven’t we been told up front by the terrorists that they’re slipping terrorists into this group of refugees?

The pictures I’m seeing are a lot of young men–NOT women, children, families. Are these pictures false? I’m sincerely asking.

I think there’s a huge difference between this ‘fear’ that is popularly being portrayed and legitimate caution. I mean, if someone TELLS me straight up they’re going to blow up my house if I let them in, is it ‘fear’ to say, “No, you may not come in,” or is it prudence?

I have a huge problem with this issue being reduced to ‘fear.’ Clearly, that is not the only thing going on here.

I also have a huge problem with the fact that everyone who is pushing to let in the Syrian refugees has been quite silent on Obama turning away the Christian refugees. I want these questions answered by every single person supporting the Syrian refugees, whom we’re TOLD UPFRONT will hide some number of terrorists: did you speak out as strongly against those who denied entry to the Christian refugees? Are those who denied THEM entry also guilty of fear and lack of charity and hard-heartedness? Where is the money coming from to provide for this influx of 10,000 immigrants?

I’m reminded of the entire Holy Family, Jesus, His mother Mary and Joseph, seeking refuge in an inn. They could not find a room.

With all due respect, this is a very poor comparison. They were not ‘refugees.’ They were travelers. They had a home, and left it only to go for the census. This is not a refugee at all. Second, they were not any part of any group that was routinely killing Romans. Third, they were ordered by the Romans to go where they were going. Fourth, it was a single man with a pregnant woman–which is not at all what I’m seeing in the pictures. Now, if those pictures are false and misleading, I want to know, but let’s talk about facts instead of throwing out sound bites that aren’t actually that accurate or comparable.

One thing that continues to bother me about this whole discussion is that it is NOT a discussion–it is too often simply character assassination: either you’re for letting in the Syrian refugees, or you’re a bad, hard-hearted, un-Christian, fearful person who hates brown-skinned people.

Um, no. There are legitimate questions to be answered, and when people resort to name-calling and character assassination, it makes me think they can’t answer those questions.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I’ve seen comparisons to the Holy Family and to Jewish WWII refugees.

And again, I ask, how many of those refugees were being coached to blow themselves and as other innocent civilians up with the ultimate goal of forming a Jewish global government?

I’d just much rather Muslim parents find safe shelter for their offspring here before the offspring are coached/indoctrinated there by extremists who claim to be fighting in the name of Allah. Not to mention the widows and the orphans who I very much pray find refuge. Peace.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Haven’t we been told up front by the terrorists that they’re slipping terrorists into this group of refugees?

The pictures I’m seeing are a lot of young men–NOT women, children, families. Are these pictures false? I’m sincerely asking.

I think there’s a huge difference between this ‘fear’ that is popularly being portrayed and legitimate caution. I mean, if someone TELLS me straight up they’re going to blow up my house if I let them in, is it ‘fear’ to say, “No, you may not come in,” or is it prudence?

I have a huge problem with this issue being reduced to ‘fear.’ Clearly, that is not the only thing going on here.

I also have a huge problem with the fact that everyone who is pushing to let in the Syrian refugees has been quite silent on Obama turning away the Christian refugees. I want these questions answered by every single person supporting the Syrian refugees, whom we’re TOLD UPFRONT will hide some number of terrorists: did you speak out as strongly against those who denied entry to the Christian refugees? Are those who denied THEM entry also guilty of fear and lack of charity and hard-heartedness? Where is the money coming from to provide for this influx of 10,000 immigrants?

With all due respect, this is a very poor comparison. They were not ‘refugees.’ They were travelers. They had a home, and left it only to go for the census. This is not a refugee at all. Second, they were not any part of any group that was routinely killing Romans. Third, they were ordered by the Romans to go where they were going. Fourth, it was a single man with a pregnant woman–which is not at all what I’m seeing in the pictures. Now, if those pictures are false and misleading, I want to know, but let’s talk about facts instead of throwing out sound bites that aren’t actually that accurate or comparable.

One thing that continues to bother me about this whole discussion is that it is NOT a discussion–it is too often simply character assassination: either you’re for letting in the Syrian refugees, or you’re a bad, hard-hearted, un-Christian, fearful person who hates brown-skinned people.

Um, no. There are legitimate questions to be answered, and when people resort to name-calling and character assassination, it makes me think they can’t answer those questions.

Bill O’Reilly said it best tonight: The liberals who basically want some version of open borders don’t care about the security of the American people. The refugee situation is a product of the mentality of the stonewalling of US policymakers on Kate’s Law as well as the existence of sanctuary cities.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I’d just much rather Muslim parents find safe shelter for their offspring here before the offspring are coached/indoctrinated there by extremists who claim to be fighting in the name of Allah. Not to mention the widows and the orphans who I very much pray find refuge. Peace.

I’m sure we’d all prefer that under the best of circumstances. However, progressives are bleating about how the terrorists in Paris (or at least most of them?) were homegrown.

So bringing them into the West evidently isn’t the solution.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Bill O’Reilly said it best tonight: The liberals who basically want some version of open borders don’t care about the security of the American people. The refugee situation is a product of the mentality of the stonewalling of US policymakers on Kate’s Law as well as the existence of sanctuary cities.

Oh. Well if Bill O’Reilley said it on FOX…

 

[padrepio_2012]

I always ask myself: what if it was me? What if the United States was a devoloping country and suddenly a bloody civil war erupted and I and my family were forced to flee to save our lives and we sought refuge in another country like Mexico, praying to God for safety all the while, and then the people of that country were snobby and stuck up towards us and refused to let us In for a whole spectrum of reasons, be it politics, suspicion, racism, misunderstanding, etc? We had come all the way, were innocent people, and suffered greatly, and as soon as we get there, we are shut out because the people don’t understand. It all changes when you look at it from their perspective. Their religion does not make them somehow less intelligent or more base/prone to violence because it lacks the fullness of Truth. That’s a very ignorant comment to whoever said that. We need to show them the love and hospitatality of Christians, show them how and why we are the Truth. Not only that, it drive me nuts that most Americans don’t realize many Syrians aren’t even Muslims. Americans just assume if a person hails from the Middle East, they’re Muslim. I am from the region and speak arabic and French, but I am a Catholic! Treat them with charity! They’re humans who need our help! Not invaders trying to bomb us!

 

[SuperLuigi]

Oh. Well if Bill O’Reilley said it on FOX…

Please refer to the substance instead of posting an *ad hominem *about the source.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I always ask myself: what if it was me? What if the United States was a devoloping country and suddenly a bloody civil war erupted and I and my family were forced to flee to save our lives and we sought refuge in another country like Mexico, praying to God for safety all the while, and then the people of that country were snobby and stuck up towards us and refused to let us In for a whole spectrum of reasons, be it politics, suspicion, racism, misunderstanding, etc? We had come all the way, were innocent people, and suffered greatly, and as soon as we get there, we are shut out because the people don’t understand. It all changes when you look at it from their perspective. Their religion does not make them somehow less intelligent or more base/prone to violence because it lacks the fullness of Truth. That’s a very ignorant comment to whoever said that. We need to show them the love and hospitatality of Christians, show them how and why we are the Truth. Not only that, it drive me nuts that most Americans don’t realize many Syrians aren’t even Muslims. Americans just assume if a person hails from the Middle East, they’re Muslim. I am from the region and speak arabic and French, but I am a Catholic! Treat them with charity! They’re humans who need our help! Not invaders trying to bomb us!

The substance said here… said overall rather well.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

Goodness. I am speechless.

He made us speechless the first few weeks we went to his Mass, but you become accustomed to his tough homilies. I’ve gone to his Masses for a year and he has not once preached something contrary to traditional Catholic teaching and often quotes Catechisms and Popes to support his positions.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I always ask myself: what if it was me? What if the United States was a devoloping country and suddenly a bloody civil war erupted and I and my family were forced to flee to save our lives and we sought refuge in another country like Mexico, praying to God for safety all the while, and then the people of that country were snobby and stuck up towards us and refused to let us In for a whole spectrum of reasons, be it politics, suspicion, racism, misunderstanding, etc?

You conveniently left out security.

I also take it you wouldn’t want to fight for your country.

If the roles were reversed, I can tell you that many of the same folks who demand we take in people without any questions would be screaming to high heaven about the return of Western/Anglo imperialism. As for the natives over there, well, you better tell any woman you care about to cover up and any GLBTQ person to head back into the closet because of the culture in many of these nations.

Also, they would be highly suspicious and deeply worried we would convert their population to Christianity. That’s how we’d be received, if at all, and I wouldn’t count on it.

We had come all the way, were innocent people, and suffered greatly, and as soon as we get there, we are shut out because the people don’t understand. It all changes when you look at it from their perspective.