Cardinal Mahoney and immigrants

[cmotherofpirl]

Should cardinals advocate people breaking the law?

[kateri05]

when the law would be a direct infringement on the Church. She isn't subject to secular "background checks" when it comes to feeding and taking care of the poor.

although, having watched the news here in LA last nite, i think he did say it in such a way as to provoke attention. and of course, there could be a wag the dog issue with the scandals that are going on sigh

[Era Might]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Mar 2 2006, 10:12 AM']Should cardinals advocate people breaking the law?
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Yes, when that law is evil.

[Sojourner]

[url="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/opinion/03fri1.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin"]Op-ed from the NY Times on this subject[/url]
[quote]It has been a long time since this country heard a call to organized lawbreaking on this big a scale. Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the nation's largest, urged parishioners on Ash Wednesday to devote the 40 days of Lent to fasting, prayer and reflection on the need for humane reform of immigration laws. If current efforts in Congress make it a felony to shield or offer support to illegal immigrants, Cardinal Mahony said, he will instruct his priests — and faithful lay Catholics — to defy the law.

The cardinal's focus of concern is H.R. 4437, a bill sponsored by James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Wisconsin and Peter King of New York. This grab bag legislation, which was recently passed by the House, would expand the definition of "alien smuggling" in a way that could theoretically include working in a soup kitchen, driving a friend to a bus stop or caring for a neighbor's baby. Similar language appears in legislation being considered by the Senate this week.

The enormous influx of illegal immigrants and the lack of a coherent federal policy to handle it have prompted a jumble of responses by state and local governments, stirred the passions of the nativist fringe, and reinforced anxieties since 9/11. Cardinal Mahony's defiance adds a moral dimension to what has largely been a debate about politics and economics. "As his disciples, we are called to attend to the last, littlest, lowest and least in society and in the church," he said.

The cardinal is right to argue that the government has no place criminalizing the charitable impulses of private institutions like his, whose mission is to help people with no questions asked. The Los Angeles Archdiocese, like other religious organizations across the country, runs a vast network of social service programs offering food and emergency shelter, child care, aid to immigrants and refugees, counseling services, and computer and job training. Through Catholic Charities and local parishes, the church is frequently the help of last resort for illegal immigrants in need. It should not be made an arm of the immigration police as well.

Cardinal Mahony's declaration of solidarity with illegal immigrants, for whom Lent is every day, is a startling call to civil disobedience, as courageous as it is timely. We hope it forestalls the day when works of mercy become a federal crime.[/quote]

[Era Might]

[quote]Cardinal Mahony's declaration of solidarity with illegal immigrants, for whom Lent is every day, is a startling call to civil disobedience, as courageous as it is timely. We hope it forestalls the day when works of mercy become a federal crime.[/quote]

Just remember that civil disobedience implies the willingness to the suffer the consequences for breaking the law. We can't break the law and then complain about being punished.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Mar 2 2006, 09:12 AM']Should cardinals advocate people breaking the law?
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What if it's the law they're proposing in New Hampshire that would require priests to report certain confessions?

[MissScripture]

I like how separation of Church and State only applies so long as it benefits the government!

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Mar 3 2006, 03:33 PM']Just remember that civil disobedience implies the willingness to the suffer the consequences for breaking the law. We can't break the law and then complain about being punished.
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Honey, if it becomes illegal to provide aid to undocumented immigrants, I am going to TRY to get arrested for doing works of mercy.

[corban711]

can you imagine some poor dying soul encountering a Missionary of Charity or Mother Teresa (when she was alive)...right as they are about to take that dying person into their arms...they say..."wait. are you here legally? im sorry...i cannot help you". whether Cardinal Mahoney is a good Cardinal, or whether he has handled sex abuse or many other things correctly is entirely irrelevant. on THIS issue, he is absolutely correct. yes, we should secure our borders. that is quite obvious to me. should they be here illegally? no. they should do all they can to be legal citizens if they wish to live here. but when someone comes to the Church for aid, we are to give them aid. I think that Jesus was very serious when He said whatever we do to the least of our brethren we do to Him. We must take those words very, very seriously. and if someone comes to me for aid, their dignity demands that i serve them.