WELCOMING CHRIST IN THE IMMIGRANT

 

Pastoral Message aired on KNXT-TV during April 2007

Bishop John T. Steinbock

 

My dear people of God,

 

If we seek to follow the way of Christ, we have to be careful that we are not drawn blindly into the frenzy of so many in our society condemning those who are not here legally, as criminals, and speaking of them as if they have no human rights or dignity.  Our immigration system is broken, impractical and unjust, especially when immigration raids take away hardworking and otherwise law abiding mothers and fathers from their work place and leave their children abandoned with no one to care for them, which has been happening right here in our own Valley.

 

Our Catholic tradition teaches us three basic principles of migration.  One, people have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.  Two, a country has the right to regulate its borders and to control migration.  And three, a country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy.  This third principle would put a priority on family reunification, not separation.

 

The lack of proper legal status should never deprive persons of their God-given rights to be treated fairly and humanely.  In the midst of the dialogue in our country, we who seek to follow first and foremost the law of God, before human laws, which may or may not be just, must always remember the law of Christ, the one commandment Christ has given us:  to love one another as He has loved us.

 

Some, even those who proudly call themselves Christian, would seem to believe that this command of Christ does not apply to the many who have no legal status in our country, even though they are working, paying taxes, and raising a family, which is true of so many who are here without legal status.

 

Our Lord Jesus did not put exceptions to his command of love any more than he made exceptions for those for whom he died on the Cross.  Our Lord Jesus told us clearly that we will be judged on how we treat those most in need.  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”  And the people at the last judgment said “When did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger and in need?”  And our Lord may someday respond to many in our society:  “When I was in your country trying to make a living for my family.”

 

The fear of terrorism and our many societal problems do not excuse us from following the command of love, which, with faith in Christ, is our way to eternal life, loving Him in the poor and the needy, irregardless of one’s immigrant status.  As we take part in the dialogue on immigration let us remember that just as there are no exceptions to God’s love on the Cross, there are no exceptions for us either in relation to the command of love.  God bless you all very, very, much.