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  1. #1
    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    Catholic Bishop lobbies Congress for amnesty bill

    Catholic Bishop lobbies Congress for amnesty bill, ignores facts and Church's tax exempt status

    Immigration Reform Examiner Dave Gibson
    July 16, 2010

    Nor did the Bishop mention the thousands of American children who have been molested by many of those “migrant workers.” Of course, the issue of child molestation is a touchy one for the Catholic Church.


    On Wednesday, Bishop Gerald Kicanas speaking on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop, addressed the House Judiciary subcommittee, and made the following statement: “Immigration is ultimately a humanitarian issue since it impacts the basic rights and dignity of millions of persons and their families. As such, it has moral implications, especially how it impacts the basic survival and decency of life experienced by human beings like us. ... Our current immigration system fails to meet the moral test of protecting the basic rights and dignity of the human person.”

    “Because of a broken system, immigrant families are being separated. Migrant workers are subject to exploitation by unscrupulous employers, and those attempting to find work by coming north are being abused and taken advantage of by human smugglers. it is our view that the best way to secure our southern border is through (comprehensive) immigration reform.”

    While Kicanas, who is the head of the archdiocese in Tucson, claimed that over the last ten years, thousands of men, women and children have died in the desert trying to cross into this country…he failed to mention the thousands of Americans who have been killed by illegal aliens.

    Nor did the Bishop mention the thousands of American children who have been molested by many of those “migrant workers.” Of course, the issue of child molestation is a touchy one for the Catholic Church.

    Though it may be unethical or a violation of the Church’s tax exempt status to use their position to engage in politics, Bishop Kicanas’ lobbying on behalf of illegal aliens is only the latest such effort by the Catholic Church.

    In January, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committee on immigration met to discuss how the church can help push forward so-called ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ (i.e. amnesty for illegal aliens).

    Bishop John C. Wester, chair of the committee, characterized the USCCB’s lobbying efforts as “a full-court press” on immigration reform.

    Wester told reporters: "We certainly honor the laws of the land and we're grateful for them, but we do believe the system is no longer able to deal with the immigration realities we face today. We have great need for labor and invite immigrants to work, but then call it trespassing. We need temporary workers, but don't have sufficient visas."

    Though Wester claimed the Catholic Church has respect for our laws, he was quick to justify the actions of those who enter this nation illegally. The bishop said: “’What part of illegal don't you understand?' is a quick sound bite. But if someone is breaking the law, you need to look at why the person's breaking the law.”

    In October 2006, Bishop William Skylstad, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote an open letter to President Bush asking him to veto the Secure Fence Act which authorized construction of 700 miles of fences and barriers along the U.S./Mexican border.

    A portion of that letter follows:

    “To be clear, the U.S. Catholic bishops are supportive of efforts to enforce immigration law and secure our borders, so long as the mechanisms and strategies applied toward this end protect human dignity and protect human life.

    However, we are opposed to this legislation because we believe it could lead to the deaths of migrants attempting to enter the United States and increased smuggling-related violence along our border. We also believe it would send the wrong signal to our peaceful neighbor to the south, Mexico, as well as the international community. Finally, we do not believe it will solve the problem of illegal immigration faced by our nation.

    The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently found that migrant deaths have doubled since 1995, about the time that the government initiated a series of border enforcement initiatives designed to stem illegal entries at ports-of-entry and other traditional crossing routes. Since that time, close to 3,000 migrants have died in remote portions of the southwest region of the country.

    In our estimation, the erection of a border fence would force immigrants, desperate to find employment to support their families, to seek alternative and more dangerous ways to enter the country, contributing to an increase in deaths, including among women and children. It also would drive migrants to depend upon unscrupulous smugglers, who would exploit them and, in some cases, place them in dangerous situations which may cause them harm.”

    The Catholic Church has also helped to organize the massive illegal alien rallies seen in recent years around the nation.

    The March 2006 rally held in Washington, D.C. was sponsored by among others, the Archdiocese of Washington’s Office of Justice and Service, Catholic Charities of the Arlington Diocese, and the Catholic Social Justice Lobby Network. Baltimore churches St. Michael and St. Patrick even sent a four bus convoy filled with illegal aliens to the Washington rally.

    A high-ranking official with the Diocese of Arlington, Va. named Father Jose Hoyos played to the crowd when he said: “I want to pray for all the representatives and the senators and the president of the United States, because if they were Christians they would not pass this kind of law.”

    Churches in this country are considered to be non-profit, charitable organizations and as such are exempt from taxes. However, as a condition of that status, they are prohibited from engaging in political activities (endorsing candidates, lobbying, etc.).

    If the Catholic Church is going to use the pulpit to lobby for political change, they must be treated as any other lobbyist group attempting to influence our elected representatives.

    While they claim that the motives behind their quest for amnesty for the millions of mostly Hispanic illegal aliens are strictly humanitarian, the church also has very practical reasons for seeking amnesty…Their own survival.

    What the leadership of the Catholic Church always fails to acknowledge in their sanctimonious speeches is that because of the Church’s widespread molestation scandal, the U.S. dioceses are dying, and droves of devout Mexican and Central American Catholics are just what the church needs right now to save it.

    Our state, local, and federal governments must ask the Catholic Church to decide whether it is either a church or a political organization. If it chooses the latter, the taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize their lobbying activities.

    http://www.examiner.com/article/cath...-exempt-status
    Last edited by HAPPY2BME; 08-23-2013 at 10:22 AM.
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  2. #2
    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    Does the CATHOLIC CHURCH get TAX EXEMPTIONS for being a religious organization?

    Why are they up to their wigs in INVASION POLITICS?
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    Senior Member bigtex's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME
    Does the CATHOLIC CHURCH get TAX EXEMPTIONS for being a religious organization?

    Why are they up to their wigs in INVASION POLITICS?
    Sure they do and this is a direct violation. I can't imagine why the IRS is not investigating this, oh that right......they are part of the Obama bigot team.
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    Senior Member Tbow009's Avatar
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    The Catholic Church

    The Catholic Church is very rich. Why arent they doing more in Mexico to help the Mexican people clean up their country.
    If I didnt know any better I would say some, if not most of the Catholic Churches in Mexico get paid to look the other way regarding the Drug/Reconqista Cartels and why Mexicans are invading the U S. Ask them about Reconqista and Mexican nationalism and racism sometime.

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    Senior Member immigration2009's Avatar
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    Deport all illegal aliens

    THE US CONGRESS HAS TO LISTEN TO AMERICANS. AMERICANS DO NOT SUPPORT AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS. DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS. ENFORCE CURRENT IMMIGRATION LAWS. WE DO NOT WANT ILLEGALS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE DEMOCRATS WILL NOT WIN IN NOVEMBER AND OBAMA WILL NOT WIN IN 2012 BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS. AMERICANS DO NOT SUPPORT THAT. AND BY THE WAY AMERICANS SUPPORT SB 1070. WE HAVE TO REPLACE HOLDER AND OBAMA.

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    Re: Catholic Bishop lobbies Congress for amnesty bill

    Quote Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME
    Catholic Bishop lobbies Congress for amnesty bill, ignores facts and Church’s tax exempt status



    THE LIE:

    “Because of a broken system, immigrant families are being separated."
    THE TRUTH:

    "Because they enter the country illegally, illegal immigrant families are being separated."

    Questions:

    1. Aren't religious leaders supposed to tell the truth?
    2. When a citizen commits a crime and goes to jail, isn't he ALSO separated from his family?

  7. #7
    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    Senior Member AirborneSapper7's Avatar
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    Nor did the Bishop mention the thousands of American children who have been molested by many of those “migrant workers.” Of course, the issue of child molestation is a touchy one for the Catholic Church.
    1. It is a touchy one for a reason

    2. The Catholic Church must be running out of Alter Boys


    I for 1 will never go near another Catholic church and as a side bar someone needs to let Illegals know to watch their kids for ulterior motives by the clergy
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    Super Moderator Newmexican's Avatar
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    DO U.S. CATHOLICS HAVE TO OBEY BISHOPS ON IMMIGRATION REFORM?



    by KATE O'HARE 13 Sep 2013

    Of late, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops has been very vocal in its support of the latest version of immigration reform moving through Congress. It is making a particular push this month, even urging pastors to speak to the issue from pulpits.

    But are the Catholic faithful in America required to heed the bishops' call and get behind the legislation?

    No--and many believe the leadership of the USCCB, which doesn't necessarily represent the views of every American bishop, has exceeded its teaching authority--its mandatum docendi--in supporting a specific piece of legislation, regardless of news reports to the contrary.

    It appears that a Vatican document supports this contention.

    According to Blessed Pope John Paul II's "Apostolus Suos," subtitled "On the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences:"

    23. The very nature of the teaching office of Bishops requires that, when they exercise it jointly through the Episcopal Conference, this be done in the plenary assembly. Smaller bodies—the permanent council, a commission or other offices—do not have the authority to carry out acts of authentic magisterium either in their own name or in the name of the Conference, and not even as a task assigned to them by the Conference.

    So the leadership of the USCCB doesn't have the authority, in itself, to speak for the whole Church. Also, the issue it is speaking out on is not one where it can supersede the individual choices of legislators or citizens.

    Bishops--from local ones right up to the Bishop of Rome, a.k.a. the pope--do speak authoritatively to their flocks on all matters concerning faith and morals.

    Therefore the bishops fight things considered intrinsic evils, such as abortion (where causing the death of the unborn child is the specific aim of a medical procedure being performed), which conflicts with Catholic moral law and cannot be supported under any circumstances.

    But outside the scope of faith and morals, American bishops should also speak out against laws that would seek to infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed right to religious liberty, and/or coerce the Church or the faithful to act in ways contrary to conscience and to the Faith.

    So, starting last year, they vehemently opposed the HHS mandate, a provision of Obamacare that would force Church-affiliated institutions and Catholic employers to provide contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization procedures as part of healthcare plans, in defiance of Church teaching.

    Bishops also should urge those in the pews to view current events and hot-button issues through the lens of Catholic moral teaching.

    However, many of these events and issues, while serious and having grave implications, do not fall into the category of intrinsic evils. While they may be addressed directly or indirectly in Church teaching, decisions about dealing with them are subject to the "contingent moral choices," or the prudential judgment, of individual persons or governments.

    For example, when Pope Francis declared Sept. 7 to be a day of prayer and fasting for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, he did not declare his support for one faction or the other, nor did he attempt to shape specific policy or military decisions on behalf of the national leaders involved.

    In his homily (click here for the full text), Francis said:

    This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions, and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: violence and war are never the way to peace! Let everyone be moved to look into the depths of his or her conscience and listen to that word which says: Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation. Look upon your brother’s sorrow and do not add to it, stay your hand, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter!

    The pope called upon conscience in the cause of peace and decried the use of violence, but he did not lay out an exact prescription for resolution of the crisis. That, quite rightly, falls into the hands of national leaders and diplomats.

    However, for whatever reason, the USCCB has chosen to back an actual bill, which is well beyond just discussing the issue in moral terms.

    While the U.S. bishops are within their authority to comment on the various moral implications of individuals living in the country illegally--especially regarding the ways in which illegal immigrants interact with Catholic social services and charities--and support humane ways of dealing with the situation that are in line with the Catholic concept of the inherent dignity of the human person, ultimately the political choices will be up to the laity.

    Unlike abortion, which all faithful Catholics are required to oppose, there are a variety of ways to deal with illegal immigration, and persons of good will, Catholic or otherwise, can disagree on what the solution should be.

    While the bishops have outlined a detailed policy on illegal immigration, along with aspecific plan, and wish to have both presented to the laity in strong positive terms, Catholic citizens are free to make up their own minds about whether or not they choose to support the bill currently up for consideration.

    In related news, Pope Francis spoke earlier this week at the Centro Astalli, a Jesuit shelter in Rome for refugees and asylum seekers. The trip echoes an earlier one he made in July to the European island of Lampedusa, the destination of many refugees--about 20,000 of whom died en route there in recent years.

    These are people leaving their homelands against their will to escape persecution or war, only to find hardships in the countries that take them in.

    To these people, Francis said:

    How many times here, as in other places, so many people who have in writing "international protection" on their residence permit, are constrained to live in hard situations, sometimes degrading, without the possibility of beginning a fitting life, of thinking of a new future?

    In the Syrian situation, Francis has also spoken of the people fleeing that bloody conflict into neighboring nations, even visiting with a Syrian family in Centro Astalli.

    While on the surface, Francis' actions may seem to dovetail the USCCB's immigration reform campaign, the two issues are separate. Refugees are considered persons forced to leave their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution or bodily harm for such factors as race, religion or nationality.

    The legal statutes governing refugees--and those legitimately seeking political asylum--are different from those that apply to immigrants, whether legal or illegal, who choose to leave their homeland in search of economic opportunity or to reunite with family members.

    And again, while Francis spoke movingly of the plight of those fleeing hardship in search of a better life, he did not attempt to influence nations or individuals to back a particular legislative agenda.

    http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...gration-Reform


  10. #10
    Senior Member Reciprocity's Avatar
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    One of the many reasons i abandoned the Catholic Church. You can bet they got some fat contributions from the Chamber of Commerce. Obviously the Bishop has forgotten the millions of out of work Catholics and the ones that will be laid off only to be replaced by cheap Amnesty labor.
    “In questions of power…let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” –Thomas Jefferson

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