LANSING, Mich. EWTN News) —The Catholic bishops of Michigan have voiced “deep concern” about the effectiveness of the U.S. immigration system and the lack of a consistent federal policy. They said failed policy, not undocumented immigrants, should be blamed for immigration problems.
“We encourage members of the Michigan Legislature to reject measures that impugn immigrants — especially the undocumented; and we encourage the Michigan congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to contribute to federal efforts that seek to fix the nation’s immigration system,” the seven bishops of the Michigan Catholic Conference said in a July 19 statement.
They acknowledged the state’s authority to enact its own legislation, but they advised that these policies are “more appropriately addressed” by national immigration authorities and the U.S. Congress.
If Michigan policymakers do debate immigration reform, the bishops said, any measures must strive to uphold the human dignity of all persons and “work against any injustice which would compromise the dignity of immigrants.” Immigration measures must “promote and give priority to the reunification of families” and must recognize the “rich contribution to the community” by immigrants who live and work there.
“We support the positive impact migrant communities have made in our country, and especially in our state. We recognize the right of our country to regulate its own borders to control immigration,” the bishops explained. “We believe that borders must be regulated with justice and mercy, as people have a God-given right to migrate when necessary to sustain their lives and their families.”
They said they empathize with U.S.-born children whose parents are deported while they are still minors.
They added that an “ineffective immigration system” has in some cases led to negative effects such as “increased crime and a proliferation of the drug trade.”
But it is “unfair and mistaken” to blame undocumented residents for “problems more accurately attributed to a failed policy.”
Some Republican legislators in the Michigan Legislature have proposed anti-immigration bills. One would require public-sector employers to check a prospective worker’s eligibility to be employed in the U.S.
Another proposal, similar to a controversial measure passed in Arizona, would require law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of people they approach for an offense whom they suspect to be in the U.S. illegally. The legislation would require government agencies to verify the immigration status of people over age 18 who apply for federal, state or local benefits, Fox News reports.
Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, said that an Arizona-like law would “encourage a divisive atmosphere.”
On July 18, he joined business leaders, foundation leaders and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a Wayne State University conference on immigration and Michigan’s economic future.
The bishops endorsed a “concerted effort to find a pathway toward citizenship” for the undocumented who have “contributed to the common good.”
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Places like Detroit fell upon hard economic times due in large part to the errors of international capitalism and its supporters in the govt that allowed companies to send their jobs overseas and import their crummy products without a hefty tariff.
And now those same capitalists want the govt to continue to allow virtually open borders so that businesses can take advantage of cheap labor and how allowing illegal aliens to pick our crops and be used as, essentially, cheap wage slaves contributes to their dignity rather that being an occasion of sin is beyond me.
And allowing illegal aliens to continue to subvert the wages unions strove long and hard to establish for native americans is an abuse of their dignity but I do not hear American Bishops addressing that as a problem.
There was a reason that Cesar Chavez was against illegal aliens and reported them to INS and there was a reason his brother was a member of what was then the equivalent of the Minuteman..
22 million unemployed Americans cannot find a job. 2 million unemployed single moms who are head of household cannot find a job. USA unemployment rate is 9.2%. Mexico’s Unemployment Rate Only 4.9%. Mexico is self-sufficient in oil and exports oil to USA. Please support mandatory E-Verify for all employers.
I dont seem to understand. What part of Illegal don`t the Catholic Bishops in Mich. understand? Catholic bishops would do well to stay out of politics and concentrate on correcting the progressive secular liberalism that is pervasive in many churches and has contributed to the steep decline of attendance at Masses. Encouraging people to vote against Republicans and to vote for Democrates simply because they support a single issue is not only morally wrong it is a sin when those Democrates, which most happen to be, are pro-choice. Entering a country illegaly and then demanding they change the law to accomodate you would not only not work in Mexico, you would find yourelf behind bars for a very long time.
We have waiting lists of people from around the world that want to become a part of America. Is it fair to them when they do it the right way? No wonder there is such lack of moral leadership in the church when you have bihops supporting the breaking of laws. Your example and leadership, if you can call it that, is destroying the church and dividing the faithfull.
You will have to answer for that, but then again, if most of the illegals
are Catholic, making them legal would help to fund the churche`s bank accounts which are reeling from all the lawsuits. Just a thought.
Yes to the three above posts which is all there is as I post. And since Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador all have high murder rates…the last two are tops in the world (and none have death penalties except Guatemala)......shouldn’t the Bishops be demanding that each immigrant be checked for an orderly life? Yes…except that they are using liberal techniques including denial….to imagine that each immigrant is a closet saint. In Rockland county NY 6 years ago, a suburban family ordered a deck cleaning. The worker arrived, Guatemalan, with his equipment but then spontaneously got the idea to rape and kill and mutilate the body of the mom who was home alone. He was caught in two days and NY tax payers will be paying for his existence til he dies. And a family is missing a mom and wife. NY city several years ago, a Chinese girl is raped and strangled and bludgeoned to death by an illegal central American. Her mom was recently weeping at the trial and was over from mainland where they can only have one child. Mainland would know what to do to the murderer…..as most Popes throughout history knew. The West and many states and the last two Popes… is
wiser than all those Popes. We are the security compassionate experts now as a church…..what’s that…..we didn’t protect our own children for four decades! How Catholic bashing to bring that up. No immigrants without thorough background check should be the Bishops’ motto…...or house them all in Bishop mansions and have the bishops civilly liable for conduct of unchecked miscreants.
This bishop as well as those who are more radical (e.g., Gomez, Mahoney, etc.) either need to get back in line with The Church (CCC: “Every state has a right to defend her boarders” (sic)) or need to be deported with illegals who are here. While on the way to deportation they need to teach these illegals about the evils of devil worship (e.g., Santería where they do disgusting things to our Lady), and having sex with their own children no matter what their culture deems as traditional and cultural in their respective south of the boarder countries.
These bishops are going down the same road with these illegals they did with the homosexuals in the seminaries and priesthood.
Fed Up
I can’t understand why some Bishops support breaking the law. Legal immigrants and legal migrant workers are the ones who suffer most because so many don’t want to put in the time and effort to come here legally. And many Americans are put out of work so employers can hire illegals to work more cheaply - construction workers, restaurant workers, etc. These Bishops need to tend to the more urgent issues such as allowing radical, aggressive, pro abortion ‘Catholic’ politicians like Pelosi, Biden, etc. to receive the Eucharist while advancing the killing of unborn human babies here and in other countries. Biden goes to Africa to tell needy African countries that they must put abortion rights in their constitutions so that they can receive aid…and yet, our Bishops consider these people to be Catholics in good standing. SHAMEFUL!
First of all these people aren’t “undocumented,” they are illegal. Does the Catholic Church encourage people to break the law. Come to think of it, it does (shuffling pedophiles around).
I don’t understand why the bishops are buying the liberal claptrap on this issue esp. seeing as how Church teaching is clear that people must obey the sovereign law of the land as long as it’s fair and just….and I don’t see anything unfair or unjust in deporting illegal aliens and their families through retroactive application of a revocation of the anchor-baby law and sending them to the end of the line of people waiting to gain entry legally. If being sent to the end of the lunch line if you’re caught cutting it is a good enough punishment for school kids it’s a good enough punishment for these lawbreakers and their families.
Mercy Mercy Mercy. God is so wonderful and generous with all his children. In his eyes there is no hatred, malice, jealousy, or condemnation despite of our sins. When we acknowledge our sins he simply smiles looks us in the eye with tenderness and says child I died in the cross for your sins. Wow. My heart melts. Isn’t this the essence of our faith? God created us to love, forgive and be an example of his ENORMOUS MERCY! God is the only judge and I can’t wait for his arrival where he will ask each and one of us: Did you feed me when I was hungry? Did you clothe me when I was naked? I’m sure the bishops have a special place in heaven because they have demonstrated the Lord’s mercy by supporting laws/policies that benefit and show MERCY to not one but all of God’s children. For my brothers and sisters who posted comments below me here’s a prayer: God, thank you for their lives. Bless heavenly Father their families, their circumstances and most importantly their hearts-fill their hearts with your love. Amen. From me to you Hugs, Smiles and MUCHO pero MUCHOOOOOO blessings!!
Rosie, We will pray for you also. You won`t find any hatred, malice, jealousy or condemnation from us. The bishops are wrong. God is also a just God for Jesus said render to Ceaser the things that are Ceaser`s and
to God the things that are God`s. The Lord even had Peter go fish to find a coin to pay the tax. Laws are laws and a country without borders or laws
is no country at all. It becomes a nation of chaos. We are a compassionate people. When our laws are broken and we send people to prison we feed them, clothe them and visit them as chaplains and house them. When we deport people who have broken our laws, they are even entitled to a fair trial in a court of law with free legal representation.
Now that is compassion. The bishops are wrong when they encourage people to break the law. My son is in law enforcement and I assure you if I broke
the law he would have no reservations about locking up his father. In this country we don`t tolerate a failed state, as they have in Mexico and
much of South America and the reason for that is we enforce our laws.
The Lord has mercy and He also has justice and while He forgives He warns
there are consequences for sin. Peace be to your heart.
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