Maybe the fact that Laura is a relatively new Catholic is the problem.
She may not see how immigration has much to do with abortion. She is doing some lay person’s work supporting pro-life activities.
**Perhaps instead of going as far as publishing a Diocese-wide directive to the faithful not to support this local effort - the Bishop and Monsignor in question might hold forth on the meaning of certain well-known scriptures as
**
When asked about his email, Msgr. Robert Siler told LifeZette, “It was an internal communication to our pastors, reminding them of our policies and procedures.”
True, this is about immigration from this life unto the next one … but apparently immigration CAN be done wrong (even if we don’t use the term “illegally”). A neophyte like Laura might just take Jesus’ words at face value and conclude that immigrants to America should also “enter through the gate” (i.e. legally).
If the Diocese suspects that the group is really going to re-direct the pro-life funds unto doing bad things to immigrants, they should be sure about it. Personally I don’t think that possibility is likely.
The diocese **has experience with Image Point’s failure to collaborate **with them in a meaningful way. From the letter to the priests, Fr. Siler writes, “Image Point has yet to respond to my letter last fall asking them to clarify their willingness to collaborate in a meaningful way with the Diocese. The organization was cleared two years ago by the bishop to receive a large donation from the Knights of Columbus then withdrew their tentative agreement to collaborate after spending the money.”
Jesus and his family immigrated to Egypt and back … presumably obeying any attendant laws I should think. And it’s good for the faithful to be instructed on that matter, beyond loving one’s neighbors, caring for the poor, sharing with those in need, etc.
I do find it odd that THIS event is being used to present that counsel. I don’t get it.
Is Laura Ingraham supposed to be like the gangsters of old who opened soup kitchens
for the poor to mask their other (selfish, illegal, etc.) activities? **Sometimes the clergy at the time didn’t condemn the gangsters’ “do-gooding” **-- even if later they were denied a big public funeral and burial in holy ground.
"Insisting there was no intent to disparage, (Msgr. Siler) said, “We have not made any public criticisms of Ms. Ingraham … What we have told our pastors is we’re not promoting Image Point’s event.” In fact, the letter even praised Ms. Ingraham as being “a strong pro-life witness…”
If I MUST choose a side here. So far it would be Ingraham’s do-gooding over the clerical carping and opposition to what seems to be something they should be promoting … not discouraging.
Bishop Tyson has a large percentage of Hispanic people that he serves. He has his reasons why Ms. Ingraham would not be a suitable speaker for pro-life events sponsored or promoted by his diocese. It should be known, however, that the Diocese has also turned down several requests from outside groups – some of them also Catholic – who might be considered to be more aligned with the Democratic Party. The Diocese of Yakima chooses to promote those speakers it judges that are best able to reflect church teachings in it’s entirety.
