Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In light of the recent developments on the US ~ Mexico border with families being separated, I am calling all Catholics from our Diocese to join me in an evening of prayer and solidarity for migrant families and immigration reform. This vigil will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of San Jose on Tuesday, July 17th, from 7-8 PM. There will be scripture readings, prayer, songs, and a resource center for ways to act for justice for immigrants. We, as people of faith, are called to put our faith into action. As St. James states, “For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (JAS 2:26) Thus, this evening of prayer and advocacy is a concrete way in which we can all put our faith into action while being in solidarity with our migrant brothers and sisters.
As I stated in my most recent letter. Although we are hundreds of thousands from the border, what has happened along the US-Mexico border in the past few weeks has a direct impact on many of our own people. Images of crying children, separated from their mothers, and the anguish of mothers whose infants have been taken from their arms have increased the anxiety and fear of mothers and children living here in many of our parishes and neighborhoods. The separation of detained minor children from their parents is un-American, un-Christian and inhumane. This practice is mean-spirited and betrays our nation’s tradition of welcome to migrants and refugees. We can not lose what is at the heart of this tragedy: the fact that there are children and families in the crosshairs of our government’s actions and that the trauma that these children suffer will have long term effects on their spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. In closing, let us all remember the words addressed to the Israelites on their desert journey: “You will not oppress a resident alien; you know how it feels to be an alien, since you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt “(Exodus 23: 9). I look forward to being with you on July 17th so we can lift up our migrant brothers and sisters in communal prayer. since you were eleven aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt “(Exodus 23: 9). I look forward to being with you on July 17th so we can lift up our migrant brothers and sisters in communal prayer. since you were eleven aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt “(Exodus 23: 9). I look forward to being with you on July 17th so we can lift up our migrant brothers and sisters in communal prayer.
With every best wish and kind regard, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Patrick J. McGrath
Bishop of San Jose
From Diocese of San Jose.
NO, I won’t be there. My prayers and solidarity lie with the ICE agents and Border Patrol Agents whose lives are on the line every day. Their families are threatened too, and when they are killed by illegal aliens, or their paid coyotes, will this Bishop hold a special vigil for the family torn apart by murder? Don’t hold your breath. Stay away from this political propaganda show and pray for those who keep us safe.
Why don’t you turn your attention to all the married gays you have working at Mitty, in parishes and in the chancery?
This PR and event have Jon Pedigo’s fingerprints all over them.
The DSJ is a full-on leftwing political machine pretending to be the church.
Why do bishops not seem to know about the word “illegal”? As in illegal immigration? Illegal immigrant? Illegal alien? Illegal entry into the U.S.? The illegal border crossers have brought this upon themselves and have only themselves to blame. Justice for illegal immigrants is deportation. Build the wall! That’s what I’ll pray for.
And why didn’t the bishops cry about this when Obama was president and doing the same thing? Because Obama was their guy. This is all worked up to try to oppose President Trump because Trump is Republican. The bishop’s gospel is Democrat=good Republican=bad.
Dear Fed up: It isn’t illegal to seek asylum in the United States. In fact, it’s protected. And Obama did not do the same thing. It was AG Jeff Sessions who announced the new policy of separating asylee families. What happenned under Obama was that families sent their minor children with cayotes to send them to the border, so they weren’t arriving here with their parents. Obama had to do something. Obama did not separate families.
womp womp
Has Bishop McGrath ever called for “an evening of prayer and solidarity” over the millions of unborn humans who’ve been aborted? No? Why’s that?
So the bishop is in favor of putting kids back in the hands of human traffickers who aren’t their parents. That’s what’s going on at the border in this manufactured fake crisis. The bishops are being duped. or do they even care so long as they have another reason to lift up their voices against President Trump? Compassion without intelligence is harmful.
This man should not be a bishop. Time for retirement.
With the new bishop being announced today, I guess we will see what happens to that diocese.
Welcome Bishop Cantu to San Jose!
LIES! First of all, it is illegal to claim asylum under false pretenses. Wanting a better job is not grounds for asylum. These illegals are taught what to say so that they will fall under the US auspices of asylum seeker. They play our generous system and line jump those trying to gain legal entry.
Also, look at the pictures of Obama’s “separated children” in cages with foil blankets. Why no outrage then?
Dear Anonymous, Not it isn’t illegal to seek asylum in the United States. But it is situations of REAL persecution for which asylum is protected. Persecution on account of ‘race, nationality, religion, political opinion and membership of a particular social group’ and is unable to avail themself of the protection of the state. That does not apply to the majority of the asylums requests of the U.S. in 2018. Simply being poor and living in a dangerous area does not quality as persecution. Otherwise living in many U.S. inner city area would qualify as persecution. In fact it is our own inner cities that needs our attention and resources that are being spent on those trying to illegally immigrate.
And it *was not* AG Jeff Sessions…
May God Bless Bishop McGrath as he courageously exercises his ministry. Thank you Bishop McGrath for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people, including immigrants, and for supporting the teaching of the Church regarding inherent dignity of all human beings.
Do you go to church at St. Julie Billiart?
Virtue signaling
Fact: Improper entry (“illegal immigration”) is a criminal misdemeanor. Does the law against improper entry violate God’s law? If not, then are not Catholics bound to obey the law? Is improper entry not sinful? Are not asylum seekers able to enter legally at official ports of entry and apply for asylum there? Given such a legal alternative, what fit parents seeking asylum would needlessly march their small children through a perilous desert where many have died? We should love our bishops, we should respect our bishops, we should pray for our bishops, but we should not let ourselves be led into error by their doctrinal confusion on immigration.
It could be a venial sin depending on whether one knows the law and is breaking it intentionally. But those of us who do not welcome them may be committing a worse sin of omission..
I kind of got sucked into that “They shouldn’t be breaking the law” stuff too. Then I realized as Christians our job is to treat them as we would treat Christ. We should not break unjust laws but we do need to show love and compassion to everyone. Even if we think it might be to our loss.
We should not break just laws.