In response to an article promoting illegal immigration

11 February 2007

Editor
The Georgia Bulletin
Archdiocese of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA


Dear Editor K:

"For I was a stranger in a foreign country." How many times has this been quoted to dismiss illegal immigration in the USofA by clergy of many faith-walks and the Catholic Church? The Hebrews were strangers in a foreign country until God gave them the Promised Land. Jesus was a stranger on earth, since his Home is the heavenly realm. In a spiritual sense, true Christians are foreigners on their journey through life because earth is not our final abode.

Further, the definition of "stranger" also includes the nouns "interloper, intruder, invader, outsider and uninvited person." These are the definitions of the term which come to mind when speaking of illegal immigrants. Recall the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew Chapter 22. The intruder, the outsider, the invader intentionally accepted the invitation, knowing he had no wedding garment. We could state that he had no legal documents, no passport, to be at the wedding. What happened to him? He was bound hands and feet and was cast outside. Our treatment of illegal immigrants is not to toss them aside, but to invite them to return home and follow legal and lawful methods of entering the USofA.

If we illustrate the statement "I was a stranger in a foreign country" used for Jesus' short time in Egypt and relate it to illegal immigration, the hypothesis is that all illegal immigrants who have been in the USofA (or any other nation) longer than two years should follow Christ's example and return to their homeland to live out the remainder of their lives.

In Dec. 13, issue of the GA Bulletin, page 30, is an article which relates to this issue of illegal immigration entitled: "Giving In To Lust Hurts Other People, Says Papal Preacher." Lust has more to it than sexual desires. Lust embodies the most selfish of selfish attitudes. Lust is "what I want, even if it hurts you." The Talmud quote of the man in the boat who is drilling a hole under his seat with total disregard of how his actions will affect the others in the boat well illustrates what illegal immigrants are doing to United States citizens, to our limited resources and to the sovereignty of the United States.

Does the Catholic Church now advocate criminal behavior? Does she represent robbery, burglary, pillage, despoiling, larceny, extortion, looting, purloining? She does if she accepts no responsibility to preach accountability to illegal immigrants. Being loyal to the Church includes morality of actions, adherence to authority, firmness of resolve to abide by the laws of the land, obligation to honesty, fidelity to truth, and impeccability of character.

Catholic immigrants who have entered the USofA lawfully embody integrity and are welcome to the community. Catholic immigrants who has entered the USofA unlawfully embody corruption of Catholic principles. Those illegal immigrants are welcome to return to their countries and apply for lawful entry into the USofA so that they will no longer be labeled "interlopers, intruders, invaders, outsiders, uninvited persons" and "criminals" by US Citizens.

"Render to Caesar" means following the laws of the land and it is something that Jesus would do.

//////signed//////

“Religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and happiness.” —Samuel Adams