Congressional members Mimi Walters and Ed Royce have received a unique letter – it was signed by every Catholic pastor in their districts, and it asks for more action and less talk on DACA.
Parishioners across Orange County also will hear more about the so-called Dreamers from their church pews this Sunday and throughout Advent, which leads up to Christmas.
The bishops of the Diocese of Orange are calling on their clergy and parishioners to pray for the young undocumented immigrants, and to advocate for them with their elected leaders.
Catholic leaders see an urgency in finding a permanent solution to the plight of young people brought to the country illegally as children. Their temporary legal status through President Obama’s DACA program is being phased out under the Trump administration.
Led by bishops in Orange County, San Bernardino and the San Gabriel region, 26 pastors urged Walters (R-Laguna Beach) and Royce (R-Fullerton) – both Catholics – “to actively support” passage of legislation that would allow the children to have a path to citizenship.
“It is essential to move beyond general statements of support,” read the Dec. 1 open letter, signed by the pastors and Rev. Kevin Vann, bishop of Orange, Gerald Barnes, bishop of San Bernardino, and David O’Connell, auxiliary bishop in the San Gabriel region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The letter requests a meeting with the Republican leaders. It is the first time in recent memory that bishops and all pastors of an Orange County congressional district have called on legislators for action.
As Catholics gather this month to celebrate the Christmas season, Orange County’s top bishops are calling on their pastors and congregants to pray for DACA youth and other immigrants.
A second letter, sent to parishes Friday, includes an Advent prayer which in part says: “Grant, O Lord, unto the leaders of the United States the wisdom and teachable spirit to recognize the good gifts that we receive from DACA youth and other immigrant Dreamers, the conviction to respect their life and dignity, and the courage to pass legislation to protect their stay here and offer a path to eventual citizenship.”
The same letter asks Catholics to contact their representatives, and includes a sample message. That letter was shared on the website of a national Catholic nonprofit that advocates for low-income immigrants and is headed by Bishop Vann.
Full story at OC Register.
This comes so soon after the acquittal of Kate Steinle’s killer’s acquittal! The bishops care more about foreigners here illegally than you and I!!
It appears as if the bishops are deluded into the belief that we Catholics elected them to a political office, that they are our “political representatives” somehow. Catholic Social Justice is nothing more than communist ideals hiding behind socialism. Communists justify killing dissenters. Or they release killers from prisons as is the case of Kate Steinle’s killer, a 7-time felon and illegal! https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/268637/san-francisco-show-trial-sequel-lloyd-billingsley (Billingsley is a California writer and journalist.)
Bishops should stick to their kitting. My suggestion: the Medical Euthanasia law signed in 2016 by Jerry Brown. You know, culture of Life vs. culture of Death.
Knitting, sorry.
And as to these political-oriented bishops who can see no room in Catholic teaching for any view but their own: Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord—-starting TOMORROW!!!!!!
Wish they would put more energy into contacting Catholic politicians about voting for anti life issues.
Agreed, Roberta. This is no time to be asking for compassion toward immigrants. In fact, it would be nice if the bishops would acknowledge the Angel Families, whose loved ones were killed by illegal aliens. I would love to see some “social justice” for them!
A terrible thing for me a lifelong Catholic to say is that I don’t listen to them anymore. They appear to be a wing of the Democratic party and all that it stands for. Their only interest is immigration. Where is their concern for people who came here legally or are on line waiting to enter?
Stop listening and then stop giving.
Urge as the bishops may, these politicians must have the strength and fortitude to say NO. The bishops are each entitled to their own personal opinions, however, these are not binding on others.
The Full Impact of Chain Migration Exposed
https://www.cairco.org/news/full-impact-chain-migration-exposed
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, has the current stats:
“For every one legal immigrant admitted to the U.S., 3.45 family members are later given permission to legally migrate. For every two immigrants we admit, you can say there will be an additional seven admitted.”
“Current immigration policy allows green card recipients to sponsor parents and siblings for the same card.”
How is possible that a non-citizen in this country can sponsor other non-citizens and move them right on into our cities and towns? These numbers account for 70% of all immigration and contribute to…
Chain Migration – Anyone?
“Port Authority explosion suspect: What we know about Akayed Ullah
https://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/11/port-authority-explosion-suspect-what-know-about-akayed-ullah.html
Ullah lived in Brooklyn after he entered the U.S. in 2011 from Bangladesh on a chain migration visa, Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Tyler Houlton said in a statement.
The DHS said Ullah came to the U.S. on an F43 visa, a preferential visa available for those with family in the U.S. who are citizens.
He was considered a “Lawful Permanent Resident from Bangladesh,” Houlton told Fox News.
Please inform the “bishops” that encouraging unlawful behavior is a mortal sin.
Catholic canonical law has always instructed the Faithful to respect our country’s laws and policies.
Most of these types of bishop are so ill-educated that they wouldn’t know canon law from cole slaw. Seminaries require applicants to take the GRE [Graduate Record Exam] as a condition of admission. Thank God they don’t publish the seminarians’ test scores. If only we knew the emotional immaturity and almost retarded mental status of the priests the Church sends to “teach” and “guide” us!
A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university is required to enter seminary.
Would you please tell us where that is in Canon law?