We can all do more in practicing Catholic Social Teaching

[Michaeljc4]

There is no need for a wealthy country like Mexico to have 10% of its population in the USA.

What is the possible incentive for Mexico to stop its citizens from entering the United States illegally? Mexico gets rid of its excess unskilled labor, and has–literally–tens of billions of dollars pumped back into its economy when its citizens send money home from El Norte. If history teaches us nothing else, it is that nations will act in what they believe to be their rational self-interest. For Mexico, a pourous border with the US is a win-win. If the United States doesn’t stop illegal immigration across its own borders, no one will.

That said, the work of the Church in the United States in advocating for, and helping, immigrants both legal and illegal makes me proud to be Catholic. I want the borders sealed–now–but I am not going to demonize or torment people who have snuck into our country because, whether we admit it or not, it’s very convenient for them to be here.

justiceforimmigrants.org/

 

[Future_Prodigy]

What we should do is to encourage and assist other countries to adopt the free-market economics and true representational democracy and freedom of religion and freedom of speech that make this country great, so that those other countries can become equally great.

HAHAHAHAHA… your last sentence should have ‘at the expense of others’ attached to it!

 

[Future_Prodigy]

What is the possible incentive for Mexico to stop its citizens from entering the United States illegally? Mexico gets rid of its excess unskilled labor, and has–literally–tens of billions of dollars pumped back into its economy when its citizens send money home from El Norte. If history teaches us nothing else, it is that nations will act in what they believe to be their rational self-interest. For Mexico, a pourous border with the US is a win-win. If the United States doesn’t stop illegal immigration across its own borders, no one will.

That said, the work of the Church in the United States in advocating for, and helping, immigrants both legal and illegal makes me proud to be Catholic. I want the borders sealed–now–but I am not going to demonize or torment people who have snuck into our country because, whether we admit it or not, it’s very convenient for them to be here.

justiceforimmigrants.org/

I’m not all to sure what the situation in the USA, as I live in Canada… but i know here for example a GOOD chunk of manual labor and construction is done by illegal immigrants and without their work a crisis would occur within that sector of employment

 

[Al_Masetti]

I’m not all to sure what the situation in the USA, as I live in Canada… but i know here for example a GOOD chunk of manual labor and construction is done by illegal immigrants and without their work a crisis would occur within that sector of employment

Do you have ACTUAL data on the number or percentage of agricultural jobs, or construction jobs, or lawn mowing jobs, or restaurant jobs or other manual labor done by ILLEGAL immigrants?

Seems to me that the VAST majority of those jobs are done by LEGAL citizens and LEGAL residents. But some contractors are incompetent and can only compete by using illegals whom they under-pay and for whom they do not provide competitive benefits and legally required, legally mandated benefits such as unemployment and disability insurance.

That underpayment constitutes a form of slave labor. Because the illegals have no recourse. They cannot complain.

So let us enforce the 1986 Act; provide the bureaucracy with the computers necessary to perform the criminal background checks. Provide the medical exams.

As long as we have a large welfare state, we cannot have open and free immigration.

So, provide the actual DATA on actual employment. Something other than unsubstantiated global statements “that everyone knows” but which have absolutely no factual basis.

Also collect the data from other counties such as the $400 million per year that Los Angeles County is spending on medical care for illegals. Or the number of emergency rooms that have had to close for lack of funding because of the influx of illegals in those areas. These illegals are not working at decent jobs and they are not paying taxes.

 

[Future_Prodigy]

Sorry, I do not have the facts handy… it was a special done by CBC and they talked about it. It’s not really my ‘thing’ so i dont follow the whole issue much. If you really wanted to know, i guess i could try and look it up for you?!

 

[Amolibri]

paxchristiusa.org/:

 

[Michaeljc4]

The greatest struggle for me, personally, with regards to Catholic social teachings and the teachings of Jesus, is nonviolence. I love Pax Christi…I just can’t honestly say that I am there yet.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

HAHAHAHAHA… your last sentence should have ‘at the expense of others’ attached to it!

That is exactly correct. Part of the reason the U. S. was so successful is that it part of its beginning involved invading the lands of the people who were here first and enslaving Africans.

Of course, we can’t look at that today because it’s all in the past. No need to acknowledge our country’s past sins.

Funny…I always thought a good examination of conscience and intent to do penance was an important part of being Christian.

 

[Michaeljc4]

Of course, we can’t look at that today because it’s all in the past. No need to acknowledge our country’s past sins.

Are you kidding with me? “No need to acknowledge our country’s past sins”??? Every school child in America is taught about our sins. Sins against Africans. Sins against Native Americans. Sins against women. Sins against Asians. Sins against Hispanics. We have entire months of the year dedicated to different ethnic groups so that we can acknowledge their contributions, and study their history in the US. We have entire college departments dedicated to the study of America’s failings. Have you ever read any Howard Zinn? James Lowen? Regardless of whether you have or not, kids in high school and college certainly have. Our failings are well documented, believe me. We have government programs designed specifically to make up for our nation’s mistreatment of various groups and ethnicities throughout our history. Not acknowledging our country’s sins? I can’t believe you can type that with a straight face.

What we don’t have is justice, or rather, not enough justice. What we don’t recognize is that the past still shapes our present, and that what happened before–which I suspect the vast majority of Americans know about–impacts what is happening now. I’m sure that the overwhelming vast majority of people know about slavery, LCMS_No_More (for one easy example). Do they understand how slavery impacts what’s going on today? Or do they care?

Our problem isn’t ignorance, it’s indifference.

Jeesh! Off soapbox.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

Are you kidding with me? “No need to acknowledge our country’s past sins”??? Every school child in America is taught about our sins. Sins against Africans. Sins against Native Americans. Sins against women. Sins against Asians. Sins against Hispanics. We have entire months of the year dedicated to different ethnic groups so that we can acknowledge their contributions, and study their history in the US. We have entire college departments dedicated to the study of America’s failings. Have you ever read any Howard Zinn? James Lowen? Regardless of whether you have or not, kids in high school and college certainly have. Our failings are well documented, believe me. We have government programs designed specifically to make up for our nation’s mistreatment of various groups and ethnicities throughout our history. Not acknowledging our country’s sins? I can’t believe you can type that with a straight face.

What we don’t have is justice, or rather, not enough justice. What we don’t recognize is that the past still shapes our present, and that what happened before–which I suspect the vast majority of Americans know about–impacts what is happening now. I’m sure that the overwhelming vast majority of people know about slavery, LCMS_No_More (for one easy example). Do they understand how slavery impacts what’s going on today? Or do they care?

Our problem isn’t ignorance, it’s indifference.

Jeesh! Off soapbox.

My comment was made because there’s a powerful ideological bent that wants to ignore this and claim that the United States is a beacon of purity and light, all in spite of the facts of her history and can do no wrong and never has. That’s all.

As to indifference? You’re absolutely correct! I believe that our goals as Christians must be salt and light to the world. That involves two things: we must preach the Gospel (and when necessary, use words, as St. Francis said) and work to make the world a better place (not utopia, just better). While many are good at the former, they are sorely lacking in the latter and vice versa.

 

[vern_humphrey]

My comment was made because there’s a powerful ideological bent that wants to ignore this and claim that the United States is a beacon of purity and light, all in spite of the facts of her history and can do no wrong and never has. That’s all.

As to indifference? You’re absolutely correct! I believe that our goals as Christians must be salt and light to the world. That involves two things: we must preach the Gospel (and when necessary, use words, as St. Francis said) and work to make the world a better place (not utopia, just better). While many are good at the former, they are sorely lacking in the latter and vice versa.

So enlighten the rest of us unwashed, ignorant sinners. What are you gentlemen doing about these problems?

 

[Michaeljc4]

My comment was made because there’s a powerful ideological bent that wants to ignore this and claim that the United States is a beacon of purity and light, all in spite of the facts of her history and can do no wrong and never has. That’s all.

Well, in my experience, those who have that particular ideological bent aren’t teaching in school or universities. I know that there are churches that adhere to the “city on a hill” view of American history, but overall, we are all exposed a very heapin’ helpin’ of America’s dark shadows. I think educators are more influential in this particular area than religous institutions, but I do see your point.

Good and bad. Dark and light. Shadow and sunrise. That’s history. That’s everything else about mankind, too. What matters is our emphasis, and how we respond to the very real injustices in our world. If there is some other philosophy, ideology, or religous tradition that offers more hope for humanity than Christianity, I don’t know what it is.

 

[Michaeljc4]

Welcome to the argument we were having FOUR YEARS AGO!

I read Ryan’s op-ed today, actually, and I tend to agree with his analysis as well. I think every Catholic Republican in the Congress should be explaining subsidiarity to the people of our nation, personally.