U.S. Bishops Respond To Anti-Immigrant Tax Provision, Raids
The US Bishops are sadly predictable when it comes to certain issues. While they most definitely should concern themselves with the proper, dignified treatment of all people, they seem to have a blind spot about illegal aliens. This is illustrated by a letter sent by Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City and Bishop Jaime Soto to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. I presume Bishop Wester is acting in his office as chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration and Bishop Soto is acting in his office as chairman of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC).
Some of what they say makes sense, but they ask Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to
such as at or near churches, hospitals, community health centers,
schools, food banks, or other community-based organizations that
provide charitable social services.
In other words, the law should not apply equally in all places. Should the givers of charitible services be less responsible citizens? Secular law does not stop having force at the church door, any more than canon law stops having force in the public square.
If that weren't enough, Bishop Wester also issued a letter after the US Congress approved a bone-headed economic stimulus package that included a provision excluding illegal aliens from receiving "tax rebates"
rebates in the stimulus bill highlights the injustice in our
immigration system. It proves that these workers pay into the tax
system and help support our economy.
Someone's going to have to explain that one to me. Explicitly denying "undocumented immigrants" (the proper word is "illegal", by the way, not "undocumented") these fake "tax rebates" does not in any way prove anything about taxes that they pay. The package already includes people who don't pay any taxes in the recipients of the "rebates". How can it be a rebate if they didn't pay into the system. In any event, to say that excluding someone from the "rebate" proves that he pays taxes is completely nonsensical.
Minor note, here, Bishop Wester: Laws cannot be hypocritical. Only people have that capacity. Laws can be contradictory, but that is another thing entirely.
same time we refuse to provide them the protection of our laws.
Laws that they broke to get where they are. That's why ICE should be enforcing the law and deporting them.
Call me cynical, but I suspect that the "comprehensive immigration reform" Bishop Wester is advocating would actually show preference to illegal immigrants at the expense of legal immigrants. We must not do that. Let those who apply properly and work to acheive immigrant status legally come first. The illegal immigrants should be deported and made to pass through the same system, going to the end of the line.
CLINIC, a 501(c)(3) entity established by the USCCB, exists to serve low-income and indigent immigrants in the U.S. That is a worthy cause, but I wonder whether any of their service includes advising their clients on the necessity of obedience to U.S. law when you come to the U.S.? A quick glance at CLINIC's web site leads me to believe the answer is no, especially when I see that they have a "Legalization Project" that appears to be focused toward a coming amnesty rather than actually helping people obey the law.
U.S. Bishops Respond To Anti-Immigrant Tax Provision, Raids (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Catholic Legal Immigration Network
US Bishops
Well, one again. "Pop" goes the Weasel. Why is it that everytime thy have amember of the press in front of them , they feel the need to say something so lacking in common sense? I love my Bishops BUT periodically, I'd like to choke them for their views that just don't seem to line up witht he Church's teachings. This thought -"let's be charitable to the people who break our laws."" just makes me crazy. OK fine--I'll give illegals a share of my money being returned to me (since it was Mine to start with--hence the word "refund"--TBW did these poeple PAy into the system to GET a refund? Hmmm,,,thought not) immediately after they serve some actual jail time for breaking the laws of our country, being deported ,and starting over at the back of the line on immigration. When they get here, I'll give them a check. Not before. This is not try ing to be cruel--I'm all for Charity but let's be clear. These people ALREADY receive benefits. Do they pay for them? No BECAUSE they PAY no taxes. Rebate or refund what or to whom? AAARGG!