The following comes from an article by Christopher Manion published June 14 in Crisis magazine.
In the nineteenth century, German Catholics came to America by the millions, with surges following the revolutionary unrest of 1848 and the unification of Germany in 1871 that brought on Bismarck’s persecution of Catholics during the Kulturkampf. With them came heroic religious orders and devout laymen like those who founded Der Wanderer, a Catholic weekly in Saint Paul, Minnesota that was published in German into the 1950s (and was banned by Hitler, who stopped its distribution to thousands of Germans in the 1930s).
For decades, those German-American Catholics refused to give up their language. In his massive study of American identity, Who Are We, the late Harvard historian Samuel P. Huntington writes that for years, “[a]mong the original British settlers antagonism existed towards [the newly-arrived] German-Americans, focused largely on the efforts of the latter to continue to use their language in churches and schools and other public institutions and events.” By the end of the nineteenth century, James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore and Primate of the Catholic Church in America, confronted the issue and insisted that the German-Americans use no German in homilies.
The German-Americans appealed to Rome, claiming discrimination. They also demanded their own German-speaking bishops. Gibbons countered that their position would invite the charge that “the Catholic Church … exists in America as a foreign institution, and that she is, consequently, a menace to the existence of the nation…. The Germans are shining examples of industry, energy, love of home, conservatism, and attachment to their religion,” Gibbons conceded, but he insisted that they assimilate nonetheless. When the Vatican supported him, the patriotic Gibbons proudly informed President Benjamin Harrison of his triumph. Harrison responded warmly, writing that “Of all men, the Bishops of the Church should be in full harmony with the political institutions and sentiments of the country.”
Well, times have changed—changed utterly. Several prominent Catholic prelates at a conference in Napa, California, in 2011, limned their vision of “The Next America,” taking for granted that the old America was… over. Their comments focused on immigration: Cardinal Roger Mahony, the recently retired Archbishop of Los Angeles, reviewed various passages from Scripture and Catholic teaching to advocate amnesty for illegal aliens. Cardinal Mahony has made amnesty his principal political goal for years, to the point that, when he was asked about abortion and health care in 2009, he replied, “This is way beyond my field. My field is immigration.” When Obamacare finally passed in March 2010 (still including abortion) the Cardinal was ecstatic. “Now that a health care bill will help millions of uninsured people receive affordable medical care,” he rejoiced, “it’s time for the government to address the millions of people who are living in the shadows because they lack legal immigration status.”
Cardinal Mahony’s successor at the Napa conference joined him in supporting amnesty, but, curiously, he did so by attacking Huntington’s book. “[Huntington] made a lot of sophisticated-sounding arguments, but his basic argument was that American identity and culture are threatened by Mexican immigration,” the prelate charged. He continued, “[a]uthentic American identity ‘was the product of the distinct Anglo-Protestant culture of the founding settlers of America in the 17th and 18th centuries,’ according to Huntington. By contrast, Mexicans’ values are rooted in a fundamentally incompatible ‘culture of Catholicism’ which, Huntington argued, does not value self-initiative or the work ethic, and instead encourages passivity and an acceptance of poverty. These are old and familiar nativist claims, and they are easy to discredit,” he claimed.
Not easy to discredit, perhaps, but easy to ignore. Unfortunately, the prelate’s caricature of Huntington falls so far from the mark that one hopes his remarks were based, perhaps, on an unfavorable review somewhere. In fact, Huntington’s focus—masterfully presented and exhaustively researched—is not the “Culture of Catholicism” but rather of a single country, Mexico. It is this culture that the overwhelming majority of Hispanic immigrants, legal and illegal, bring with them across the border into the United States. The character of that culture is so important because of the profound reality that Mahony’s successor—an American citizen born in Monterrey, Mexico—delicately avoids: Mexicans in America will not assimilate, and, this time around, America’s Catholic bishops don’t care.
To read the entire story, click here
Great article. I totally agree.
I found the article to be somewhat anti-Latino. I think most Latino immigrants do assimilate to an extent. I do not agree with the statement that Mexicans in America will not assimilate. The young people especially are assimilated. People that come here, get a job, settle and buy homes pretty much consider themselves Americans even though they may have some loyalty to their native land. The culture of these mostly Catholic immigrants is not that different from that of other American ethnic Catholics. They don’t have a “white Anglo Saxon Protestant culture” that predominates in some parts of the country but neither do I.
Mark: I have taught in Catholic schools for many years and Latino students certainly do assimilate, but unlike the case of previous generations of immigrants, there are strong voices in the current Latino (especially Mexican) community who tell them they really don’t have to, and some of those voices come from inside the Church. Some years back, at a school where I once taught, we had a procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe, in which a copy of the tilma was escorted into church by Mexican flags. Some faculty protested that was out of line, but the activities director (herself of Mexican heritage) claimed it was “tradition”. The old Irish-American pastors I know would NEVER have allowed the Irish Tricolor in church, even on St. Patrick’s Day. Most of churches don’t have even the American flag (nor should they, by the way, except for military funerals and the like), but Mexicans are being told something previous generations were not.
What about processing with the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag with the coiled rattlesnake?
Changing the subject again, Skai?
Why don’t you want people to discuss the topic of the article – Bishops and their actions regarding ILLEGAL immigration ?
PA, being raised WASP and among Jews, I continue to find it extremely difficult to assimilate into the Catholic culture, even though my university degree in culture. I think the explanation is that much of Catholic culture is relativist, and not so much of it is Catholic. “Circle the wagon” culture is not Catholic, but seems to be the prevailing mode of Catholicism that I run into. On another thread I posed the French, the Chinese and the Polish at a cafe discussing great literature … nobody commented on this. Nobody even challenged my assertion that these ethnic groups have failed to produce a great novelist. All the work that one Polish Blessed put into literature and philosophy and nobody even can see the relevance of this is astounding … but high level literature and philosophy works are published all over the place … These things deal with the nature of man, society and of God … the very things of this blog site, and yet it appears that the readership has better things to do than deal with mankind’s greatest thinkers. I call this an effect of the “circle the wagon” mentality, as unCatholic a mindset as there are.
In other words, no wonder the Church is in dire straights, since the faithful refuse to actually join in with the global brain trust, in effect rebuking God for commanding them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and disciple the nations. There are even bloggers who directly defy the Great Commission by insisting that bishops stay out of politics. It becomes hard to tell the difference between Catholics and ostriches at times. You, for example, PA, should get away from your apologetics for gay stuff and move up to some more important matters. Gay stuff has nothing at all to do with preaching the Gospel.
Skai, please tell me where Jesus told his Apostles to get involved in politics. Please provide the Bible verse numbers.
Please tell me where Jesus told his Apostles to have big expensive homes and vacation homes, where Jesus told his Apostles to have expensive fancy clothing, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
If Bishops did a good job Saving Souls within their own Diocese , they would not have time to interfere in the Laity’s responsibilities.
I say this based upon the condition of the Catholic Church in the USA at this time in history. There is much much work to be done.
Bishops, and all other Catholics must focus on eternity, not on earthly control and politics.
Skai, almost everyone on this site is evangelizing except you. We are going forth and teaching according to the Gospel.
Most (but not 100%) are teaching others accurately according to:
Holy Scripture,
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition,
Code of Canon Law,
GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, and
1962 Missal for the Latin Mass.
All of these are from the Magisterium and can be found on the Vatican web site. These are provided so that we will always know and teach the TRUTH which is free of error.
You are one of the few on this site who hates these teaching tools/books provided for our use from the Magisterium.
You are one of the few who does NOT want people to know the Faith ACCURATELY.
You try to confuse people, rarely offer any solutions to problems, and are mean even though you think you are funny.
And often you try to change the subject away from the article provided -to interrupt meaningful discussion. (Like you are trying to do now.)
In short, your own behavior is part of the problem – against preaching the Gospel – the truths of our Faith.
Now you are even defending Bishops who do not do their own jobs, but the job of the Laity in politics.
(You act like you are one of the bad Bishops. ??? )
“In this Year of Faith let us ask ourselves if we have actually taken a few steps to get to know Christ and the truths of faith more, by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, studying the Catechism, steadily approaching the Sacraments.” – Pope Francis, May 15, 2013.
Skai, Mac is right about all those teachings tools he mentioned. We do need to read them whenever possible and needed and use them. Many of them are on line, so many are free of charge.
Skai, this website represents a very small subset of the Catholic population. These people are not that well studied, with a few exceptions. Nor are some of them mainstream Catholics. I am understanding now why you post some of what you do. You might like the Center for Thomistic Studies or a publication called Logos. Most of the serious scholastic websites require membership. Look for Catholic philosophy or bible scholar websites. Sorry we have not returned the ball.
Anonymous, no, I’m doing what Jesus said to do, which is feed the poor. If you read a bit of Scripture for once, you might find out that He did not treat the poor as if He were a cream puff and they were jelly donuts. Life is tough, so you learn to engage toughly, Anonymous; otherwise, there is no engagement and thus no learning. Some years ago, I got into an argument on the topic of evolution vs creation on, I recall it being Reuter’s, science blog. Months it went on. I won. The evolutionist argument cannot pass muster beyond being a matter of belief, no matter how hard the diehards try. Some of the debaters obviously held some noteworthy credentials … don’t make no diff, bro, ’cause it don’t much hep them profs alls that much when they ain’t got no facts, none a’tall. At the end of the day, those bones are either dinos or don’knows, but they ain’t none of ’em in between who’knows. My best talent while a young student at the University of Calif was to ask questions that the professors simply popped the corks in their ears and smoke came out. One senior prof told me one day that if I really wanted to learn something, then get the hell away from the university; otherwise I’d be turned into someone else’s book. Two years later, after doing that, I discovered that there is a book beyond all books, known as the Book of Life. That seemed my best option. How do you exercise that option if you are trapped in someone else’s book? Study Bl John Paul II, whose life work was explaining the Book of Life.
Anonymous. When you treat people toughly in order to open them up to the Gospel, sometimes they fail. I harbored a renter here for over two years. A professed meth head, decades in lockup, all sorts of psychological problems, Asbergers, paranoia, schizophrenia, moral corruption, you name it … began as an orphan, traveled through 13 foster homes, various jails and prisons, worked through a couple years of college with some good performances. Paid his rent on time, by holding out a cardboard sign, being ripped off by some employers, delusional about his quality of work, screwed up but loved animals, treated my dogs with great care … perhaps his most saving grace, got on my case when I’d yell at one of the dogs, and taught me to ease off on them this way, which worked … he taught me. Poor people teach well off people more than well off people can teach poor people. He finally moved on; I think he wrangled his way into a treatment program, ’cause his name does not come up in jail, prison or arrest records. He had to go because the meth was getting too much for him, and he couldn’t get away from the suppliers. The cops that would come by were always smiling at me, as though saying, ha ha ha you’re stuck with this dude. Well, the last time, the cop looked at me seriously and said now it’s time to get him to move on. He voluntarily did so within the week … his conscience was sufficient to make an act of kindness to me for the efforts he felt that I had made on his behalf, and he didn’t want to bring down all sorts of trouble on me or those here. Even ruffians and dissolutes can have genuine respect for those who try to help them. And they understand this charity even if it is harsh and tough and even mean and not always just. The only real rule is to stay engaged and not to shut them out … although you should take a breather now and again … hopefully the breather I’m taking will continue for a while.
The only way you could “win” such an argument, Skai, is that you don’t know enough to understand how badly you lost.
Certainly, speciation is a THEORY. However, it is a theory which has some factual support; but no smoking gun proof it is true. Biologists understand this. One mark of the fundamentalist nutjob is the attempt to call evolution a “religious belief”. Evolution does not include any reference to “God”, nor does it espouse worship of any God, nor does it include any moral rules. Where evolution gets involved with religion is due to fundamentalist Christians who insist on a literal interpretation of Genesis.
Some philosophers and politicians have attempted to use evolutionary theory to support a moral system, but those social bastardizations aren’t part of the study of biology.
I suspect you hurled manly ad hominems at your opponents which were so irrational that the scientists stopped responding because they realized you weren’t worth the trouble of continuing a discussion. You took silence as proof of “victory” when in reality, it was simply due to your irrational ravings.
Ah, a dissident, eh? From the 60s? Your ad hominem attack (“These people are not that well studied”) gave it away.
BTW, I hold a bachelor of science and a doctorate; what further “studies” do I need to be a Catholic like you?
juergensen,
Bravo! That was an excellent spot on diagnosis of self-serving elitism. Throughout Church history Our Lady has appeared to humble children. Many were barely educated in the world yet God chose them to receive a heavenly visit from his Blessed Mother. When Our Lady of Lourdes told St. Bernadette to tell the Bishop that she was the Immaculate Conception, one shudders to think what our hiding poster named anonymous would have replied if Our Lady had requested him or her to follow her instructions.
It sounds like anonymous would have asked Our Lady for her credentials and would have suggested that Our Lady receive more education from God before Our Lady could consider herself worthy to speak with “anonymous.”
Spiritual poverty is a much greater deprivation than possessing knowledge of all of the books in the world. A greater example of pride and arrogance has never been shown on this website.
The etiology of this disease can be summed up in a few words. Original sin and the homosexual lobby within the Catholic Church.
Catherine, let me address your post. I include myself in those who cannot return the philosophy and literature ball to Skai. We took those subjects as core but I hated them. So it obviously was not self-serving elitism. There are some who post here who could carry on a discussion of them, if they wanted to. Of course our Lady appears to children. God reveals to children what he hides from the learned and clever. It is unkind of you to write what you did. I would disagree that it was an example of pride and arrogance, since of course I was telling Skai that I could not engage in those kinds of conversations. Can you? I am sure that you did not mean your last two sentences because etiology is the study of causes of things, not the cause of the thing. So what you wrote meant that the study of the cause of this disease (?) would be part of the homosexual lobby. I know you are not part of it. I believe you are a sincere person, even if you get things wrong a lot.
Watch what Skai usually does. Instead of explaining something accurately according to Church teaching he – tries to CHANGE the SUBJECT away from the topic in the presented article,
tries to DISCOURAGE people from reading and quoting Holy Scripture, the CCC, Canon Law, etc., and is very demeaning – which will never win Souls for Christ.
In fact we should ignore his changing the subject AWAY from “The Catholic Bishops and Immigration Reform”.
jergensen, Skai is looking for people who are learned in philosophy and literature. If you got the goods, then please engage him. It is interesting that you took exception to what I wrote and not to what he wrote. We will consider you among the exceptions, which I mentioned.
Skai, I was raised in a Catholic culture so the WASP culture is somewhat foreign to me. However, I have read a lot of history so I know a lot about that culture but the Catholic influence is strong. When I went to elementary school, I had Catholic history and geography books, so my early exposure to these subjects was from a Catholic viewpoint.
Mark from PA,
Why do you write about that of which you know nothing. Here in Taxi Fornia we have Mexican illegals flying Mexican Flags with the US Flag flying upside down under it. In Mexico, private citizens cannot legally fly the Mexican flag. Did you know that Mark from PA?
We have illegals refusing to even learn English, why should they when everything is now legislated by the Party of Death so that it is translated into Spanish.
For your information, I still have relatives in Mexico, and they cannot understand how stupid we are.
May God have mercy on your prying where you do not even belong poor soul,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Excuse me for living, Mr. Fisher. My grandparents were immigrants from Poland and I feel that I am allowed to have an opinion on the immigration question. I have a degree in History and I am an American citizen so I don’t consider this prying where I don’t belong. From you haughty attitude towards me it would seem that you don’t think I am human enough to belong anywhere.
Kenneth, thank you for speaking the truth. Those who are not from the LA Archdiocese or surroundings diocese or those who moved away 20 or more years ago haven’t the slightest clue what they are talking about. When I have had relatives visit here from out of state, they don’t even know how to express their shock. They find that if you go to the local or not so local mall, restaurant, bank, post office, hospital, etc. you will hardly hear English spoken. As you and I well know, I am not talking about in “one section of town” or one section of the county. I am talking about amongst the majority of people who live here. I had a priest (a foreigner himself) ask me where I was from. I told him that I was born and raised within 8 miles of where we were standing. He told me that I was the first native born person he had met so far and he had served in various sections of the vast LA Archdiocese. He told me that everyone he knew was from another country with the exception of their young children. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of parishes in which all Masses are in Spanish, save for at times one single English Mass on a Sunday. Other parishes have Masses primarily in other foreign languages- take your pick. And it is a very rare exception to find a parish in which all of the Masses are only in English. I’ve had it confirmed, by many foreigners or those who are native born but identify with the birth place of their parents, that if you fly an American Flag in front of your house, you are considered to be a racist. I guess that I should take comfort in the fact that I see many houses, cars etc. display the Mexican flag on a daily basis. Or that the Chinese communist flag proudly waives in the local park every September to celebrate the founding of new China. Oh, and speak only English and you can pretty much forget about being hired in any parish office. The truth is that here in the greater LA area you can be born and raised and not ever be exposed to the “American” culture. Well at least no more than people living around the world would be by watching American movies. No wonder people here deny that an American culture even exist. If any assimilation takes place here, it is those of us who consider ourselves Americans without hyphenation who have learned to assimilate with various foreign cultures, certainly not the other way around.
Tracy, I do not know what American food is since I have always eaten Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, German and other food right along with hamburgers, French fries (are those really American?), steak, ham and eggs, apple pie (now that Is really American) and on and on. It all depends on what part of this country one lives in as to what is really American. As far as culture, what is American culture? Is it Catholic, or Protestant, Jewish or Christian Science, Mormon or Spiritualistic or Amish etc.? I have never been really able to figure that one out since we are so diverse and always have been depending on what state in which we live and in what area of that state.
Anne T. I understand your confusion. And I have written my understanding of all of this extensively in the past. I would say that American food is that food which was created and unique to America. For instance if you do the research, Barbecue, as we traditionally know it, is only found in America. That is not to say that other cultures do not roast food, but the way we do it is distinct to America. This is why when someone says, for instance, “Korean” bar-be-que you realize that it will be quite different from American bar-be-que. Hotdogs were created in America. Pizza was created in America. Coke was created in America. Burritos were created in America. Chow Mien was created in America, as was Orange Chicken. As you can see all of these foods have been created by Americans with different ethnicities, but they were all created by Americans, usually because of the unique opportunities which our American Constitution has availed so many people. Who around the world would not consider Mc Donald’s to be American food and thus part of American Culture. Then look at our music, our movie’s, Baseball, Football, and Basketball. Yes these are now available around much of our world and but they orriginate from our American Culture.
Back to the Constitution. Of course it has been perverted to such an extent that American’s born today do not have the opportunities which Americans born 100 years ago had. But if you take the American Constitution at face value, you will not find anything like it in the entire world, although some other countries have since tried to emulate some of it. I would argue that our Constitution and form of government is our American Culture.
One last thought. Just because Mexico has many regions having within each of them their own unique dances, music, foods and other colloquialisms and mixtures of ethnicities, I have never heard anyone ask “What is Mexican Culture?” So I find it equally puzzling to hear a question like “What is American Culture?” If I went back to live in any of the birth places of my ancestors, trust me I would have little in common with their language or culture and the people there would all consider me to be an American. If people around the world aren’t confused about what American Culture is why are so many Americans?
“We are the Borg. You WILL be assimilated. Resistance is futile.”
Well, I guess ‘Star Trek’ in still inspiring some people who think we all have to go through a blender and become…indistinguishable.
As opposed, for example, to a delicious stew, in which one can still tell the difference between chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Sandy perhaps you prefer a Balkanized country
She might be getting at individual response to Jesus Christ, and the unique character that this response creates in each respondant. I can understand the stew, but when I’m stewed I seem to understand all things.
Sandy, the Federal Government, States, and most local governments are all in serious debt – which we will all have to pay as US taxpayers.
How much do you think it costs to have schools with many languages for basic subjects like adding and subtracting, governments with the need for many language services of every type including bi-ligual employees – – – etc, etc.?
I don’t care about what people eat for dinner, or what language they speak inside their own homes, or what holidays they celebrate.
I do care about immigrants financial cost imposition on US society. They should be ashamed of themselves for their DEMANDS on us.
Easiest way to get the USA out of debt is to vote in leaders who will increase the money supply. They can end taxes while they’re at it. If you don’t believe this is serious, then prove it’s not.
Sure, economists call that “monetizing” the debt.
And, many third world countries do use money supply increases as a tax method, since they are so corrupt they can’t rely on tax collection due to endemic bribery. However, I am not aware of ANY country that has used inflation as its ONLY taxation method.
Printing money without anything behind it causes serious inflation.
It makes everyone except the very richest – become poor. Instead of bringing up the poor, it brings down the rest of society.
This is immoral.
Bishops and Government – pay your debts. Get rid of waste, and all unnecessary expenditures.
You can not help the poor when you can not help yourself.
Usually Jim. But, the Keynesians do seem right about an exception to this rule called the “Liquidity Trap”—which we are currently in.
We’ve tripled the monetary base, while maintaining core inflation under 2%—and that has prevailed over four years. Austrian economists insist, however, that new money pumped into an economy by a central bank doesn’t go uniformly into an economy, and “1st recipients” to new money (banks, large financial houses and big corporations) get a benefit because prices don’t adjust to the new money supply.
One think the Keynesians don’t admit is that “draining” the overfilled money supply when the economy recovers could be mistimed by the central bank, and you end up getting significant inflation or triggering another recession.
Now there we agree. I used to be for SOME bilingual classes in education, but I think most of them turned out to be a disaster. It takes a teacher who is very fluent in both languages to teach such a class, and there are not many such teachers, and most students learn a language better one at a time. Also, our colleges teach in English, so non English speakers or those who do not speak English very well are at a disadvantage.
My post above was meant for Larry, but I misplaced it.
Abp Gomez lives in the Abortion/Homosexuality/Pornography capital of the world.
He pays virtually no attention to these grave issues which all involve moral absolutes and the promotion of objective evil. Instead he spends all of his time, energy and focus on an issue upon which good men may disagree that is immigration. The sheep are being slaughtered and he doesn’t care.
Jim Aroo, Archbishop Gomez was born in Mexico so surely the immigration issue is a very grave and important issue to him and also to many of the Catholics in his archdiocese.
mark from pa, that may be why the Abp may discriminate so much.
In other words, A.Gomez is using his ‘host’ country, as in parasitic, to further the aims of Mexico? Does he view his role as being an unelected subversive politico with an excellent disguise for fowarding the ultimate goal of Mexico…that of re-gaining California and the Southwest states? Aren’t we all called to be in the world but not of the world, especially if we are in a position of leadership in the Church?Abp.Gomez holds the same position as Cdl. Mahony on immigration, and as far as I can discern, there’s little difference between the two in their approach to ‘shepherding’ except that the former believes in drawing the line at pedophilia. Does anyone living in their diocese discern any change for the better? Or even change, period? Just curious.
Maybe Abp Gomez has noticed that the well off have rejected Christ, and so he’s feeding the poor, who seem always to invite Christ into their homes. Jesus and the poor are homies. So, in L.A. it’s the homies vs the homos.
Yea, verily, I say unto you, in L. A. it’s the holy homies vs the hollow homos.
Not true Skai. Just because you are Mexican (or any other nationality) does not make one holy.
Just because you say you are Catholic does not make one Catholic.
Many of Mexican decent voted for Barack Obama, and Nancy Pelosi, and the myriad of other abortion loving, same-sex marriage loving politicians.
Ronaldo Cruz, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs, U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (retired) is one of the endorsers of the schismatic “Faith in Public Life Report” that wants the CCHD to give money to pro-abortion and pro-homosexual groups.
(I admit that I do not understand why the USCCB or any State Bishops Conference would want to fund a special group that shows special favoritism or discriminates against all other nationalities, since being poor or underprivileged does not discriminate. Perhaps this discrimination will be the next scandal that hits the Church in the USA.)
Ahhh yes, here we have the first mention of homosexuality by the gay-obsessed members of CCD.
When my grandparents came to the United States from Germany almost one hundred years ago, they obeyed all the laws. They made sure there was a person who could support them in case of an emergency, they learned English, and they obeyed all the laws concerning immigration. Now, millions are flocking into this country, illegally, and the bishops are all in favor of them, while greatly neglecting the Catholics who are citizens. In Maine, the bishop brought a thousand Moslems where, gave them free housing,, and now they are left to discriminate freely against Catholics and other Christians. A country has a right and an obligation to defend its borders. Pope Benedict XVI spoke about this, but the bishops paid no attention to his words, or to previous Catholic teaching. Instead of taking care of their own flock, the bishops are tending the wolves who are killing the Catholic “sheep”.Remember also, the Germans came to this country because of the persecution of the Catholic faith; the Irish came because of the potato famine, and many others came because America was the land of opportunity. Also, recall what JFK said, ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. How far wrong we have gone because of the horrible leadership of the bishops. Just laws are to be obeyed, and there is nothing unjust about defending one’s borders against foreign invaders.
Father Karl, in the county that I live in many of the early schools taught in German as the main language of instruction. The first high school in our county was an academy where the instruction was in German. This was common in parts of our county until the beginning of the 20th century.
Mark, in addition to speaking German, did they want to reclaim those parts of the country for Germany?
I think we are meant by God to define ourselves by our faith and holiness. The bishops are not doing this. The government is not doing this. The laity is not doing this. Now what?
Skai, you are part of the problem. Many Catholics have never been catechized accurately. Yet you are the one who publically and constantly fights against others quoting and recommending study of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
The CCC is very clear that the Bishops first (prime) job is to teach (not to be involved in politics).
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II. (pg 5)
Serious question on following laws in the USA: Isn’t it obvious that some laws are unjust, and some are just? Then this being the case, how can we out of hand criticize the bishops for pushing the immigration, whether legal or otherwise?
Holy Scripture and the CCC (from the Magisterium) help us to discern just laws from unjust laws (right from wrong).
Bad Bishops frequently promote the violation of: CCC: # 2241, 2411, 1868, and ignore their first task of teaching according to the Gospel. CCC: #888.
They twist the teaching of the Church regarding the Death Penalty: CCC 2267, by stating it is wrong 100% of the time.
They make things up saying that things are Church teaching that are not, such as gun control for law abiding citizens.
The “Bible”, and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” help us to know when each Bishop is telling us the TRUTH of the Faith that we are required to adhere to, or their own personal opinions.
(Remember that Mahony, Weakland and Bernardin were full of “personal opinions” that they taught as gospel.)
Note that ALL US Bishops are NOT Bad.
Quote from the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition’.
CCC: ” 2241 The more PROSPEROUS nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the RIGHT to IMMIGRATE SUBJECT to various JURICIAL CONDITIONS, , especially with regard to the IMMIGRANTS’ DUTIES toward their country of adoption.
IMMIGRANTS are obliged to REPSECT with gratitude the material and spiritual HERITAGE of the COUNTRY that RECEIVES THEM, to OBEY ITS LAWS and to ASSIST in CARRYING CIVIC BURDENS. ”
(caps are mine)
According to H G Wells History of the World, when Joan of Arc was asked by an English interrogator as to why God would choose her to rout the English out of France, he asked.” Doesnt God love the English also?” Joan replied, ” Y es, He does—But, in England”
All LEGAL immigrants must learn to speak, read and write English.
It is a financial burden to any Country to have to have legal paperwork, signage, or anything else in more than one language.
ILLEGAL immigrants have no right to be in the USA.
US Bishops should not discriminate against Americans. It is their job to save all Souls.
It appears Mahony and Gomez think only Mexicans are worth saving.
The language used in Church should be English (or Latin) only in the USA.
The Mass must be Universal in each Country, so that anyone from that Country will understand including the homily.
If Mahony, Gomez and others want to work only with Mexicans, they should ask the Vatican for a transfer to Mexico.
Language can be a great cause of division, rather than Unity.
” Roger Mahony, the recently retired Archbishop of Los Angeles, reviewed various passages from Scripture and Catholic teaching to advocate amnesty for illegal aliens. ” – ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The CCC is 20 years old. Perhaps Mahony should learn to read.
Mahony has always done great damage to the Catholic Church in the USA and especially California. He never promoted reading of the CCC, so that he could teach Mahony’s own version of the Faith.
Whether it’s covering up sexual abuse of children and allowing it to continue, or
encouraging ILLEGAL immigration which splits families, encourages sexual slavery, and other criminal activity, or encouraging immigrants to set themselves apart from the rest of society (language etc), so that they will have a more difficult time getting good jobs, or taking money from the dead (contractual cemetery funds) for his own illegal actions – Mahony is not a good man.
Mahony also reviewed Church teaching, and miraculously discovered that he would be ok promoting secret pedophile operations. Where saints and popes have simply not discovered this, Mahony has.
David, in my experience it is easier for an illegal non-English speaking person to find a job here in LA than it is for an English speaking only American citizen to find one. Especially since most of the employers/managers are foreigners themselves. By the way I have friends who are here illegally and have a “legal” drivers license as well as a “legal” social security card. We Americans are being sold a bill of goods.
This is the US LAW that is CURRENTLY in EFFECT –
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), Pub.L. 99–603, 100 Stat. 3359, enacted November 6, 1986 –
– required employers to attest to their employees’ immigration status.
– made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit unauthorized immigrants.
– legalized certain seasonal agricultural illegal immigrants.
– legalized illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously with the penalty of a fine, back taxes due, and admission of guilt. About three million undocumented immigrants were granted legal status.
– was supposed to protect our borders.
Mahony did not follow Church teachings nor US Law. He was (is) a criminal in his own right – a wolf in sheeps’ clothing.
He would be in prison if it were not for California’s statute of limitations regarding supporting and hiding sexual child abusers. and allowing such deviant activity to flourish.
Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop Rembert Weakland, and Cardinal Joseph Bernardin are all a scandalous disgrace.
They have damaged the Church greatly.
Archbishop Gomez has to understand that he is not in Mexico, and that his duty is to ALL the people in his Diocese, not only Mexicans whom he greatly favors.
He is in the USA. If he wants only to minister to Mexicans he should ask for a transfer to Mexico.
I for one as an English speaking American Catholic am tired of being discriminated against (language wise) within my own Diocese. I am tired of being written off by my own Bishop because I am not of Mexican decent.
The discrimination against English speaking Americans within the Diocese screams.
Not only were these bishops scandalous to the Church, but the laity that let them run with their anti-faith is scandalous also.
Skai, just what do you personally suggest that the Laity do to stop those Bishops (and Priests) that are scandalous ?
You seem to be long on quips yet short on solutions.
If Mahony encouraged Mexicans to adhere to current US Immigration laws, – immigrate LEGALLY there would be no serious issues today.
He should have worked with the Bishops in CA and other border States, and the Bishops in Mexico to insure that Mexican Catholics understood that BREAKING just immigration LAWS is wrong.
Mahony created part of today’s problems, by his own actions and inactions.
This is what happens when Bishops get involved in politics rather than Saving Souls.
I guess the work of saving souls is just too difficult for far too many bishops and their minions. Politics is much more interesting.
Actually, I welcome the political involvement of bishops when it comes to reminding the flock of their voting responsibilities pertaining to matters directly related to core, non-negotiable Church teachings. I’m still waiting for that to happen.
Political involvement is not the problem the bishops have; the problem is their faith … they do not exercise it. Why? Because they are comfortable and afraid to do what God bids, because the State intimidates them. Their master, de facto, is not God but it is the state.
No Skai, many US Bishops want power, prestige, fancy living, etc.
It is not intimidation at this time in the USA.
They merely are not interested in doing their own jobs. Jesus never intended them to be involved in politics. – You will find nothing in Scripture that says otherwise.
When Phony Baloney Mahony first came back to Lost Angels, at first I wanted him to work out for the good of the faithful. But as a Catholic politician, I quickly realized that he was not a shepherd but a leftist politician! Sorry to say, I am quickly coming to the same conclusion about Gomez.
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Bishops who want to SAVE SOULS will work tirelessly against – ABORTION, EUTHANASIA, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH, and CLONING.
They will teach about the evils of Divorce, Contraception, Fornication, and Adultery.
They will teach about Heaven and Hell as stated in Holy Scripture, and the need for repentance.
When necessary they will publically correct and discipline those who are publically obstinate in Mortal Sin, and causing the additional Mortal Sin of Scandal, in an effort to save their Souls and the Souls of those they scandalize. (Canon 915 & 1399) (St Paul 1 Cor 5:9-13)
Instead, Mahony, Gomez, Blaire and others are involved in politics in which they have no expertise – immigration law for illegals, gun control against law abiding citizens, federal and state budgets without concern for commutative justice (paying debts), against the death penalty 100% of the time and against life in prison, disregard for the US Constitution except when it directly affects them, etc.
What is wrong with this picture ?
Right on, Dottie, esp. your first paragraph! These topics are rarely ever addressed from the pulpit. When hearing the priest’s homilies one would never know that we are in a war against good and evil , and that we are about to lose our country and our freedoms. They seem to be living in la-la land! They are afraid to speak up and tell the truth. Also isn’t it a form of stealing to enter a country illegally, and then accept free education, free health care, welfare and food stamps! And don’t feed me the line that they are paying taxes – most illegals do not fill out any income tax form. That is a big story. Remember – none of us can go into Mexico to get benefits, etc. People who get into a country illegally never respect that country – they have no allegiance to it and mock us and think they and their culture is better than ours. I know this from experience as I have many acquaintances who are here illegally. We do them a huge disservice to allow them to come in without a proper visa – they live here scrounging around looking for work and never achieve their full potential as children of God – most live a miserable and pitiful life-style esp. the men who just go around having affairs and never get married and settle down with a family and children. Oh, and one more point – many of the illegal women get pregnant (without being married) on purpose in order to get welfare benefits – then their children are brought up without a father in the home – many of the boys then get into gangs and end up in prison. Is this what our bishops and priests want for these people??? This is cruel and inhumane – this is NOT compassion as Jesus would have wanted it.
Anne, thank you for your thoughts. You are so right about all of what you say. May I add that it is not uncommon for many of those single women to leave their small children in Mexico with a grandmother, while they are living here in America collecting a welfare check to raise their American born baby. Or how a married man leaves his wife and kids in Mexico only to come here and start a new family. I am so tired of hearing from our Bishops, Gomez included, about how our immigration system splits up families.
These bishops are probably fearful of government intimidation.
The government will not get the Bishops or us to Heaven.
If all Bishops kept their eye on the prize (Heaven for eternity), there would be no problems with standing up to evil, and them doing their OWN jobs rather than that of the Laity.
It seems many Bishops want to be popular with the rich and powerful.
They are not interested in tackling the mortal sins of: Abortion, Same Sex Marriage, Adultery, Fornication, Contraception, Divorce with re-marriage, Missing Mass on Sunday, Sacrilege, Scandal, Heresy, and Schism.
So they pick a popular political position, pretend that it is a teaching of the Church such as Illegal Immigration, Gun Control, or the Death Penalty. They assume that none of us have read the CCC, so we won’t know the truth of what the Church teaches. And then they expect us to support them.
When all Bishops know that we know the truth of what our Faith teaches – their political jig will be up.
Haven’t you ever wondered why each Diocese Bishop (and all of their Parish Priests) do not publically and actively encourage us Laity to meditate on the Bible and study the CCC at home?
There is a reason.
So they can do as they please – and ignorant laity will follow.
In New York, under Cardinal Dolan, those of us against immigration reform are not looked kindly upon. This is all expressed by overlooking any rational arguments on the anti-immigration side and suggesting by word and inference that we are on the wrong side of Church teaching. Here we wade in shallow water and cotton candy references to a weeping Statue of Liberty. Of course it is all rot when a cleric from Milwaukee implies that Catholic New Yorkers are anti-immigrant. You have to be an out-of-towner (or perhaps spending too much time with your brother bishops in California) to think that way. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the the loud ka-ching of federal dollars going into Catholic Charities for immigration services.
Dottie Day, quote to Cardinal Dolan from the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” which he and all other Catholics are required to adhere to. See CCC #2241 which is accurately quoted by PETE above.
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.
I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II. (CCC page 5)
We should not be against LEGAL immigration, only ILLEGAL immigration.
People and their families who break our laws should NOT be rewarded.
People who break our laws should not get preferential treatment over
immigrants who OBEY our laws.
Bishops need to stop encouraging breaking laws, and stop discriminating against Americans, just so they can ruin the Faith of others coming into the Country (through their LACK of accurate catechesis) and fill their Diocese coffers to keep their bureaucracies from bankruptcy.
Mahony’s goal is clear – to bankrupt the USA through the Obamacare that this Country can not even afford for its citizens, yet alone people who are here illegally.
Someone needs to teach him about Commutative Justice (paying debts), CCC#2411.
I forgot he just takes other people’s money for his use and illegal activities.
Money the root of all problems – ” If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the the loud ka-ching of federal dollars going into Catholic Charities for immigration services.”
and
for one or two generations, ILLEGAL immigrants filling the churches and coffers to support the desires of bureaucratic bishops.
Illegal immigrants will not remain Catholic as long as US Bishops ignore their own responsibilities to teach and refuse to ask us all to read Holy Scripture and the CCC.
Bishops need to remember that we must all be responsible for our own actions.
Anyone who loves their Neighbor will not encourage him/her to break just laws.
Trust the government to make just laws.
For the record: Jesus did not say “money is the root of all evil”, but He said, “the love of money … “
St. Paul, Skai, St. Paul said it.
Thanks Anne T.
Let’s not forget that many Bishops are also trying to get more voters for the “Democratic Party of Death” which includes ABORTION and SAME SEX MARRIAGE in its platform.
When the Democrats constantly win, the Republicans will turn over to their thinking.
This is what happens when Bishops meddle in Lay People’s politics.
A CALL for FINANCIAL BOYCOTT –
At the June Spring USCCB Bishop’s Conference.
Abp Gomez stated: ” “Each day in our parishes, social service programs, hospitals and schools, we witness the human consequences of a broken immigration system,” said Gomez, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration.
“Families are separated, migrant workers are exploited, and our fellow human beings die in the desert. ”
If he and other Bishops taught these people not to disobey the law, it would not happen on such a large scale. Americans are getting killed by ILLEGALS as well.
Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City stated: ” the bishops also would oppose amendments to reduce the number of people who might pursue the path to citizenship laid out in the bill, S. 744. “Additional measures to make the path to citizenship more difficult, such as an increase in fines or imposition of other difficult income and employment requirements, or amendments to remove the citizenship option altogether, also will meet our opposition.”
Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, a member of the board of directors of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (a lobbying group), said “…. all undocumented people should be brought out of the shadows and placed into the new system”, and “…..Our southern border should be a place of mutual support and an extension of hands across boundaries, not a militarized zone. Sadly, many of our elected officials see more enforcement along our border as the sole solution to irregular migration. We oppose the acceleration of border enforcement as a prerequisite for a legalization program that includes citizenship. An effective legalization program with a path to citizenship will lead to more effective border management.”
This is his own OPEN BORDERS policy, which leads to greater ILLICIT drug use in the USA.
It’s time to FINANCIALLY BOYCOTT all Catholic Parishes.
This may sound extreme, but until the US Bishops get out of politics, we should not have to support them with our dollars.
Unfortunately Bishops assess each Parish for the Bishop’s bureaucratic Diocese, and then given money to Bishops Local State Conferences, and the USCCB. b We have no choice in the matter of how our money is used or who it goes to.
So the Parishes will have to suffer until the Bishops stop interfering in the prudential judgement of the Lay People.
The USCCB even takes a percentage of the Peter’s Pence (Popes) charity, before they forward the remainder to the Vatican. I would like to donate to Peter’s Pence but can not unless I want a portion going to the USCCB bureaucracy, so I just won’t donate.
Give your donation money to St. Vincent de Paul, or directly to another charity.
btw – Bishop Wester was implying that we should give citizenship to those with criminal records.
Joyce, while I sympathize with what you are saying, one of our obligations is to support one’s parish. You can often find a way to do this by making a restricted donation, although I am sure this is not always fool proof. Either way, I as you, cannot stomach supporting the corruption that is within the church.
Wrong priorities, wrong faith.
Why are the Bishops doing everything that is contrary to the obvious and continuous teachings of the Catholic (Christian) Church? I don’t feel like I’m in the “Catholic” church anymore. I’m not leaving the Catholic church. I’m a Catholic. But I feel like the Church (leaders) is leaving me. I’m held to traditional (Christ’s) teachings but the clergy – and those they advocate for – are not. Since clergy refuse to follow the precepts of the church, and while change is in the air, I believe priests should be allowed to marry. If that occurs, I believe we will begin to get quality individuals who are grounded in reality and not in ideological fantasy. When priest have appropriate families, they will understand what appropriate families are. I’m sick to death of these liberal, progressive, communistic, priests and Bishops who are destroying Christ’s church from within.
Scrubby, the Church teaching about celibacy is from the Magisterium, not a bunch of US Bishops who meddle in lay politics.
CCC: “1599 In the Latin Church the sacrament of Holy Orders for the presbyterate is normally conferred only on candidates who are ready to embrace celibacy freely and who publicly manifest their intention of staying celibate for the love of God’s kingdom and the service of men.”
CCC: ” 915 Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple. The perfection of charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God. ”
CCC: ” 1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to “the affairs of the Lord,” they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God. ”
But obviously you are right that some (but not all) Bishops in the USA are not interested in the Love of God or the Service of men. They don’t appear to be interested in the Kingdom, poverty, chastity or obedience.
Or they might be interested in the Kingdom of God but not brave enough to exercise the faith given them by God.
Being brave is not the problem.
It’s being more interested in worldly things than in God and eternity.
Lack of spiritual bravery is the result of focusing on the world, the flesh and/or the devil.
Dear Anonymous,
Yes I understand what the CCC says. However, celibacy (not permitted to marry) is a ‘small “t” tradition that is absolutely changeable by the Church. Exceptional men feel called to the ministry, but are blockaded by this tradition that today is pointless. Many priest ignore their vow and are sexually active (usually homosexual) – The church seems to think that’s okay… but omg… let a priest want to marry in accordance with God’s law, and they can no longer be a priest (?). If this restriction were dropped, the church would be flooded with thousands of quality men for the priesthood. Most married protestant ministers today don’t even receive a salary. They start their churches in service of God and their congregations. On several occasions I’ve attempted to find a Catholic priest after hours to support a dying person who wished to convert to Christianity – I couldn’t find any who would come. Married protestant ministers are there in 10 minutes. All of the reasons I’ve heard for the church’s celibacy policy have proven to be null and void by protestant ministers. If a prospective priest wants to actually be celibate, fine. But if he wants to marry, I say all the better. Married persons who have a calling to the priesthood should not be barred. We need dedicated quality men for the priesthood. It is easily within the power of the church to change this rule.
How is allowing a priest to marry going to change anything? All that would happen is we would see some priests cheating on their wives and a whole new scandal would erupt. Protestants and evangelicals have not been immune from scandal despite their ability to marry.
All my grandchildren have Hispanic last names and so do I by marriage, but my grandchildren are a mixture of Spain, Mexico, Islander and Northern Europe. They have everything from light brown hair to black; light skin to brown and green eyes to dark brown. One has black, black hair with light skin and dark green eyes. My sons-in-law are of Mexican background, and their families, too, have different coloring in the same family. Quite frankly, we are typical of California. You can find natural blondes with blue eyes who speak Spanish fluently and just a little English, and the same with black- hair, darker-skinned people. The reverse is also true. All my grandchildren with the Hispanic last names are English speaking with some learning Spanish since we have all heard Spanish spoken all our lives, either by family members or others. I can tell you that there are good and bad in all cultures and industrious people and lazy ones too. We brought our children up to be industrious. I got my work ethnic from the book of Proverbs in the Bible that says, “Go to the ant thou sluggard and consider her ways,” and from St. Paul who said, “He who refuses to work should not eat.” My husband’s family was hardworking for the most part too. Our children all had part time jobs while they were going to college. I get very upset when others come here and think their children should not work while they are going to college but just be given government assistance. Are there lazy Hispanic — certainly, just as there are some lazy people in all cultures. It is all right to take government assistance at times when one is paying into the system or has paid into it, but it should not become a habit for anyone. Some ethnics groups have some traits more than others, but there is good and bad in every culture.
As far as flags go, we have had miniature flags of Mexico and other countries from where our ancestors came in little containers in our home, but it is the United States flag that we put up on Veterans Day and the Fourth of July.
I should have said that we HAVE HAD miniature flags as we have none now. Most just faded and got old.
Thanks for sharing your story, Anne. That is very interesting. It sounds like you have a great family and are proud of them.
You are welcome, Mark PA, and I posted the repeat post at 1;20 pm on June 18th accidentally.
Bishops in Politics – POLITICS as the NEW THEOLOGY:
Social conscience take the place of individual conscience.
That is why the followers of the new demonic mysticism feel that by blaming others they relive themselves of blame;
by liquidating certain persons guilty of injustice, they dispense themselves from the guilt of their own injustices.
That too is why in all totalitarianism there goes hand in hand a great passion for social reform.
By lifting the beam out of their neighbor’s eyes, they need not be concerned with the mote in their own.
Politics then becomes the New Theology.
Bishops are commanded by Jesus to “be in” politics: It is called the Great Commission.
Of course the bishops have to be in Heaven also; otherwise they muck up all of what they’re involved in. Observation says they are not in Heaven … even though the popes have been telling them to get there.
Skai, by making up your own religion you are no better than the bad Bishops.
You give scandal by stating falsehoods.
Jesus never taught his Apostles or bishops to be involved in politics, but to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. – That is the great commission.
Mt 28: 16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Just a simple observation. When illegal aliens (oops, they’re now “undocumented” in news speak) are granted amnesty, it is unjust to the law-abiding applicants for legal immigration. Most people are annoyed when someone cuts into the line at the bank or the supemarket. That is exactly what illegals do on a grander scale and our President and the Bishops endorse this unjust activity and seek to increase its rewards.
The USCCB now functions as an arm of the Democratic Party, as Michael Voris has pointed out. Just think of how the Democratic Party’s rolls will increase when these “undocumented” are given amnesty and the vote. Just recently, an alumni magazine focused on an “undocumented” who is receiving a low-cost college education at the college, which is part of the City University of New York. “Unashamed,” her t-shirt proclaims, she is majoring in social work to eventually instruct others in milking the system.
The bishops’ priorities are wrong. Cardinal Dolan has spoken of “death in the desert” when illegals smuggle themselves into the US; meanwhile the Archdiocese of New York pays for the death of the unborn, as revealed this May in the “New York Times.” For more on the abysmal pro-life stance of the pro-illegal immigration Cardinal, see the blog “Dorothy Day Another Way.”
One of the problems I have heard and read is that the United States made a treaty with Mexico after the U.S., Mexican War that stated California and some of the Southwestern states would be bilingual —Spanish-English speaking, It is called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo, but now most of the people who come here from other countries want the same treatment although the U.S. government has never made such a treaty with them, so some states such as California have to put out ballots in too many different languages, and that gets expensive. The United States actually has always been somewhat “Balkanized” as the Amish in this country still use the Old German, though most probably know some English. When I was growing up, my family did not say “God bless you” in English but in German as my grandmother had some German ancestry. It sounded something like “Got zoon hite” in English phonics. Also, many Cajuns and Creoles probably still speak some French, and their English is a mixture of French and, I think, African dialects. In California I was used to many different languages being spoken, but it is harder as one gets older to be patient in a store when a clerk does not understand one very well. It can be exasperating as we all well know.
California and New Mexico might have been the only two states actually included as bilingual in that treaty. I will have to read it all further later.
False. There is no agreement or treaty to force the USA or any States to be bilingual. (The Mexicans lost that war.)
There is nothing wrong with being conversant in more than one language. Just do not ask the US taxpayers to pay for those who refuse to read, write and speak English.
It is very very costly, and the Federal Government and many States can not afford to support those who do not respect the US culture when they come to live in this Country.
We must stop subsidizing those obstinate ILLEGAL immigrants who expect Americans to pay for everything – their schooling, their language requirements, their health care, signage in Spanish so they will know where they are going, etc..
To be a LEGAL citizen one must be able to read and write basic English as part of the required test.
All treaties with foreign governments are made the US Federal government, not States. US Constitution – Article I, Section 10 “No State shall enter into any Treaty..”
Please do not believe what Communists, Marxists, left wing liberals or nationalist Mexicans tell you. Check it out.
The Mexican-American War took place from 1846 to 1848. The treaty that took place after the Mexicans lost the war, determined who got what land, and that those Mexicans living on US land at the time of the treaty had the right to citizenship. NEVER was a Spanish language requirement imposed on the USA.
I am sadly disappointed that Gomez’s words regarding Huntington are similar to those I am used to hearing from my longtime Marxist (self admitted) friends and former communist activists. Yes, we have great debates that keep me on my Catholic toes. My father was a classmate of Herbert Philbrick of “I Led three Lives” fame and have been schooled on all the nuances of communist rhetoric since my childhood years. It sickened me to hear it spewing from the mouths of occasional Bella Dodd priests on the pulpit during the early years then ramp up to regularity from V2 on. Welcome to the new norm!
Bishops that condone and inspire illegal activity, including unlawful entry, are guilty of the sin of every unlawful act that they have encouraged.
Hector Hernandez, an Evangelical Protestant once asked me a profound question. “Why do your priests favor illegal instead of legal immigrants?”
I had no answer but it did make me wonder. Why?
” Bishops that condone and inspire illegal activity, including unlawful entry, are guilty of the sin of every unlawful act that they have encouraged. ” – TRUE.
CCC: “1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers. ”
CCC: ” 2241 ……. Immigrants are OBLIGED to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them,
to obey its laws
and to assist in carrying civic burdens. “
Note CCC 2241 does NOT include: flying the flag of another Country; refusing to learn to read, speak and write the language of your adoptive Country; disobeying laws including immigration laws; or being a financial burden upon the Country of adoption.
It does not include expecting free handouts.
To become a LEGAL & naturalized citizen in the USA, on the net search:
” USCIS – Citizenship Through Naturalization “.
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
You may be interested in the “Naturalization Self Test” on the site that all those interested in becoming LEGAL citizens must pass. (There are 100 questions – that the US Bishops do not care about.)
I think some of you are taking the so-called Mexican invasion too seriously. I live in “Little Asia”, California, where many of the store signs are in English and Chinese or Vietnamese, further south of us some are even in dialects of the Hindu people. The Filipinos and the East Indians, for the most part, already know English when they come here, so there is not much of a problem there. When I turned to the few “white” people to ask directions, most often they have Russian, Portuguese or another accent. When I turn to a black person for direction, I have found that most of the American ones have gone to the Southern states, and the ones here have African accents. We are a real Towel of Babel in California.
And, yes, people should come here legally or documented. It to their advantage and ours. Following the laws of each country keeps us from spreading diseases back and forth from country to country in fruit, vegetables, birds, animals and people for one thing. And any country can spread a disease, including ours.
As I have said before on this website, I have never taken anything or anyone illegally into another country, nor have I brought anything or anyone in illegally, undocumented, whatever.