Illegal Immigration and the Church

[drthomas_21]

Is the church spending to much resources on supporting illegal immigration at the expense of legal immigrants and citizens? Or do you feel that the church should do more to support illegal immigration?

 

[puzzleannie]

the Church should be insuring that all Catholics wherever they are are catechized and brought to the sacraments, that all within the territory of the local church (diocese and parish) are sought out and served with its resources and invited to participate in community life, and that non-Catholics in their territory are evangelized. Distinctions between “legal and illegal” have no place in determining who is welcome at Mass, who is catechized and evangelized, who receives sacraments, who participates, and who has access to services and outreach.

 

[pnewton]

When we are commanded by our Savior to feed the poor and clothe the naked, no where does he mention that their legal status should be of importance. Not only must the Church reach out with the sacraments to these Catholics, we also have a responsibility to assist them with their physical needs.

It is the responsibility of governments to set immigration policies. In our country good catholics call on all sides of the immigration issue. Whatever one’s opinion, our duty to help those in need is not diminished by where the blame is placed.

 

[drthomas_21]

After reading your responses, it seems that the Los Angeles Archdiocese may be placing an undo influence on State illegal immigration. Your post indicate that the church should focus on the people within their reach (For lack of a better word).

But to ignore illegal immigration is to ignore the elephant in the room.

How do we as good Catholic help?

 

[puzzleannie]

But to ignore illegal immigration is to ignore the elephant in the room.

How do we as good Catholic help?

the church does not “help illegal immigration” the church helps people, regardless of their legal status. If Catholics feel concern about law being broken they might want to become politically active about that issue, particularly the law most commonly broken which is at the root of the problem, namely hiring illegals and more often than not, exploiting them, a sin which cries out to heaven for vengeance. If those with money and power did not hire illegals, they would not be coming here in the first place. If you feel a need to actively combat the situation, that is the place to start.

 

[Maxply]

Let’s really solve the problem and work with Mexico to eliminate poverty, raise the level of education, open up opportunities.

This to me would be like teaching a man to fish, rather than feeding him all the time.

Mexican policy explicitly USES America as a kind of free rider social security program—sounds crazy, but when you seriously study the issue, you can see the government is complicit in this.

It’s just wrong. I think it’s right for the Church to care for immigrants, but I don’t think the right answer is making anyone with a problem an American and having American taxpayers pay for the world’s social ills. Let’s make Mexico a better place, so people don’t have to painfully leave their neighbors, families, communities.

 

[puzzleannie]

and how would you suggest we go about interfering in the internal affairs of Mexico? illegal immigration is an American problem, caused by people breaking laws, namely laws agains hiring illegals. everytime there is an amnesty, it is an amnesty against breaking that law, more than an amnesty for workers already living here. enforce the law, the situation will diminish. and what does any of this have to do with the Church, which is OP’s question? answer, the Church in most places is actively involved in efforts to end exploitation of illegal workers, which is what this illegal hiring amounts to.

 

[JimG]

Let’s really solve the problem and work with Mexico to eliminate poverty, raise the level of education, open up opportunities.

This to me would be like teaching a man to fish, rather than feeding him all the time.

Mexican policy explicitly USES America as a kind of free rider social security program—sounds crazy, but when you seriously study the issue, you can see the government is complicit in this.

It’s just wrong. I think it’s right for the Church to care for immigrants, but I don’t think the right answer is making anyone with a problem an American and having American taxpayers pay for the world’s social ills. Let’s make Mexico a better place, so people don’t have to painfully leave their neighbors, families, communities.

On the other hand, it’s been calculated that the U.S. benefits from illegal immigrants because they pay taxes–withholding taxes on income as well as FICA, and other taxes, and don’t draw those benefits, so there is a net income to the U.S. tax coffers, with no corresponding payout.

Also keep in mind that most illegals are here because a) jobs are available and b) legal immigration is unduly burdensome. They come because employers hire them.

In some places where states and localities have in fact cracked down on illegals, some companies have elected to move their manufacturing or farming operations to Mexico. If they can’t get the workers they need here, they will move the operation to where they are available.

 

[drthomas_21]

Hola Jim,

That was a great response. Which companies moved to Mexico because they could not find workers? or were you just repeating what you heard someone else say.

Thanks for the info…

 

[JimG]

Hola Jim,

That was a great response. Which companies moved to Mexico because they could not find workers? or were you just repeating what you heard someone else say.

Thanks for the info…

It was something I heard on the news a few days ago. I don’t recall the details, but it was a large farmer, who was moving his operation to Mexico in order to get (legal) workers.

The fact is, it is a global economy. American workers will be and are competing with foreign workers, whether we want to or not. At least Mexico is on the same continent. What surprises me now is that in the early years of the 20th century we processed thousands of immigrants per day through Ellis Island and other ports. Now, it is an extended bureaucratic process for immigrants to enter legally. And our economy does need the workers.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hola Jim,

That was a great response. Which companies moved to Mexico because they could not find workers? or were you just repeating what you heard someone else say.

Thanks for the info…

in our border economy this is a huge factor. when I moved here garment manufacturers were big, and most of the name brands had plants here. since NAFTA they have all moved over the border where they pay Mexican workers 1/3 to 1/10 what American (non-union) labor was earning. nearly every company you can think of, auto, computer, tech, drug, food processing etc. has a plant over the border, and the execs and management live on this side and commute, but low-wage workers flock from central Mexico to work in the maquilas (factories) along the border on their side.

 

[drthomas_21]

Hola Puzzleannie,

We know that there are many Companies moving to various countries for cheap labor. Jim mentioned that he know of some Companies moving because they could not find any workers; which is a big difference.

What I find said is that the companies get a way with moving for cheap labor. One example I can think of is Nike. They pay their workers pennies on the dollar, but will charge over $100.00 for that same product. Part of the reason can be tied to competition, but I think, (do not know for sure) that the biggest reason is corporate greed.

Thank you for taking the time to let us read your thoughts.

Take care,
…

 

[Dale_M]

It was something I heard on the news a few days ago. I don’t recall the details, but it was a large farmer, who was moving his operation to Mexico in order to get (legal) workers.

Short on Labor, Farmers in U.S. Shift to Mexico

 

[JimG]

Hola Puzzleannie,

We know that there are many Companies moving to various countries for cheap labor. Jim mentioned that he know of some Companies moving because they could not find any workers; which is a big difference.

What I find said is that the companies get a way with moving for cheap labor. One example I can think of is Nike. They pay their workers pennies on the dollar, but will charge over $100.00 for that same product. Part of the reason can be tied to competition, but I think, (do not know for sure) that the biggest reason is corporate greed.

Thank you for taking the time to let us read your thoughts.

Take care,
…

This is a problem. Many foreign workers are quite eager to work, and will work for considerably less than American workers. I don’t know how to prevent labor competition in a global economy, except perhaps to organize workers in foreign countries.

Even high end jobs are going out of the U.S. The internet makes it easier. There are, for example, good radiologists in India who will read X-Rays and CT’s and MRI’s and forward the diagnostic analysis back to U.S. hospitals. In means they can work in their chosen field for United States hospitals without having to leave their home country.

And there is a growing trend of “medical tourism” to places like Thailand, where hospitals stays and surgery is much cheaper and just as good.

 

[drthomas_21]

Short on Labor, Farmers in U.S. Shift to Mexico

Hola Dale,

Great article. This demonstrates one of the problems with NAFTA (Not sure if acronym is correct). The free North America trade agreement now allow companies to legally exploit cheep labor with out paying any additional penalty. If you take away the free trade, then it would not be cost effective farm in other countries.

I also see greed popping up again. I wonder how much money he makes a year in profit and what are the salaries of the workers.

Thanks again for the link

 

[usmcrocks]

We can only hope to live up to our Saviour’s message to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. Americn’s are anything but stngy in this regard privately giving more than three times as much as our nearest friendly conributor to foreign needs, the French. As recently as 2006 data shows the US government gave $20 billion in USAID, while private American contributions totalled over $26 billion. This is above and beyond what we pay in taxes for welfare, education, and medical treatment for illegal aliens. In my home area of Southern Arizona this lawlessness is a key contributor to our loss of two of three class one trauma centers, overcrowding of K-12 schools, higher crime due to human and drug trafficking, piles of trash along the border, ransacked ranches and terrorized American ranchers. Two Catholic charities are advancing subversive tactics to abrogate American law by informing illegals of Federal law regarding Emergency Room care and welfare payments. Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief both show articles on their websites confirming their volunteers abetting this travesty. Yes, we must help those in need in their own country, and we should absolutely hold business owners in our country accountable and punish them for their transgressions in hiring illegals.

We must help those in need by stimulating economic progress and poliitical reforms in thier own countries. The US cannot maintain these growth rates in our population with out something breaking, and then we’ll all be up a creek.

 

[kencando]

Say Yes to Roman Catholic Church
Say No to Church leaders
Say Yes to Thou shall not steal

Say No to Illegal Immigration
Say Yes to Thou Shall not Covet Neighbors Goods
Say No to Unsecured Borders
Say Yes to Personal Responsibility
Say No to Pedophile Priest
Say Yes to Politicians who support Life
Say No to Bishops who allow Politicians to call themselves Catholic and support abortions.
Say Yes to Paying Taxes owed
Say No to Underground Cash earnings
Say Yes to Employers who follow the Law
Say No to Unscrupulous and Greedy Employers

The Church leaders have difficulty enforcing their own laws of attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligations. Maybe they should start with their own responsibility instead of trying to deal with the secular government responsibility. Helping a person in need is not the same as encouraging the immigrants to demand something they are clearly not entitled to. Church leaders shouldn’t be involved with promoting the illegal immigration issue by having church forums in which they encourage illegal immigrants to write to our congressmen.

 

[drthomas_21]

It looks like the illegal immigration issue is not political than spiritual.

 

[skeetor]

Is the church spending to much resources on supporting illegal immigration at the expense of legal immigrants and citizens? Or do you feel that the church should do more to support illegal immigration?

The Church should neither support legal nor illegal immigration. However the Church, as the Body of Christ, should be always and everywere concerned with the wellfare of our brothers and sisters. We, as christians, have a duty to feed the poor, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, etc…

 

[saayra]

Catholic missionaries, as well as others, have done a great deal to help people improve their standard of living without leaving their own countries. This is the mission of the Church. Often these missionaries pay with their own lives since corruption in third world countries is rampant.

We cannot rescue everyone by allowing them to flow into America unchecked. Our economy and our social structure simply cannot bear it. The United States is headed for even more chaotic times that we are presently experiencing as a result of this.

Unprotected borders provide a conduit for undocumented people of both good and evil inclination. With them comes the drugs that are destroying the lives of our citizens at a far higher rate than any foreign war. This is a complex issue to which there are no easy solutions.

Personally I believe that the Church should abide by the laws of the land and not harbor any fugitives. We cannot be a part of rewarding law breakers. The Church certainly doesn’t help American felons. Illegal Immigration is exactly what it implies—illegal.
:tsktsk: