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Statements | Friday, January 11, 2019

Bishops call for border solution, end to government shutdown

Politicians urged to 'look beyond the rhetoric, remember human dignity'

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WASHINGTON | Bishop Joseph Vásquez, of Austin, Texas, chairman of the Committee on Migration, has issued the following statement calling for the President and Congressional leaders to create a border solution and end the government shut-down.  

Bishop Vasquez’s full statement follows:

“Secure borders and humane treatment of those fleeing persecution and seeking a better life are not mutually exclusive. The United States can ensure both and must do so without instilling fear or sowing hatred. We will continue to advocate for immigration reform to advance the common good and address these issues.

“Pope Francis states that migrants are not statistics, but persons with feelings that need ongoing protection. From our work serving immigrant and refugees along the U.S./Mexico border, in the interior of the United States and throughout the world, we know this to be true. We urge lawmakers to look beyond rhetoric and remember the human dignity that God our Father has given each of us simply because we are all His children. The President and Congressional leaders need to come together and end the shut-down with a solution that recognizes the dignity of work of affected employees, respects the humanity of all regardless of immigration status, and protects the sanctity of human life.”

Comments from readers

Gustavo - 01/17/2019 11:14 PM
Well said Charles. The one thing all those great Catholic thinkers and writers had in common was they were all pre-Vatican II. If someone is sincerely interested in a common-sense solution to the immigration crisis in this country and the world over read what St Thomas Aquinas has to say about it. Simple, just google it. It definitely is not politically correct, and it may even get you called "xenophobic" and "racist" by many in the Church hierarchy, but it is the *truth*.
Charles - 01/16/2019 09:50 PM
In regards to Bishop Vasquez's comments, I totally agree with securing our borders but respecting the dignity of the immigrants. However, there's something that needs to be looked at in regards to immigration. It is nothing new, migration of man has always occured since the dawn of mankind's history. Many I think do not want to study history of migration and find out the reasons why for such mass migration of population from one continent or country to another; economic depression, policital turmoil, wars, plagues, natural disasters etc. The United States of course, became a place for immigrants as we all know. But now, in current times, what can be said for the problems of immigration today? It seems difficult to have a proper discussion of immigration with fellow U.S. citizens and I am sure that its because of again not looking at history of mass migration of population across the world. I would suggest that bishops and fellow Catholics look to the restoration of local economies worldwide rather than on solely global trade, such as 'Distributism' or 'Distributive Justice', an economic concept suggested by Catholic writers as G. K. Chesterton, Pope Leo XIII and Hillaire Belloc. It's not to suggest here to reduce immigration, but rather that government politicians here and abroad need to realize our global economy is not the answer to poverty, but again that an economic concept that focuses more on local economies, expansion and restoration of more individual farming and agriculture, more humane uses of modern technologies and a better understanding of the dignity of the human person.

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