Pope's immigration stance labeled inappropriate
Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 4/22/2008 4:00:00 AM

Immigration reform activist Rick Oltman says it's inappropriate for the Pope to intervene in the internal affairs of the United States by advocating amnesty for millions of illegal aliens who are in violation U.S. immigration laws.

During the recent papal visit, dozens of individuals who advocate illegal immigrants descended on the steps of the Vatican's Washington liaison office seeking the Pope's help to soften enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. The Catholic pontiff has made amnesty a key issue in his papacy -- and during his visit with President Bush, he reportedly added his voice to the open-border lobby by encouraging the president to provide blanket amnesty to all illegal aliens in the U.S.

Californians for Population Stabilization spokesman Rick Oltman says he is disturbed by the Pope's comments. "Of all the people in the world, the Pope understands that we have to be ruled by laws and that we have to obey the law," he argues. "[I]mmigration law is as important as any other law."

Although Oltman says he respects the Pope and understands his concerns about being compassionate, he thinks the pontiff needs to take that message to some other countries. "We're the most compassionate country in the world when it comes to immigration and allowing immigrants in," he contends. "But why is it that the United States has to be the only one that's compassionate?"

Oltman thinks the Pope should instead address the "restrictive and brutal" immigration policies of other countries -- such as Mexico.

The immigration reform advocate believes the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. benefits financially from illegal immigration -- because so many illegal aliens are of the Catholic faith -- but he does not believe the Pope's support of amnesty is motivated by that benefit.
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