Thread: Catholic Bishops Lobby for ObamaCare, Amnesty for Illegals

Evidence of intensive Catholic Bishop lobbying

Catholic Bishops Lobby for ObamaCare, Amnesty for Illegals

By Cliff Kincaid
Thursday, January 28, 2010

Calling health care a “rightâ€

The time is long past due to revoke the Catholic Church's tax exempt status. Let us begin the movement here at ALIPAC.

Originally Posted by melena29

The time is long past due to revoke the Catholic Church's tax exempt status. Let us begin the movement here at ALIPAC.

I'm with you on this one big time

Posted: January 12, 2010 11:24 AM

Catholic Bishops Flex Moral Muscle for Immigration Reform

While attention is focused on final negotiations over health-care legislation, Catholic bishops have signaled they will play a leading role in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform this year by using the power of their pulpits and bipartisan political influence on Capitol Hill. Last week, bishops hosted a briefing to outline plans for persuading the public and wavering members of Congress that fixing a broken immigration system is a moral and practical priority.

Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City and Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, New York -- respective chairmen of the US bishops' committees on migration and international policy -- announced that over a million postcards touting the need for immigration reform have been ordered by dioceses and parishes across the country. Cards will be sent to congressional offices. The effort is one component of a Justice for Immigrants campaign designed to educate the public about Catholic teaching on immigration and to spur political will for humane immigration reform that would bring an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows.

According to Bishop Wester:


It is our view that the American public, including Catholic and other faith communities, want a humane and comprehensive solution to the problems which beset our immigration system, and they want Congress to address this issue. We remain committed to moving immigration reform as soon as possible.

Kevin Appleby, director of migration policy and public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the conference is hiring state organizers in strategic areas like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana, where there is a sizable Catholic population and members of congress whose votes will be critical to passing reform. In the House, over 90 co-sponsors have signed on to a comprehensive reform bill introduced last month by Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois. Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Lindsey Graham are working to draft legislation in the Senate. "We are in this to win and hope to influence Congress and the Administration to do the right thing," Appleby said.

While ideologues and pandering politicians often simplify this complex issue, the Catholic Church brings a global perspective that recognizes how U.S. trade policies, poverty in sending countries and development all influence migration. "The first principle of the U.S. bishops with regard to immigration is that migrants have the right not to migrate---in other words to be able to find work in their own home countries so they can support their families with dignity," Bishop Hubbard said. "Migration should be driven by choice, not necessity. From the Catholic perspective, integral human development in poor countries is the most humane solution to this challenge."

How that message will resonate at a time of economic hardship and rising anti-immigrant backlash is unclear. But the Catholic vision for a humane immigration system is not only rooted in compelling appeals to justice and morality. Practical arguments are also persuasive. Over the last two decades, the federal government has poured billions into beefing up security along the U.S.-Mexican border. Migrants have responded by finding new and more dangerous routes into the U.S. through the Arizona desert. There is no wall high or long enough to deter the dreams of those seeking a better life. Stopping migration's socioeconomic engine requires more than tough talk from finger-wagging politicians or the cowboy antics of local sheriffs. It requires a systematic response that rejects false choices. We can protect our borders and uphold human dignity.

While groups like NumbersUSA perpetuate pernicious myths about immigrants, the faith community is mobilized like never before to push for comprehensive reform that includes an earned path to citizenship, strong worker protections and policies that keep families from being torn apart in raids. Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good, Faith in Public Life, Sojourners and PICO National Network all played a significant role in framing health care reform as an urgent moral issue. We will be active again with media campaigns, grassroots organizing, prayer vigils and strategic advocacy in key states on this issue that strikes at the heart of our religious commitment to welcome the stranger. For politicians who pride themselves on standing up for families and defending American values, their test is coming soon.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-gehr ... 20078.html

The campaign is being run by the Justice for Immigrants campaign, an official project of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/

These post cards were made available to us last Sunday. Father asked us to fill them out and mail them in. We could also put them in the collection basket, for a mass mailing.

I didn't see very many filled out.

As a Catholic, I made a point, to email and call my elected reps about this. Especially, the Catholic ones, like Congressman Pat Tibieri and Sen. Voinovich. I made sure they understood that I and many other Catholics oppose amnesty or CIR for illegal aliens.

I'm sure the Bishop calls them personally and asks for their assistance.

The Church isn't a democratic institution. It doesn't do any good to call or write the Bishop. What we do is with hold our contribution to his fund. Sometimes that gets his attention.

And the Catholic Church wonders why it's losing members. I imagine the push for amnesty is more to fill the pews and offering plates than out of compassion.