Thread: Vatican immigrant aid stirs ire in USA

Comments are being left at the source link
~~

Vatican immigrant aid stirs ire in USA
April 15, 2008

By Chris Hawley and Sergio Solache, USA TODAY

MEXICO CITY — The Vatican donated at least $20,000 to build a shelter for Central American immigrants traveling to the USA, angering immigration control advocates as Pope Benedict XVI begins his first official U.S. visit.
The Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which reports to the pope, sent the money in January to help the Brothers on the Path charity construct a $120,000 shelter in Ixtepec in southern Mexico, the Vatican confirmed Tuesday.

Many Catholic churches in the USA and Mexico have programs to aid immigrants, but few receive direct support from the Vatican, said Alejandro Solalinde, a priest and director of the project.


The donation comes at a delicate time, as the United States fortifies its southern border and the number of Central Americans crossing illegally is high. The area around Ixtepec is a major conduit for Central American migrants who ride freight trains to the U.S. border.

Al Garza, executive director of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., called the refuge "sinful."

"What they're really doing is saying, 'Look, even though the United States has laws, we're going to help you break the laws to realize your dream,' " Garza said.

Solalinde said the Brothers on the Path owns two warehouses and adjacent land where it provides food, bathrooms and a place to rest for as many as 1,000 people a night.

He said the charity wants to build a better-equipped facility and has approached Catholic charities in Mexico, Colombia and Germany for donations. In September the Diocese of Tehuantepec asked the Vatican for help.

In a letter dated Jan. 5, Cardinal Giovanni Battista, president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, endorsed the project and sent a check.

"I ask for the maternal protection of our lady of Guadalupe for the successful completion of this project," Battista wrote.

There was some confusion over the amount. Battista's letter pledged $20,000, but Solalinde said the actual check was for $30,000.

Battista's office confirmed the donation Tuesday but did not say how much was sent.

Immigration control advocates called the refuge an affront to Americans worried about people illegally crossing the border.

By funding the shelter, the Vatican was "undertaking policies that had the effect of facilitating illegal immigration to this country," said Jack Martin of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

"There is definitely a particular interest on the part of the Catholic Church that derives from the fact that the majority of illegal immigration into the country is from Catholic countries," Martin said. "It helps fill the pews, it helps fill the coffers, it helps fill the recruits to the priesthood."

Roman Catholic officials defended the contribution as a humanitarian gesture.

"Any good deed of the Holy Father is deserving of praise," said a statement from Luis Flores, a monsignor who directs Mexico's branch of Caritas Internationalis, an umbrella group for Catholic charities.

Kevin Appleby, director of migration and refugee policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "The church's mission is to provide assistance to people in need. We're not a law enforcement agency."

www.usatoday.com

Kevin Appleby, director of migration and refugee policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "The church's mission is to provide assistance to people in need. We're not a law enforcement agency."

What a bunch 'O BS!!!!!!! Assistance to people who are breaking American Law??? Just because they are not a law enforcement agency, doesn't give them free rein to break them!

I have no faith or support in the Catholic church any longer! They are a joke and the popes visit makes me want to puke! He is treated like some sort of "little god" by his followers and he's only a man. Makes me want to gag!

The Catholic Church in particular needs to have it's tax exempt Status Revoked... Permanently!!!!!

Instead of helping locals in Mexico to start small businesses thereby supporting the local economy with the money they collect, they provide help breaking our laws and hurting American tax paying Citizens.

Their reasoning is obvious and shows total disrespect for America and its people.It's all about MONEY so the Pope can continue to live like a king and tell poor destitute people to continue having children they can't afford to take care of then expect US citizens to support.

What a sham and a sin before God !

Solalinde said the Brothers on the Path owns two warehouses and adjacent land where it provides food, bathrooms and a place to rest for as many as 1,000 people a night.

The church expects us to absorb 1000 illegal central American immigrants a day? That 365,000 a year to absorb in addition to all the other illegal immigrants!

The church's mission is to provide assistance to people in need. We're not a law enforcement agency."

You have become a law breaking agency.

Invest money in their home countries so they can become self-sustaining.
Buy seeds, tractors, livestock, etc.

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Instead of helping locals in Mexico to start small businesses thereby supporting the local economy with the money they collect, they provide help breaking our laws and hurting American tax paying Citizens.

Their reasoning is obvious and shows total disrespect for America and its people.It's all about MONEY so the Pope can continue to live like a king and tell poor destitute people to continue having children they can't afford to take care of then expect US citizens to support.

What a sham and a sin before God !

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!

....wow.....The Vatican could have used that money to give out micro-loans to the Central American migrants in their home countries to start up small businesses, build schools, obtain medical services, etc.

Well, I won't be tithing only making specific bequests to specific, local and direct service providers in my area.

In an Absolut World the Catholic Church remembers when they had missions throughout California. They governed, and reaped the benefits of the Indians.

The church lost me in recent years. They advocate and financially support the violation of US laws. They ask their American congregations to take an oath to assist the illegal invasion of the USA. I have often posted the question--"Did Jesus open the vineyards to the guests at Cana?? Did he tell the guests to go intio the shops and take what food they wanted??"

If you check you will see the significant decline in novitiates both in the priesthood and the convent. The majority of Catholic priests and novitiates today are from Hispanic countries. The Catholic church. to my embarrassment, is rebuilding their wealth and congregations in the USA by violating civil laws and at the expense of American citizens.

Has anyone seen the walls and security around the Vatican? Come on now....the Vatican wouldn't take these people in if they crossed the borders illegally and would be outraged if any other nation is actively assisting illegal border crossers in violating immigration laws.

No religious organization, whether it's Catholic, Lutheran, Quaker (the American Friends Service Committe) or any other has any business aiding/abetting illegal immigration. Plain and simple. It's not just the Catholic church either. They are all doing it to win converts once their planned amnesty ever gets voted in. That's what this is all about....recruitment of members and donations.