Blessed are You, Lord God, King of all creation. Though your kindness, we live in this land That you have so richly blessed. Help us always to recognize our Blessings come from You And remind us to share them With others, especially those who come to us today from other lands. Help us to be generous, just, and welcoming, As You have been and are generous to us. Amen

     The persons who make such statements attribute to themselves a certain righteousness, based on the way their ancestors entered this country.

      Yet if one’s ancestors came to this country before 1921, and were considered white, there was no law restricting their entry into the US, and therefore, no law to violate.   So those of us whose ancestors fall into this category should be grateful that the current laws were not in existence when our ancestors decided to emigrate.    We could also acknowledge the fact that our immigrant ancestors had a great deal in common with the vast majority of today’s undocumented immigrants.   They came, with great sacrifice and courage, eager to work very hard at any job, no matter how menial, in order to provide a better life for their children.

      The immigration issue is very complex and cannot be reduced to a simple “legal vs. illegal” frame.  The U.S. Catholic Bishop’s campaign: “Justice for Immigrants”, encourages us to examine all aspects of this issue in the hope that we will support a humane and just policy on immigration. 

Our Immigration Subcommittee Meets to act on  Justice for Immigrants, especially for the undocumented, regardless of their legal status.  Questions, contact: Sam  DeNicolo  665-2828  or  Jane Pens   996-0342.    See the Bishop’s site at:  www.justiceforimmigrants.org 

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Leviticus 19: 32-34
If a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself— for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt.  I am Yahweh your God. 

Matthew 25: 35-40
For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see me.
. . . I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.

Questions, contact our parish office 821-2121.

In a landmark pastoral letter issued by the Catholic bishops of Mexico and the United States, Strangers No Longer:  Together on the Journey of Hope, the bishops acknowledge that the current immigration system is badly in need of reform and that a comprehensive approach to fixing it is required. The bishops offer a comprehensive set of recommendations for changing U.S. laws and policies to reflect the principles contained in Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching and to bring about a more humane and just immigration system in the United States. 

The bishops’ call for reforms includes the following FIVE elements: 
1.) PERSONS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FIND OPPORTUNITES IN THEIR HOMELAND. 
2.) PERSONS HAVE THE RIGHT TO MIGRATE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
3.) SOVEREIGN NATIONS HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR BORDERS. 
4.) REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS SHOULD BE AFFORDED PROTECTION.
5.) THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE HUMAN DIGNITY OF UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED. 

“Current immigration policy that criminalizes the mere attempt to immigrate and imprisons immigrants who have committed no crime or who have already served a just sentence for a crime is immoral. In the Bible, God promises that our judgment will be based on our treatment of the
most vulnerable. Before God we cannot excuse inhumane treatment of certain persons by claiming that their lack of legal status deprives them of rights given by the Creator.”

“… immigration policy that allows people to live here and contribute to society, often for years, but refuses to offer them the opportunity to achieve legal status does not serve the common good. The presence of millions of people living without easy access to basic human rights and necessities is a great injustice.”

We are familiar with the arguments: “they broke the law; they should not be allowed to stay”;   “We are rewarding lawbreakers by seeking a Christian response to immigration reform”.  These arguments take the focus off the real issue which is: why are these people in our country outside the law, and what consequences or harm will come to the United States because they are here? 

Migrants and their families, largely, enter the United States to survive by finding jobs.  Once they cross the U.S. - Mexico border, 80 percent find employment.   Their intent is not to harm the United States, but simply to work and, by doing so, they help our country and our economy.  So, because they come here to work and they help our nation by doing so, we must ask whether current immigration law, which causes them to hide in the shadows and offers them no protections, is just in the first place.

While the Church supports the rule of law, there are times when laws should be examined through a justice lens and be changed.  In many ways, the present immigration system is broken and contributes to the abuse, exploitation, and even death of migrants who otherwise contribute their work and talents to our nation.  The Bishops recommend that the undocumented workers and their families who have, by and large, worked in the U.S.  and have abided by our laws, should be given the opportunity to obtain permanent legal status though an “earned” legalization program that would require the applicant to undergo screenings  and reviews and otherwise demonstrate eligibility. 

Visit the website: www.justiceforimmigrants.org/   to learn more.

We have many scriptural teachings to remind us of this. One of these is from Mark 12:30-31 "This is the first (commandment).. you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: You must love your
neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these."

* These prayers and thoughts are taken from the Morning Prayers of the Annual Meeting of the North American Dominican Justice Promoters.  July 2006 

Our Catholic Bishops Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. 
 
 

            For the Lord our God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God,
             mighty and awesome, who shows not partiality and accepts not bribes. 
            God defends the cause of the orphan and the widow, and loves the immigrant, 
            giving the immigrant food and clothing.  And we are to love those 
            who are immigrants, for Gods people were immigrants in Egypt.
                                                                                    Deuteronomy 10:17-19
* These prayers and thoughts are taken from the Morning Prayers of the Annual Meeting of the North American Dominican Justice Promoters.  July 2006 
 
 

A Prayer for Compassion 

God of mercy and compassion, You gift us with family, friends and homeland true marks of our identity.

Keep us ever mindful of those who suffer because of homelessness, exile or separation from their country and families.  Soften our hearts with far reaching mercy and compassion, that we may open our hearts and homes in welcome and care for the strangers and refugees in our midst.

Teach us your ways of justice, peace and reconciliation.  Grant us the strength and courage to face the systems, policies and structures of our day that divide the human family, and transform them with Your love.
We ask this in your name.  Amen

* These prayers and thoughts are taken from the Morning Prayers of the Annual Meeting of the North American Dominican Justice Promoters.  July 2006