Virginia bishops, in newspaper op-ed, call for immigration reform
October 16, 2013
Writing in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia’s bishops sought to persuade a broader public about the need for immigration reform.
“Unlike the model that welcomed our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents to these shores in the last century or before, current policy does not adequately or realistically address the need for visas,” said Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of Richmond and Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington. “Living in this comparatively prosperous, peaceful nation, many Americans seem unaware of the desperate situations that lead people to enter or remain in the country illegally. Around the globe, people yearn for better lives, a chance to escape poverty, jobs to feed their families, reunion with their kin or life in a country free of war.”
“Many regard the undocumented immigrants among us as lawbreakers, when instead we are all challenged to embrace them as fellow children of God, deserving of the same dignity that we ourselves enjoy,” they added.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Oct. 16, 2013 9:21 PM ET USA
So the solution is to make America like the countries these people have left!
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Posted by: unum -
Oct. 16, 2013 8:34 PM ET USA
In Virginia, we are "blessed" with two bishops who founded the Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) to solicit the laity to lobby state and federal government on issues. But, the laity receives no teaching from at least one of these bishops (Richmond) or his pastors. What's wrong with this picture? When the clergy have enough time for political action, but not for adult education on moral issues of our day (and there are many), then the clergy are not imitating Christ
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Oct. 16, 2013 6:53 PM ET USA
The bishops need to quit calling these folks "undocumented" immigrants. They are illegal immigrants. They talk about what they return to the state in the form of sales tax, income tax, and property tax. They fail to also include the costs. We can take care of our brother and reform may be needed but not citizenship. Let our brother also be a responsible person and do it right. I am tired of the bishops trying to shove amnesty down our throats. They have no idea of the consequences.
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Posted by: Defender -
Oct. 16, 2013 12:32 PM ET USA
"...people yearn for better lives, a chance to escape poverty, jobs to feed their families," - yes, American citizens do too. What, besides words, are the bishops doing about it except acerbating the problem?
