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Bishops Decry Failure of Immigration Reform

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U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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The US bishops decried failure of immigration reform and its implicit exploitation of millions of people.

The position was voiced by Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, California, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.

"As a nation, we cannot continue to employ an immigration system that leads to the exploitation of millions of our fellow human beings," Bishop Barnes said. "We cannot accept the toil of a large underclass which does not have full rights in our society. This strikes at the very character of our nation and lessens us as a people."

Bishop Barnes called on "Congress not to abandon this issue and to return to it as soon as possible."

"The status quo is morally unacceptable and should not be allowed to stand," he said. "The US bishops shall continue to point out the moral deficiencies in the immigration system and work toward justice until it is achieved."

The June 29 statement follows.

On behalf of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I am deeply troubled that fair and comprehensive immigration reform legislation has failed to move forward in the US Senate.

I applaud those senators of both parties who showed courage in working for comprehensive reform legislation and encourage them to continue their efforts to fix our broken immigration system.

As a nation, we cannot continue to employ an immigration system that leads to the exploitation of millions of our fellow human beings. We cannot accept the toil of a large underclass which does not have full rights in our society. This strikes at the very character of our nation and lessens us as a people.

I urge our elected officials in Congress not to abandon this issue and to return to it as soon as possible. The status quo is morally unacceptable and should not be allowed to stand. The US bishops shall continue to point out the moral deficiencies in the immigration system and work toward justice until it is achieved.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    God loves you .

    They should pay such close attention to Canon 915, eh?

    Remember, I love you, too

    Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,

    Pristinus Sapienter

    (wljewell @catholicexchange.com or … yahoo.com)

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Below is the link to the clearest statement I've read on the USCCB webite on immigration reform.  It eased my mind about what the USCCB's committee on immigration reform means by "comprehensive" reform.  However, it appears to me that our good bishops have little tolerance for incremental progress on the issue of immigration.  For example, it does not appear that they would support securing our borders first and then tackling the other issues.  And yet, with all due respect,it appears that they are very tolerant of incremental progress being made on other issues of pastoral concern.  Let us pray for that they have the courage and wisdom to address each major pastoral issue with equal zeal.  

     http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/cirqasdwp.shtml

    God bless you and yours, TJO (2 Cor 5:14)

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Ease off on illegals please.  Or at least spread out your just anger against all the lawbreakers involved in this illeagal economy. 

    The day many employers get arrested for hiring illegal immigrants is the day I say we should crack down mercilessly on illegal immigrants.  Do we think all the illegal’s come here looking for trouble?  I think it starts with a phone call from their friends who are already here.  Those illegal friends are working for people who hire illegal immigrants as a rule.  Their friend’s employers keep down wages and increase their profits by counting on the never-ending stream of cheap (disposable) labor, that do not require long term benefits or care.  So, before we condemn illegals, we should ask our friends and neighbors who hire illegals to stop breaking the law to make a profit.   (Including the fact that the people who may be doing our lawns are probably illegal.  Just ask them, if you can speak enough Spanish not to scare them.)

    On top of all this … Your son or daughter may marry a woman or man whose father or mother made it into this country illegally.  And you might feel more than lucky and blessed because more than likely they would be strong Catholics.

    GK – God is good!

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    I agree, we need reform but this hastely put together nightmare of an attempt was not the answer.  It is way to close to 2008 to think you are going to get any type of honest reform to such a complex issue such as this.  All the D's and R' are thinking of now is re-election period.

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