Pope Francis: You can’t defend Christianity by being ‘against refugees and other religions’
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Jesus_Is_God_1
Guest
This is where I disagree with the Pope.
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Exiled_Child
Guest
Swell article! :clapping: Completely on point.
“It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help,” he said. “If I say I am Christian, but do these things, I’m a hypocrite.”
It really can’t be stated more clearly than this, which makes the near-constant anti-Christ rhetoric this issue has prompted around here of late all the more incomprehensible.
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peter26
Guest
Like. One can not deny the correlation between when Europe and America started accepting large numbers of refugees from Syria and a massive rise in the instances of terrorist attacks.
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Tobias2
Guest
True. In terms of Catholic social teaching Trump is one of the most “anti-Catholic” Presidents of recent years. This was an oblique attack on Trump’s Muslim ban and I suspect the Pope will clash more with Trump over economic justice, the right to health care, climate change, international NGO authority and such.
The American bishops are standing strongly against Trump’s recent actions and how the relationship between the American hierarchy and Trump plays out will be interesting to follow. I expect it to be contentious.
Health care could be a big flash point. The CHA and Sister Keehan were instrumental in the passage of the ACA and are taking a very cautious approach to attempts to undo it and the impact it will have on some people’s lives who in the process lose health care.
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Padres1969
Guest
And yet in the US not one Terror attack has been perpetrated by refugees or any other nationals of the countries Trump unilaterally banned…
Funny that.
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Exiled_Child
Guest
Yeah, I suspect you’ll probably be proven right on all points, but I’m really just waiting and watching.
I don’t know. The fact that Trump actually seems to be following through on his campaign promises has me more than a little discombobulated. And I have a strong sense that I won’t be re-combobulating anytime soon. 
As far as I’m aware, this has never actually happened in the entire span of my life. Imagine, a President actually following through on what he said he was going to do! Incredible!
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Michael_Mayo
Guest
Try putting yourself in the place of a refugee.
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Hope_Philomena
Guest
It can be argued that it is selfish of you to refuse refugees from Syria for fear of there being some bad people in the bunch. Condemning the whole for crimes of the few seems selfish which is of course not Christian.
And perhaps you will refute this by saying that you simply have the needs of the people of your country in mind. But are Christians not called to be compassionate toward everyone?
“You cannot be a Christian without living like a Christian,” [Pope Francis] said. “You cannot be a Christian without practicing the Beatitudes. You cannot be a Christian without doing what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 25.” This is a reference to Christ’s injunction to help the needy by such works of mercy as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and welcoming the stranger.
Interesting. If this is true, how do the supporters of this executive order refute this? I’m curious what supporters have to say on this matter.
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Pulvis
Guest
With all due respect to the Holy Father, when i see the news reports out of France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, et al i do not believe that we should be importing that problem into our country. The immediate solution is to defeat this islamic terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria and cut off the need for these people to leave their home. Trump today announced that he is working with the Saudi Arabia to set up safe zones for the refugees as temporary homes until isis is defeated. That makes more sense to me.
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Robyn_p
Guest
I have to agree. I just can’t see a way to reconcile Trump’s decision with what Jesus tells us. This is a blanket solution to a complicated issue and innocent people are going to die because of it. Some of the refugees being refused fought with our troops and saved their lives and now ISIS has marked them for death. And we’re slamming the door in their faces because they MIGHT be a threat?
And for me, when almost all the US bishops and the pope are saying this is wrong, that is a sign that God is trying to tell us something. And if it comes down to trusting the pope or trusting some politician, I’m siding with the pope.
Usually something about poisoned skittles and the right to secure borders. Throw in “Obama did it too” and “Islam not a religion of peace” for extra spice.
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Stat_Crux
Guest
I’m coming into this as an outsider (from Europe), but the way it’s being reported here is that the executive order bans citizens from certain countries for the next 90 days whilst they design a new vetting process, after which the ban will be lifted.
Anyone able to clarify?
Anyone able to clarify?
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ctb95
Guest
Pope Francis is absolutely right. He is supported by scripture from both the Old and New Testaments as well. Placing a unilateral ban on multiple countries is absurd.
It was mostly Saudi Arabians who perpetrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but Saudis are not part of this ban. Funny how that works.
It was mostly Saudi Arabians who perpetrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but Saudis are not part of this ban. Funny how that works.
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Sarcelle
Guest
Why don’t you take it up with the former President?
The list of countries with the temporary ban on visas was drawn up under Obama’s watch.
It’s not like this ban on visas is anything new.
Didn’t Obama put a temporary ban on visa applications from Iraq at one time?
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Hope_Philomena
Guest
What is your point? Does it matter which President started what? The ban is considered wrong whether it is enacted under President This or President That.
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Sarcelle
Guest
This confuses me. This being against other religions part.
I am not against refugees but I disagree with Islam as a belief.
Yes, I am against Islam. I do not hate Muslims but there are doctrines in Islam that I do not agree with like a woman is half the worth of a man.
Is there anything in Catholic doctrine that says I must agree with Islam?
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ctb95
Guest
Apples to oranges comparison. Obama’s ban was for new visa applicants and only applied to Iraq. Not only that, but there was a specific threat: namely a group of several Iraqi nationals living in the US who were supplying money and weapons to al-Qaida.
Trump’s plan calls for bans on multiple countries because there ‘might’ be terrorists who could enter the country. Furthermore, if a citizen of one of these countries has a green card and is currently out of the country, they cannot re-enter, even if they have a family here. This never happened under Obama.
Two different contexts and completely different scope. I’m not a President Obama fan, BTW.
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philipl
Guest
Yes I can.
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Sarcelle
Guest
The ban is only temporary.
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Hope_Philomena
Guest
For us in America, a few months go by in the blink of an eye. But I can guarantee you, that this is not the case for those trapped in the countries being torn apart as we sit in our cozy living rooms arguing on a forum.
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