Catholic Bishop "Right to Immigrate"
*** UPDATE****The full response to Bishop Anthony Taylor's 32 page "pastoral letter" is too long for me to write out. I have made this 30 minute audio file instead. Not for the easily offended worshipers of a card-board cut-out lollipop and sugar plum Jesus, fine for worshipers of the real one.
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Little Rock's Catholic Bishop Taylor has issued a "Pastoral Letter" about illegal aliens (which he calls "immigrants"). His position is that they have a "right to immigrate", as well as a right to other benefits.
I could say much about this, except that I must get about to an honest job. The short version is that that Bishop Taylor's problem is that he is ignorant of the scriptures. Here is a nine minute audio file on this issue of "is it scriptural to deny illegal aliens public benefits?". Please take the time to listen to it if you care what the Bible has to say about this issue.
That talk is a general talk. As regards to the Bishop's specific letter, his points fall into two categories- those that are irrelevant to the subject at hand and those that are anti-scriptural (in direct opposition to what the Bible teachers). I hope to de-construct the missive when I return from my day job this evening, and have it for you on the jump.
posted by Mark Moore (Moderator) at Friday, November 07, 2008
6 Comments:
As an NT Christian, though, your argument holds even less water than if you were an OT Jew:
"Mat 5:46-48
(46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Um, f.p-- that verse is not directed at government, thank God, or Christian societies would be synonymous with lawlessness and injustice.
I think the anonymous poster alluded to it, but let me spell it out. You are confusing verses where Jesus tells you how to conduct your interpersonal relationships with verses that describe the God-ordained role of government.
For the latter I direct your attention to Romans 13. Especially the part where the state "does not bear the sword for nothing" and "it is God's minister to bring wrath on evil-doers".
I am curious to read the letter itself before saying too much on the subject, unfortunately my weekend is fairly well booked. I am not as familiar with the Church's position on immigration as I should be, nor is the word of a bishop necessarily in perfect agreement with the teachings of the Church. As tempting as it is for me to start spouting ideas (mainly as a way to distract from the work I should be doing today), I'll have to wait until I've at least skimmed the letter and read your response.
Christian Doctrine on Illegal Immigration (response to pro-illegal Arkansas Pastoral Letter)
On November 5th of this year, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock introduced a pastoral letter titled “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me…” to the Catholic Church and to the public. In a public statement announcing the letter, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor claims that “being able to immigrate to another country is an intrinsic human right”. Bishop Taylor also states that “We do support them being here illegally. They have a right to be here.” The Pastoral Letter is designed to indoctrinate Christians into supporting illegal immigration. KeepArkansasLegal believes that churches of all dominations can help any person’s immediate needs if it so chooses. But churches should not advocate breaking or eliminating laws that protect this nation. Nor should churches provide sanctuary to criminals. The link provided is to the letter “Christian Doctrine on Illegal Immigration.” This letter based on Biblical teaching, statistics, and facts about immigration. It is to be distributed to all churches and Christians in Arkansas.
http://securearkansas.com/resources/Christian-Doctrine.pdf
Link for those who do not have PDF
http://securearkansas.com/
Another discussion link about
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2135944/posts?page=1
I know, in Internet time, this is supposedly an old article, but in real time it is still relevant.
Unfortunately some of the links, like the one at the beginning of the article (the mp3 file) are gone.
Is it possible to find a current link to the podcast?
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