California bishop praises President Trump’s travel ban
February 21, 2017
Stating that “I am not against refugees, since I was one myself,” a Chaldean Catholic bishop who ministers in California defended President Donald Trump’s temporary ban on travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
Bishop Bawai Soro, who came to the United States as a refugee from Iraq in 1973, wrote in a San Diego newspaper column that “the events of Sept. 11, 2001, illustrated how radical Islamic terrorism is the clear and present danger facing America.”
“Mr. Trump has no one to apologize to for his immigration doctrine for the simple reason that coming to America is not a right but a privilege, a privilege that is earned by waiting in line for however long it may take to reach America,” he continued.
The prelate added:
If the experience of terrorism on 9/11 was caused by Chinese people, the ban would have been imposed on China; if it were South Americans coming from South America, the ban would have been on South American nations; again, if it were Africans coming from Africa, the ban would have been on African countries. But it is an established fact that since the mid-1990s almost all terrorists were radical Muslim jihadists from the Middle East.
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Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Feb. 21, 2017 8:53 PM ET USA
A breath of fresh reason whereas Bishop McElroy is just the opposite. Note to the good bishop: Trump IS the disruptor and rebuilder-disruptor of a dangerous course cut short for now and rebuilder after years of egotistical bombastic nothingness.
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Posted by: HKS -
Feb. 21, 2017 6:51 PM ET USA
Good for you, Bishop Soro.
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Feb. 21, 2017 5:45 PM ET USA
Obviously he did not attend the Vatican's Bishops School and learn the technique of Politically Correct double speak.
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Posted by: rpp -
Feb. 21, 2017 5:21 PM ET USA
Funny how the ones who have been through it, like this esteemed bishop, get it about Islam. The ones who don't get and lecture us endlessly about our so-called bigotry, don't have this bishop's life experience. Bravo, your Excellency.
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Posted by: David K -
Feb. 21, 2017 4:43 PM ET USA
It's interesting that that bishop who knows more than most about the Middle East supports Trump's move. I wonder if his fellow bishops pay him much heed?
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Posted by: Lucius49 -
Feb. 21, 2017 3:56 PM ET USA
This bishop gets it. The Pope should heed his observations! Bishop Soro is dealing and judging in accord with reality and not from and ideological bubble world.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Feb. 21, 2017 12:40 PM ET USA
This bishop is exercising what orthodox Catholics refer to as "right reason." Bravo. I guess that in many cases you had to be there. Well, this bishop was there. He is a witness with gravitas, a man who knows whereof he speaks.
