(AP) Pope Benedict XVI has praised the "great generosity" of American Catholics in welcoming new immigrants and backed the commitment of bishops in the United States to immigration reform.
Benedict on Friday held the last of a series of periodic meetings with American bishops over the past few months, saying the church must embrace "the rich patrimony of faith" from newly arrived Hispanic, Asian and African Catholics.
He acknowledged that immigration reform — a hot button issue in the election campaign — is a complex civil and political issue.
In his earlier meetings with the visiting U.S. bishops, Benedict has touched on other controversial issues that have featured in the presidential campaign, including condemning the gay marriage lobby and stressing the need for the Catholic Church to be free to pursue its religious teaching.
"I would begin by praising your unremitting efforts, in the best traditions of the church in America, to respond to the ongoing phenomenon of immigration in your country," the pope said.
"The Catholic community in the United States continues, with great generosity, to welcome waves of new immigrants, to provide them with pastoral care and charitable assistance, and to support ways of regularizing their situation, especially with regard to the unification of families. A particular sign of this is the long-standing commitment of the American bishops to immigration reform," Benedict said.
"This is clearly a difficult and complex issue from the civil and political, as well as the social and economic, but above all from the human point of view. It is thus of profound concern to the church, since it involves ensuring the just treatment and the defense of the human dignity of immigrants," Benedict said.
In more general terms, Benedict spoke of the challenges facing the church, including threats to its unity.
He also singled out nuns for praise, saying, "I wish to reaffirm my deep gratitude for the example of fidelity and self-sacrifice given by many consecrated women in your country."
A recent Vatican demand for reform of the largest umbrella group for nuns in the United States has raised eyebrows and anger among some Catholics. The group, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, is accused of taking positions that undermine Roman Catholic teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting "certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."
Clearly the Pope was influenced by the visiting Bishops who gave their point of view only - without regard for those who break the law. Therefore ILLEGAL immigrants was not addressed.
ReplyDeleteThe Pope's teaching is accurate regarding LEGAL Immigrants.
QUOTE - CCC: " 2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to OBEY its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens. " UNQUOTE.
The USA is no longer a prosperous Nation. We are about $16 Trillion dollars in debt, and without jobs for many of our citizens and legal immmigrants.
See CCC 2411 for "Commutative Justice" without which no other form of justice is possible. - This includes paying our debts.
Bishops should support closing our borders except for LEGAL immigration and Legal trade. This will stop the breaking up of families, and slow the illegal drug trade, sexual slavery, and murder.
I am intimidated by the brazen, extremely bad mariachi music "Masses" that have replaced the American Mass I used to attend. The songs, I found, are not Catholic, but Protestant.
DeleteThis is another "special" group that is muscling out many faithful Catholics. When I see something I'd like to attend or be associated with, I find it is only for "special" populations: "the young", "the Hispanic community", "priests and religious", or just meant for those who can afford to spend $200 to learn more about the faith (something that should be free!).
Does the Pope know how many are being pushed out and eliminated by such special-interest groups? He needs to know.
Bishops need to promptly address the MORTAL Sins of SCANDAL, HERESY and SCHISM within their own Diocese, and not be involved in the political process unless it involves the "Saving of Souls" or the "Fundamental Rights of all Men" and ONLY in accord with the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteWithout addressing SCANDAL openly and promptly immigrants will soon adopt secularism and relativism as well.
CCC:
For Bishops political involvement see - 2245, 2246;
For SCANDAL see: CCC - 2284, 2285, 2286, 2326.
For HERESY and SCHISM see CCC - 2089.
The families of ILLEGAL immigrants should be permitted to go back to the Country of orgin of the ILLEGAL, but only if they so choose.
ReplyDeleteThis would easily solve the "family" issue - if important to individual legal immigrants.
Regarding children, they should always go with their parents.
Closing the border except for legal immigrants and legal trade would solve all the problems.
ILLEGALS should not be rewarded for breaking US laws.
We all suffer for the sins our our parents in one way or another.
DeleteThere would be no death or sickness if it were not for Parents Adam and Eve.
ILLEGAL immigration must never be encouraged.
The USA gave amnesty to illegals in the 1980's, and the Bishops still have not said anything to stem the flow of ILLEGAL immigration. And they are still complaining about breaking up of families. When will they learn that if you stop the cause, the problem will go away ? ? ?