U.S. Bishops’ full statement on immigration and opposing mass deportation released

[Valletta]

"Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks."

Read: U.S. Bishops’ full statement on immigration and opposing mass deportation

“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”

www.americamagazine.org

We can't let this exploitation of immigrants in a quest for votes and one-party control ever happen again. The leaders need to be held accountable. The effects of flooding of our country with from 10 to 20 million immigrants in one presidential term, in contempt of our border laws, will be felt for many years. It was an attack on the will of the people who had supported laws to gradually allow immigrants into our country. It has created a situation where some who might likely have gained citizenship will end up being deported, because there is no way our country can handle a proper review of tens of millions on a case by case basis. Certainly there had to be recognition of this fact by many who were sought control of our government.
Only a fraction of the children lost track of by the last administration have been rescued because there is nowhere to start to investigate on an individual basis. How many were essentially sold into slavery we may never know. Realize too that many immigrants were lured into our country when our president said "come." What we should working together on is a pathway for citizenship for those who love America and our Judeo/Christian founded culture, who don't wish to tear it down or be on the government dole for the rest of their lives. They can apply for citizenship from outside the country, but they will have to take a place in line BEHIND those who have obeyed our laws and legally applied from outside of the U.S. Instead many are idolizing some of the worst of criminals and those who hate our country, trying to keep them here as long as possible. Sadly we have seen this pattern of causing suffering for others for political gains, so often by the same people over and over again. I conjunction I also think the voluntary deportation program needs to be pushed harder.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

We can't let this exploitation of immigrants in a quest for votes and one-party control ever happen again. The leaders need to be held accountable. The effects of flooding of our country with from 10 to 20 million immigrants in one presidential term, in contempt of our border laws, will be felt for many years. It was an attack on the will of the people who had supported laws to gradually allow immigrants into our country. It has created a situation where some who might likely have gained citizenship will end up being deported, because there is no way our country can handle a proper review of tens of millions on a case by case basis. Certainly there had to be recognition of this fact by many who were sought control of our government.
Only a fraction of the children lost track of by the last administration have been rescued because there is nowhere to start to investigate on an individual basis. How many were essentially sold into slavery we may never know. Realize too that many immigrants were lured into our country when our president said "come." What we should working together on is a pathway for citizenship for those who love America and our Judeo/Christian founded culture, who don't wish to tear it down or be on the government dole for the rest of their lives. They can apply for citizenship from outside the country, but they will have to take a place in line BEHIND those who have obeyed our laws and legally applied from outside of the U.S. Instead many are idolizing some of the worst of criminals and those who hate our country, trying to keep them here as long as possible. Sadly we have seen this pattern of causing suffering for others for political gains, so often by the same people over and over again. I conjunction I also think the voluntary deportation program needs to be pushed harder.

I advise you to re-read the bishops' statement and reflect on it. Because you seem to have missed the point entirely.

 

[Valletta]

I advise you to re-read the bishops' statement and reflect on it. Because you seem to have missed the point entirely.

It states: "We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks." That's what is being done. Tragically one side defends the criminals, the human traffickers and others.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

It states: "We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks." That's what is being done. Tragically one side defends the criminals, the human traffickers and others.

You do realize that's not the whole statement, right?

Our current immigration system - especially as it is currently being enforced - is neither just nor orderly. And, more importantly from the perspective of the Catholic Church, it does not respect the fundamental dignity of immigrants as human persons, created in the image of God. If you want to say that previous administrations have failed to implement a just and orderly immigration policy, I'd say that's fair. I'd even agree with you - there are decades worth of failures to properly address the US immigration system, on the part of both Democratic and Republican administrations. But defending the current administration's actions as in line with the USCCB statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what was said.

 

[Valletta]

You do realize that's not the whole statement, right?

Our current immigration system - especially as it is currently being enforced - is neither just nor orderly. And, more importantly from the perspective of the Catholic Church, it does not respect the fundamental dignity of immigrants as human persons, created in the image of God. If you want to say that previous administrations have failed to implement a just and orderly immigration policy, I'd say that's fair. I'd even agree with you - there are decades worth of failures to properly address the US immigration system, on the part of both Democratic and Republican administrations. But defending the current administration's actions as in line with the USCCB statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what was said.

Keep in focus that we are dealing with a disaster caused by 10 to 20 million people allowed across our borders during one presidential term. There are many victims. I think we need to go harder against those who prolong and enable this disaster.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Keep in focus that we are dealing with a disaster caused by 10 to 20 million people allowed across our borders during one presidential term. There are many victims. I think we need to go harder against those who prolong and enable this disaster.

I advise you to re-read the bishops' statement and reflect on it. Because you seem to have missed the point entirely.

 

[DaisyDay]

Keep in focus that we are dealing with a disaster caused by 10 to 20 million people allowed across our borders during one presidential term. There are many victims. I think we need to go harder against those who prolong and enable this disaster.

Is this disinformation or are you not aware that the total illegal immigrant population was estimated at 14M in 2023, up from 10.5M in 2021? NB: That is a cumulative total of all years, not for each year.

There was no "disaster" - a bit of a problem, but hardly a disaster.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Here's someone who actually understood the bishops' message.

Trump’s border czar blasts U.S. Catholic bishops over criticism of immigration raids​

“The Catholic Church is wrong, I’m sorry,” Homan told reporters outside the White House. “I’m saying it not only as the border czar, I’m saying it as a Catholic.”

[Sounds kinda protestant]

Homan, who describes himself as a border czar, said the bishops should focus their time on “fixing the Catholic Church.”

“We have a right to secure our borders,” he said.

“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the statement read. “We are concerned by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.”

The bishops called for immigration reform and said they were troubled by threats against the “sanctity of houses of worship and special nature of hospitals and schools.”

 

[Valletta]

Here's someone who actually understood the bishops' message.

Trump’s border czar blasts U.S. Catholic bishops over criticism of immigration raids​

“The Catholic Church is wrong, I’m sorry,” Homan told reporters outside the White House. “I’m saying it not only as the border czar, I’m saying it as a Catholic.”

[Sounds kinda protestant]

Homan, who describes himself as a border czar, said the bishops should focus their time on “fixing the Catholic Church.”

“We have a right to secure our borders,” he said.

“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the statement read. “We are concerned by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.”

The bishops called for immigration reform and said they were troubled by threats against the “sanctity of houses of worship and special nature of hospitals and schools.”

I understand his reaction. Certainly the arrests "near" schools or churches has been unjustly played up. A large portion of my city has a school or church within a few blocks.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Since the government is back open, the House needs to start the impeachment process on these unelected bishops.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Since the government is back open, the House needs to start the impeachment process on these unelected bishops.

Don't get me started on the Investiture Controversy.