Posts Tagged ‘Catholic Church’

Can you be bible-thumping and anti-immigrant?

// July 1st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Human Rights, Immigration

I suppose. The religious “right” pick and follow whatever is convenient. Love thy neighbor is forgotten when the neighbor is gay. Is this another one of those cases? Take a look.

Leviticus 19:34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Now, I must say that the Catholic Church has long stood up for the rights of undocumented immigrants and provided a safe haven (sanctuary) for migrant workers. No matter how much I take issue with their position on other matters like homosexuality, this one deserves props.

How many rabid ALIPacers, ‘FAIR’ and NumbersUSA members are actually compassionate Christian conservatives? Going by the hatred and scapegoating, not an overwhelming number would be a wise guess.

IF YOU are bible-thumping and anti-immigrant (legal or illegal), I would love to hear your justification in light of Leviticus 19:34

Deportation of Classmate sparks Immigration Teach-in

// May 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // Immigration

6-8th graders at St. Bernard School in Wisconsin learned more about the painful side of deportation when one of their classmates–Miriam–was deported to Mexico.

The students were quite unaware of immigration policies and had questions. Some expressed their closeness to Miriam and were saddened by her absence from the school.

“For me it was kind of difficult,” said Jasmin Torres. “This is my first year here and she was like the only person I knew when I got here. It just made it a lot harder coming to school without her.”

Elle Bellisle attended St. Philip the Apostle School with Miriam before it closed two years ago. “When it closed down we came here,” she said. “She was like the only one I hung out with.”

The teach-ins led by an immigration counselor from Catholic Charities was eye-opening for the students. Many expressed that they had no idea that it took about 14 years to immigrate to the United States, or immigrants who seeked asylum because they feared persecution in their country.

It is heartening to see the Catholic Church on the right side of the immigration debate, promoting understanding and education instead of intolerance and hatred. Teaching kids about the painful side of the immigration debate at an early age builds tolerance and understanding of the matter. It also helps to form a stronger community and enable kids to be helpful and pro-active.

The entire story is here.