"We strongly disagree with the Executive Order's halting refugee admissions. We believe that now more than ever, welcoming newcomers and refugees is an act of love and hope. We will continue to engage the new administration, as we have all administrations for the duration of the current refugee program, now almost forty years. We will work vigorously to ensure that refugees are humanely welcomed in collaboration with Catholic Charities without sacrificing our security or our core values as Americans, and to ensure that families may be reunified with their loved ones."
Fortunately, the USCCB does not speak with unanimity for all the Bishops of the United States, even though we can most likely presume many of the American Bishops agree with the Migration Committee's remarks.
Unfortunately, the Migration Committee has overstated both the intent and consequence of the Executive Order, referencing the President's action as though it were permanent as well as unwarranted.
The USCCB never been reserved in voicing its enthusiastic support of illegal immigration, seeing it as the hope of keeping pews filled in the wake of the mass exodus of American Catholics. Certainly, then, one understands the Migration Committee's foreboding over the promised agenda of the new President to hold illegal immigrants to observance of the rule of law.
I have written extensively about my chagrin over the members of the Catholic hierarchy who encourage and defend the violation of the dutifully and rightly enacted immigration policies of this country. For the eight years of the Obama administration, those laws were routinely violated and ignored with much support from many Catholic Bishops.
In the past election, the American People clearly indicated their frustration with the utter disregard which Obama and the Democratic Party showed in not applying the due process of law toward those whose illegal presence in this country is a criminal act.
Americans have voted the Democratic liberal agenda out of power and are enthusiastic and energetic in their desire to commit the liberal attitudes and agendas to the dust of history.
Those American Bishops in the mindset of the Migration Committee's statement need to be put on notice that American Catholics may be just as willing to reject their authority should they continue to urge criminal actions. American Catholics are prepared to vote with their feet by walking away from the Church when it is seen to encourage and enable illegal activity.
Whatever the Bishops intentions, they must remember that just laws (that is reasonable ordinances enacted by rightful authority to preserve and protect the common good) are morally binding.
No matter how poignant their pleas for compassion, the end does not justify the means.
The disregard the Bishops advocate for immigration laws may someday devolve to a disregard for the laws which protect freedom of speech or the exercise of religion. You can't do violence to one area of the law without doing violence to the rule of law itself. Furthermore, you can't insist that ecclesiastic authority requires respectful observance, while disregarding civil authority by encouraging those who violate rightful laws.
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