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Often the topic of immigration brings up strong emotion in people. Some think that anyone entering the country illegally needs to be immediately sent back to their homeland, in a swift and harsh manner. Some only think that these immigrants are stealing their jobs and therefore have no place in our country. I admit, those emotional responses can be challenging to look past, but they are not the loving, Christian response that God calls his people too.
Because of our life of faith, through our baptismal call and our confirmation of beliefs (and acceptance of Catholicism) we must move past the basic emotional response and see the human dignity in the broader world of our international brothers and sisters.
The question of Comprehensive Immigration Reform is about more than politics – it is about people. People who have lived in deplorable conditions with no means to make changes, people who left the ones they love to make an (often lethal) journey into the unknown to possibly make a little money that they may send back to support their families. For the most part, these people didn’t want to make that decision. They wanted to stay in their home country, to work, to live, to raise their family. Breaking up their family and risking their life was not their ideal future.
We, living here in the “Land of Opportunity” easily forgot (most likely have never known) what it means to be oppressed, to be starved, to be hopeless with no government agencies or parish support available. Sure, we have tough times – especially in the past 2 years, but we have our families, our government, our parish and community support. We have places to turn to. We will be treated with dignity. Others in the world deserve that same dignity! That is what Christ told us, what the Bishops tell us and what our own heart tells us.
Take the step to move past the emotional and media response. Take a look inside your faith, you can get plenty of information at the USCCB established website JusticeforImmigrants.org .
If your spirit speaks to you, please join in the postcard campaign to our elected officials. You can sign the postcards after mass on March 7th in Vincention Hall, obtain one from the church office, or print one off from the website here.
Direct Resource Links:
Catholic Bishops Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Thank you for a challenging reflection. Not many of can claim “first nation” status, we are all products of immigration. Add to the mix the dilemma of weighing the needs of outsiders against the defense of the life we share with our fellow citizens. For our country to become more perfect, we,as church,must continue not only to talk about but also to walk with immigrants.
So, how do we here on the Northside work to welcome the immigrant?