Blogs For Victory

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops says, “no“:

Speaking for the U.S. bishops, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles told the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 26 that the country should not return to a model of immigration enforcement based on workplace raids. Instead, he urged lawmakers to seek immigration reform that is both humane and just…

…Archbishop Gomez rejected any notion that the government should place its highest priority on rounding up those who have broken U.S. immigration laws. The workplace raids, he said, often had the effect of breaking up families, especially by separating children from their parents for significant periods of time.

While acknowledging the nation’s duty to secure its borders and enforce civil law, Archbishop Gomez indicated that the family –as an institution which is prior to any state– must be given priority, as a matter of natural law…

It is a very Catholic thing that borders are not considered inviolable – the Church does not hold that the nation-State is the highest expression of human achievement. This is a very important truth which has been very much lost on the modern world. It is the human being which is the main concern, and it is the human family which is the building block of the social organization. The State exists to protect the individual and the family, and that is pretty much it – anything which tends to unjustly harm the individual and/or the family is not a proper action of government.

As such, to harm an individual or a family because of a State need is something only to be done for the gravest of reasons – and stopping a Mexican from working at McDonald’s right this moment doesn’t rise to that level. Of course, a State must secure its borders – insecure borders present a clear and present danger to the individuals and families which live within the border. Given this, a balance must be struck – the need to be humane and understanding must be balanced against the need for national security.

Ultimately, it is to the border that we must address ourselves – arresting illegals in country and even heavily punishing people who employ them is to merely attack the symptoms, not the disease. The problem is that we don’t control our border. Once we do control our borders, then we won’t have an ever larger number of illegal immigrants being employed by an ever larger number of American companies. That done, we can address ourselves to figuring out the most just and merciful way of dealing with those who were allowed in because of our failure – as a people – to ensure basic justice as embodied in a secure border.

As long time readers know, I’m in favor of an amnesty to deal with those illegals who have come in to this country some years ago and who have not, subsequent to the illegal border crossing, committed any serious crimes (murder, rape, assault, robbery, financial/welfare fraud). Those who have committed crimes – once their prison term is up – must be deported, as have all those who have only been here a relatively short time. Those we amnesty must go to the back of the naturalization line and pay a fine equal to twice the cost of obtaining legal residence and citizenship in the United States. None of this must happen until after the border is secure – and that border must be made secure regardless of how much it costs. If it takes a 50 foot high, electrified wall along the entire border from the Gulf of Mexico to San Diego, then that is what we’ll have to do. Whatever it takes.

For all those who will be angry over this opinion of mine – liberals because I’m not in favor of open borders and immediate Democrat voter registration of the illegals; my fellow conservatives because I don’t want to deport all the illegals, I direct your attention to today’s Mass reading:

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:1-2

It isn’t always easy figuring out the right thing to do – but I think I’m on the right track, here.