Saint Cecilia's Church
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Dear Friends,
In April, the Congress crafted a bill that would bring together concerns of both Democrats and Republicans regarding Immigration. The Immigration reform bill introduced into Congress respects the basic human rights and dignity of newcomers who are in our country without citizenship while also enhancing border security and moving people toward the goal of becoming citizens.
Representing the “Gang of Eight” a bi-partison group of senators, Republican Marco Rubio of Florida said that the bill would “fix our broken system by securing our borders, improving interior enforcement, modernizing our legal immigration to help create jobs and protect American workers, and dealing with our undocumented population in a tough but humane way that is fair to those trying to come here the right way and linked to achieving several security triggers.”
This remains to be seen. The test of the bill is also to see if it will affect future non-legal immigration. Still, that the two parties have come to some common ground is important. Behind the scenes for years and especially at this point in the debate is the Catholic Church. Archbishop Jose Gomez has been a long term player and advocate for a solution that will benefit the country and stem non-legal immigration.
The Catholic League in a statement of support stated, “Until recently, both Republicans and Democrats have failed miserably in addressing these issues. To wit: some Republicans have thought they can somehow round up every illegal alien and send him back to his home country; some Democrats have thought they can just ignore the cry for greater border security.”
Concerns are real. A coming together of minds is an important step toward a solution. The great country that we are we should be able to find a way to deal with the present situation and create a way for the future that will not just put us back to where we are right now.
Blessed John Paul II wrote in “First and foremost, in the case of undocumented migrants, the Christian should seek to attend to the basic needs and promote the rights that are unconditionally part of human existence. These include the basic rights to food, shelter and work–rights that no laws may contravene. The right to emigrate and the right to immigrate cannot be divorced without skewing the underlying meaning of the migrant’s condition. However, this does not imply that the legal status of the migrant may be dismissed. There are, here, two issues. On the one hand, the Christian is called to care for the migrant irrespective of legal status, and on the other, the State by right enacts and executes laws to regulate immigration, per se. In other words, whatever may be the lawful consequence of illegal immigration, the Christian is called to recognize the dignity and rights of the migrant, and when necessary, speak out against immigration laws and policies that may threaten to eclipse that dignity.”
The Holy Father sees that along with the need to govern with order there is for the Christian, a higher responsibility. “A change of attitude may be necessary for many…they must strive even harder to see all migrants with the eyes of Christ.” The solution begins then with seeing with the eyes of Jesus.
Fr. Al
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1301 Sycamore Avenue Tustin, CA 92780 : : : Diocese of Orange : : : Telephone 714-544-3250
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