Alabama bishops welcome immigration ruling
September 30, 2011
The bishops of Alabama have welcomed a federal judge’s ruling that struck down a provision of the state’s controversial new immigration law.
“The court enjoined a key part of the statute that made it illegal to conceal, transport, harbor or encourage an illegal immigrant to stay in Alabama,” the bishops said in a statement. “This is the part of the law that would have criminalized many of our ministries … We have been and will continue to provide food, shelter, transportation, housing and the sacraments to all of God’s children, regardless of race, class or citizenship status.”
The judge upheld other several other provisions of the statute.
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Further information:
- Statement on federal court ruling (Archdiocese of Mobile)
- Federal judge allows major portions of Alabama immigration law to go into effect (Montgomery Advertiser)
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Oct. 01, 2011 11:54 AM ET USA
"I fear the Bishops simply want an unlimited flow of illegal immigrants. I wish they would just say so.' That says it all. Why doesn't someone write on that...? Or why not a "ministry" that encourages conformity to civil law, which the Apostle Peter, the first Pope demanded?
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Posted by: dover beachcomber -
Sep. 30, 2011 6:49 PM ET USA
I'm not convinced that the statute actually would prevent the Church from administering the Sacraments, as the Bishops claim. Their statement never refers to specific language in the law that would have this effect. One is left to guess if the word "harbor" would really be construed by Alabama to do so; if so, it would be unlikely to stand up under a court challenge anyway. I fear the Bishops simply want an unlimited flow of illegal immigrants. I wish they would just say so.
