Troubling Message from Abp. Gomez

In a message from Archbishop Gomez, Chairman, U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, I am troubled to see yet again, a bishop of the Church frame the discussion of illegal aliens as though they were migrants or refugees. There are several issues at play here.

First, people who violate our laws to enter the country, and again to obtain forged documents, and yet again to work illegally, are not migrants, and most assuredly not immigrants; they are criminals. Neither are they refugees, and I am sure that any plea for asylum by any of them would clearly establish that in legal terms.

Second, immigration is a legal process, a process with which I have considerable experience, as both my wife and step-daughter are immigrants. Becoming an immigrant requires taking steps prior to entry to this country. These steps take time, and require patience. Forms must be filled out, and medical tests taken. For all these things there is good reason, as the Church acknowledges in CCC 2241:

2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

At present, our country is failing utterly to defend its sovereignty by enforcing its border. And Mexico, our supposed friend, as has been widely reported, is doing all that it can to assist its citizens in migrating North, without benefit of legal process.

I am at a complete loss to understand how the question of immigration can be discussed by an Archbishop without reference to CCC 2241. And look carefully at the second paragraph, where it says:

Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

Were the demonstrations in Los Angeles and other cities a display of gratitude? Does violence in protests reflect obedience to our laws? I think not.