The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops tweeted Tuesday (Nov. 12) that Bishop Jaime Soto thinks President Donald Trump’s recent action on immigration is a “betrayal” of U.S. veterans. Soto’s quote came from a Tuesday bishops meeting on immigration in Baltimore where the Sacramento bishop said there are significant numbers of immigrant veterans and children of immigrants who are veterans, the Catholic News Service reported….
But Twitter users who said they are veterans lashed back at Soto’s words. Many of these users said that Soto should not tell them what their sacrifice was for.
“As a 20 year Army, veteran I can tell you that Bishop Soto doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” wrote user Troy S.
“Not true,” wrote user Rob Russo. “We sacrificed for the Constitution. For law & order. Not for illegal immigrants to break our laws or, take advantage of our welfare system. Legal immigration, absolutely, YES. illegal, NO.”
“Been in the Air Force for almost 15 years and this is 100% wrong and frankly insulting,” wrote user Nick M. “This den of vipers doesn’t speak for me!”
“As a ten year vet I can say I defended your ( us citizens) freedom and constitutional rights,” user Tim Tom wrote. “Immigrants need to follow our laws just my great grandparent did and eventually become us citizens! And we all spoke and speak English. We followed the catechism!!!”
Some users responded by telling Soto why they fought for the U.S., mentioning their desire to protect U.S. borders and keep dangerous migrants away from their families.
“Sorry, my husband served for 20+ yrs and he would tell you himself that his oath specifically was to protect and defend our constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. There is no Constitutional right to open boarders,” wrote user Christi Dea.
User Caleb Duerr added, “I drove a tank in Iraq from 05-06. We didnt fight that war so our hometowns could be filled with violent Somali migrants. We fought that war for Israel/AIPAC & to enrich a handful of corporations….
“As a Veteran, I would like to say @bishopsoto is greatly mistaken,” user Nathan Cotus wrote. “He should probably do more research before making unsubstantiated blanket statements like this. I am also curious if @bishopsoto was one of the 69 Bishops who voted to downplay the fight against abortion?”
The above comes from a Nov 14 story on the Daily Caller.
Tweets are not a good way of communicating for bishops, including the bishop of Rome, the Pope. In the past, bishops had carefully prepared written statements, that were reviewed prior to release to the public. That helped avoid mistakes and mis-steps. I hope Bishop Soto also refrains from casual press conferences 30,000 feet in the air.
I am in favor of anything–including their own tweets–that exposes the lawlessness, stupidity, and one-worldism of the bishops.
Read the tweet! I support Bishop Soto. He does not refer to illegal immigrants in his comments. He is addressing the ridiculous policy of the Trump administration which deports veterans who have fought for this country with the understanding that by doing so they could become U S citizens. Many of the Bishop’s critics are reacting in a knee jerk manner. Read the darn tweet!
Mr. Mustard,
Like you, I also found the original source to be problematic. However, I’m unable to support Bishop Soto. He’s accused one of his pastors, Fr. Jeremy leatherby, of scandalous behavior and then forced him to resign as pastor. The scandal is that he’s refused to allow the priest due process of a trial to either clear his name or dispose of his case. I can’t support this type of behavior in a bishop.
I read the Tweet: @bishopsoto says our veterans sacrificed for immigrants and the administration’s policy is a betrayal of their sacrifice. #USCCB19
Do you not see how some veterans could be offended by that?
(And, my question is regardless of the immigration status of the immigrants.)
Steve: the two matters are unrelated. How the Bishop has handled the scandal involving Fr. Leatherby is not related to his views on immigrant veterans.
Mr. Mustard,
The issues are more related than you think. Whereas you and I agree that slander is wrong and feel that Soto should be exonerated, Bishop Soto, himself, is guilty of a much greater slander — the trashing of Fr. Leatherby’s reputation [and ministry]. I myself don’t know if Leatherby is innocent or guilty, but Soto’s denial of a fair hearing for the priest per Canon Law leaves the accusation in place.
You support the Soto who was slandered: I condemn the Soto who slanders.
Immigrants–from all countries, of all religions (including CATHOLIC), legal and illegal–vote 80% pro-abortion. Ten states have been turned pro-abortion by mass immigration. The bishops know this–so the only rational conclusion is that they want a pro-abortion country.
Something else the bishops NEVER, NEVER mention: The 4000 Americans who are killed each year by illegal aliens. Not to mention the even greater number robbed, maimed, and raped.
Any comments from the bishops on the outcome of the Planned Parenthood/ Daleiden trial??? I haven’t seen any. USCCB credibility = 0
The only time the bishops criticize a judicial decision is when a judge nullifies an illegal Obama action that they like, or upholds a law (they don’t like) passed by Congress and enforced by Trump.
Guide us to Jesus, bishop Soto and all you other bishops and priests. Get out of politics and your personal application of the gospel to politics to satisfy some itch in your brain. Advise us on the non negotiables at voting time, and for the rest of the year, please give us good holy liturgy, clear systematic catechesis, love your priests and faithful, and eschew grandstanding. Leave that to the politicians. Jesus didn’t do it, so neither should the clergy.
Amen to that Father.
It was a dumb and insulting tweets. I know about the crazy policy of deporting combat vets who were illegals. But a plain reading of Bishop Soto’s doesn’t refer to that situation. It acts as if people enlisted in the American military for the purposes of fighting for immigrants. Just simply a crazy thing to say! Sign of a bishop who is surrounded by “yes men” who are afraid to even to point out idiocies like this. Or a bishop who simply doesn’t think he needs a filter.
Get a clue bishops! You are among the most disconnected people in the US. Our Catholic system in this country is set up (or rigged) to be that way. Just trust that your public utterances need to be screened by someone with his/her feet planted firmly on the ground.