Pope Francis donates $500,000 to migrants at US border

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How is the Catholic Church following Christ’s commandment to assist the needy even controversial?
Because that is not what is happening. You have a very limited description of what is actually going on and falsely believing Jesus taught this.

Jesus did not promote theft and disrespect of countries and laws and creating voting blocs on the basis of division. Jesus did not promote that because that would be evil.

Jesus was not evil.

Jesus did not teach us to facilitate this evil.
 
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Why can’t he encourage parents not to abandon their children in a place so bad they decide to leave, and spouses not to abandon their spouses in the same situation?
These Central Americans simply can’t please their privileged critics up North. Either they bring their children with them, (“How DARE THEY subject their children to such a dangerous journey??”), or they leave them behind hoping to send for them later, (“How DARE THEY break up their families like that??”)

Believe me. I’ve been tracking this issue on CAF carefully ever since the first caravans got publicity. Those contradictory arguments can both be found in a single thread, sometimes even by a single person.

Don’t you get how complex and horrible of choices they have to make? Pray to God that you and I are never in that situation.
I’m just not convinced that this was given for the sole purpose of living out the gospel.
And again, I think this accusation toward the Pope is irrationally cynical. Did you absorb the point in my last post? About how the amount of aid isn’t proof of anyone’s intentions? Why assume the worst in Peter’s successor?
Why doesn’t he use his influence to work towards finding a solution that keeps families together and helps pave a path to SAFE passage for them all?
Oh goodness gracious! The Church has already criticized the Trump administration for separating families and been accused of “meddling.”

The bottom line is that when it comes to scorecard-holding Catholics, nobody can win. We just had a thread about nitpicking parishes for “not spending enough” on the poor. But if they spend too much on the poor, they’re “not spending enough” on something else - R.E. programs, adding an extra Mass to accommodate crowds, etc. Or someone gives to Notre Dame reconstruction. “They should have given that money to the poor!” So they give to the poor: “They should have given that money to the poor ‘here’ at home!”

It’s becoming clear to me why the Pharisees irritated our Lord so much.
Jesus did not teach us to facilitate this evil.
I see. Then do you believe the Pope is evil? Or at least doing evil?

Do you believe that the proper penalty for migrants is the deprivation of food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, etc.?
 
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These Central Americans simply can’t please their privileged critics up North. Either they bring their children with them, (“How DARE THEY subject their children to such a dangerous journey??”), or they leave them behind hoping to send for them later, (“How DARE THEY break up their families like that??”)
And it’s these types responses that make me wonder why you are being so one sided. You know very well you are twisting my words around when you say things like this. It might help for you to note that Pres Obama put add on Central American TV, radio, billboards asking people not to subject their children to the journey as well. It is not unreasonable for people to actually see truth in both sides of a political debate instead of buying completely into one activist groups talking points.

My husband and I have not only been in the same situation as most of these migrants, we know—actually KNOW—many others who have. We don’t get our information from books or websites. We have lived it. I don’t believe you have the ability to step back and see beyond politics to realize that real life is not just one sided. And until everyone can do that this situation will not get better.
 
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And it’s these types responses that make me wonder why you are being so one sided. You know very well you are twisting my words around when you say things like this.
Noting a contradiction is not one-sided. It’s factual. They’re criticized no matter what they do.

You do not know my story. And even if you did, you do not get a say in whether or not I’m qualified to speak out.

I come here to discuss issues in a meaningful way. You’re making this personal/ad hominem again. CAF has no feature to block individual posters, but please respect my boundary and stop replying to my posts: I will no longer be responding to or otherwise engaging you.
 
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I see. Then do you believe the Pope is evil? Or at least doing evil?
I believe the deliberate political aggression of encouraging mass illegal migration and abusing asylum processes to force millions of people into western countries against the clear wishes of its people under the new manufactured secular morality is demonic.

I believe those that rally to this cause mis-appropriating the Christian gospel in support of this false secular religion are at best mis-informed. At best.
Do you believe that the proper penalty for migrants is the deprivation of food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, etc.?
There is no penalty for legal migrants who are accepted into the country under a mutual agreement and respect for law environment. Please rephrase the question so it is accurate and not prejudiced.
 
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It is not contradictory and if people would stop for a minute everyone could see that. It becomes contradictory when people refuse to stand back and observe big pictures and instead draw a tight line between sides. And that is why it’s possible to continue using real suffering lives as pawns. Both political parties are wrong and both have some truth as well. It is good to acknowledge that while seeking a true fix instead of slapping band aids over gaping wounds.
 
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This thread, and the many dozens or hundreds just like it, is only more evidence that political preference overrules religion far more often than the reverse. In fact, there is evidence that political affiliation is quickly becoming the MOST important part of a person’s identity in the US. That means Americans, in larger numbers than ever before, will compromise everything else to accommodate the dictates of their political party.

People in this thread, and many just like it, provide more evidence by callously suggesting that Jesus is standing on the American side of the border yelling at migrants to “go home.” Jesus is with the migrant.

 
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There is no penalty for legal migrants who are accepted into the country under a mutual agreement and respect for law environment. Please rephrase the question so it is accurate and not prejudiced.
At this time, I prefer the neutral term “migrants” until they enter the U.S. and have their claims for asylum processed. It is legal to seek asylum.

But for the sake of argument, I will ask: Do you believe that the proper penalty for undocumented immigrants is the deprivation of food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, etc.? If so, should Catholics ignore their needs?
 
I agree with much of what you are saying here. The same can be said of the people encouraging people to migrate though. That is why there needs to be a real discussion and not one side versus the other political shouting match.

How can we find real solutions instead of continuing the same not working chaotic mess?
 
I haven’t yet read your article, (intending to!) but I believe it. The Catholic Church came into being millennia before Republicans and Democrats, and it adheres to neither party. It seems hard for some Catholics to believe that I can be pro-life on abortion AND espouse a just path to immigration. Issues don’t always come neatly packaged in little ideological boxes. The world is complex.
 
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What does a “just path to immigration” look like? Is it possible that safe passage that encourages family unity might be a just path to immigration?
 
People in this thread, and many just like it, provide more evidence by callously suggesting that Jesus is standing on the American side of the border yelling at migrants to “go home.” Jesus is with the migrant.
The fact that your side constantly creates straw men to argue with shows you are not capable of engaging with reality.

While you are creating a fictional Jesus why not have him standing with the people and drug smugglers, have him collaborating with the Soros socialist funding elites, have him mischievously laughing with Democratic office holders refusing to respect law and greedily having his hands in someone else’s pockets claiming it as a right.

If you are going to disrespect Jesus by mis-appropriating Him for your cause then others can do the same.

Both are disrespectful.

Jesus stands with all who seek justice and would not compel forced theft on others.
 
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While you are creating a fictional Jesus why not have him standing with the people and drug smugglers, have him collaborating with the Soros socialist funding elites, have him mischievously laughing with Democratic office holders refusing to respect law and greedily having his hands in someone else’s pockets claiming it as a right.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m also sorry you believe the Pope is demon possessed. You are wrong on both points.
I believe the deliberate political aggression of encouraging mass illegal migration and abusing asylum processes to force millions of people into western countries against the clear wishes of its people under the new manufactured secular morality is demonic.
 
At this time, I prefer the neutral term “migrants” until they enter the U.S. and have their claims for asylum processed. It is legal to seek asylum.
Asylum is for those fleeing their own country. Is it really for those fleeing their own country and every other until they hit the US?

The proper penalty? Put them on a plane and return them to their country of origin. If there is a country between the US and their home country, that is willing to accept them, fly them there. (Hello, Mexico.) At least some of these caravans had the option to stop their trek. To stay in Mexico, coming from other countries. But they didn’t stop. No, they don’t want asylum. They simply want to live in the US. And their plan is to crash the gate.
 
At this time, I prefer the neutral term “migrants” until they enter the U.S. and have their claims for asylum processed. It is legal to seek asylum.
Your term ‘migrants’ makes no sense with your original question. The term non documented immigrants is also Leftist double speak and makes little sense. These people are illegal immigrants being lured into another jurisdiction for aggressive political advantage in a direct and aggressive disrespecting of the citizens wishes of that jurisdiction.

I prefer not to engage with prejudice and secular political correct efforts to rewrite language so as to narrow the discussion and attach it to a false morality.

Your incorrect term ‘migrants’ is not neutral but deliberately false in the context that is being discussed.
But for the sake of argument, I will ask: Do you believe that the proper penalty for undocumented immigrants is the deprivation of food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, etc.? If so, should Catholics ignore their needs?
The proper penalty for illegal immigrants being lured into another jurisdiction for aggressive political advantage in a direct and aggressive disrespecting of the citizens wishes of that jurisdiction is that they should be sent home so as to stop the unjust movement of these people. If these people continue to break the law in the same way they should be incarcerated either in the jurisdiction they are disrespecting or better still their own jurisdiction.

The people who are facilitating this injustice should be fined and if persistently encouraging and supporting this injustice they should be incarcerated if they are citizens of the jurisdiction being disrespected.
 
Asylum is for those fleeing their own country. Is it really for those fleeing their own country and every other until they hit the US?
Yes much of the asylum laws were drawn up as a response to the end of World War 2.

It is out of date and not addressing todays world.

Countries should withdraw from the refugee protocols they signed in a different time.

These protocols now encourage injustice, not justice.
 
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Asylum is for those fleeing their own country. Is it really for those fleeing their own country and every other until they hit the US?
Under US law a person seeking asylum is under no obligation to request it in any particular country. The asylum seeker gets to chose in which country they seek asylum.

Once again, we see American politics imposing conditions on Jesus’ command to love your neighbor.
 
Under US law a person seeking asylum is under no obligation to request it in any particular country. The asylum seeker gets to chose in which country they seek asylum.

Once again, we see American politics imposing conditions on Jesus’ command to love your neighbor.
The United States gave over a two million dollars to Guatemala in 2017. Totals are fully calculated for 2018 and 2019. That money comes from every tax payer. How much is enough to show that we love them?

These caravans are rushing the gate, trying to break in. Did Jesus say that countries couldn’t have borders or laws?

If twenty homeless people broke into your home, while you were out and started to live there, would you call the police? Or would you realize that they just needed somewhere to live? And consider that you needed to love your neighbor in need? I for one, would call the police.
 
The United States gave over a two million dollars to Guatemala in 2017. Totals are fully calculated for 2018 and 2019. That money comes from every tax payer. How much is enough to show that we love them?
I don’t think a specific dollar amount is what will “show that we love them,” and I am afraid that giving money to many of these countries will actually make the problems worse. Corruption and a lack of system to distribute funds to the needy leads to the lining of politicians pockets. Money earmarked for fighting crime only pays cartels and other criminals to avoid certain areas at certain times. It will take more than just money to make any sort of impact on Latin America. And money itself can actually make problems worse
 
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How much is enough to show that we love them?
I’ve studied Jesus long enough to know that he didn’t put limits on love. That’s why following him is so hard, and why people have been putting conditions on his words for 2000 years.
Did Jesus say that countries couldn’t have borders or laws?
Jesus ignored politics. He follows God’s law, not man’s law. God commands love of your neighbor. If your nation allows less than that, your nation is wrong. This is actually the best example yet of US politics forcing a compromise with God’s moral law.

You should bend your politics to obey Jesus’ will, not bend Jesus’ will to obey your politics. Love your neighbor, without qualification. That’s what Jesus did.
 
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