The following is an excerpt from a letter from Bishop Kevin Vann. The letter, published by Orange County Catholic on June 28, calls on the federal government to sign legislation to sufficiently fund border-related humanitarian assistance. Congress adopted a funding bill on June 27.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I join my brother bishops in calling on the federal government to hear the cry of the poor and vulnerable:
The events of the past week – including photographs and reports of more deaths at the border and brutal conditions in detention – have exposed, once again, not only the brokenness of U.S. immigration laws but the brutality of their implementation. It’s no secret that United States immigration law has been in need of reform for decades. Yet what both sides of the political aisle have been slow to admit and even slower to act to correct are the progressively more punitive policies towards immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. These policies – and rhetoric – have taken an even more drastic turn for the worse at the direction of the current administration.
It needs to be repeated over and over again that seeking asylum is legal. Asylum seekers are turning themselves in at the border. It also bears repeating that there are viable and effective alternatives to detention of which the administration can and should avail itself.
The pictures from the border and reports from inside child detention camps and arguments over whether kids should be given soap and toothbrushes and other items basic to public health and human dignity – these are visible brutality and evidence of aggressive behavior not required by our laws. U.S. laws may be lacking but they don’t mandate cruel application.
Not only is such treatment not required by law, nor in keeping with the best of American values, but – more importantly – it runs fundamentally counter to our Catholic faith. Based on Catholic social teaching, not only does the Church, but also the U.S., has obligations to extend hospitality and welcome to those who cannot find a way to remain in their country of origin. We must never forget the words of Jesus: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Full letter at Orange County Catholic.
The only problem is that it is apparently not really true unless you get your news from AOC and likeminded Democrat Party wingnuts. The US government is not denying basic human rights to people flooding across the border. They are doing the best they can with facilities overflowing with humanity who, in many cases, have illegally entered a sovereign nation. C’mon Bishop Vann, give it a rest. Either that or start making plans to delay opening up your brand new 200 M cathedral in favor of providing more space to the Red Cross, Catholic Charities and ICE.
You do realize that they aren’t given toothbrushes or places to sleep, right?
St. Thomas Aquinas disapproved of illegal immigration and expected all immigrants to assimilate. You’re no St. Thomas, virtue-signaler Bishop Kevin Vann.
https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/st-thomas-aquinas-disapproved-of-illegal-immigration-and-expected-all-immigrants-to-assimilate
The Bishop reminded us that asylum seekers are not behaving illegally.
I cannot believe that a Bishop relies on fake news as the basis for Catholic social policy. Has he visited a detention center and personally witnessed the conditions or is he relying on news stories?
Yes, of course, we are to be compassionate but do we ignore the rule of law and allow anyone to enter our borders for any reason, at any time, and without any process? Do we simply throw out rational thought and allow feelings to govern our social teachings?
We must prudently balance the rule of law with compassion, and avoid the extremities of either policy.
The current administration is doing a wonderful job and one needs to avoid being deceived by false news.
It would be a comfort is Catholic bishops did not present themselves as members of the Democratic Party. And, that they always seek to speak about issues far outside their competencies and mission (that is, to help in leading Catholics to salvation). What is the phrase, “stay in your lane,” Excellency. Your Anti-Trumpism is not a Catholic teaching. And, what you say is largely incorrect, except to AOC and other Far Left Democrats.
Read Bishop Vann’s letter! It has more to do with one of the central principles of the Catholic faith, the dignity of every human being, and less to do with partisan politics. Much has changed since St Thomas Aquinas was teaching back in the Middle Ages.
I wonder if Bishop Vann understands he is alienating half his flock with his very uninformed position. This is a man who asks for money for a living so he can build his $200 million dollar Cathedral. Maybe Bishop Vann might consider taking that $200M and building homeless shelters for the ILLEGAL ALIENS. How different is Bishop Vann and the Democratic Party…let’s just say there is no light to be seen between them. Bishop Vann in an under handed way blames Donald Trump for these atrocities. Hey Bishop Vann where was your outcry when Obama built those cages your so horrified by. When was the last time you heard a priest in Orange County denouncing the Democratic Party. A party that supports infanticide, open borders, identity politics,…
Lots of criticism of Bishop Vann here. God Bless him for his courage. His critics would do well to read- or reread – the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is not a democrat…but He is most certainly not a republican!
What courage does it really take to jump on a bandwagon to repeat the sentiments of a bunch of vacuous liberals? Bishop Vann is just feeling guilty because he is about to open a gigantic over-the-top cathedral. If he really cared, His Excellency would be down in San Diego helping Catholic Charities and not pontificating from his leather chair in Orange.
I believe Bishop Vann went to the border. Have you?
And around and around we go. Where we stop knows one knows. Will someone stop the merry- go-round and let me off? I am getting dizzy.
I think I will emigrate to Honduras as it should be empty by now. I can have it all to myself.
Correction: “where we stop no one knows.”