US bishops welcome Senate Democrats’ immigration framework, oppose same-sex benefits
May 03, 2010
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is welcoming the Senate Democrats’ framework for immigration reform but has announced its opposition to the framework’s treatment of homosexual relationships.
“Today’s introduction of an immigration framework in the U.S. Senate is an important first step in the process of achieving the enactment of a comprehensive measure,” said Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration. “We urge members of both parties to begin a process toward introducing and enacting bipartisan legislation which affirms the rule of law and basic human rights.”
“While we support the general direction of the framework, including a legalization of the undocumented and improvements to our employment and family-based immigration systems, we strongly oppose extending marriage-like immigration benefits to same-sex relationships,” he added. “This proposal threatens to undermine the opportunity to bring together the Congress and the American people around a common solution to the important challenge of immigration reform.”
Bishop Wester continued:
We also have concerns about the increases in enforcement resources contained in the framework. Over the past several years, the United States has poured billions of dollars into immigration enforcement, which has not only not solved the problem but in some cases led to the abuse of migrants. We would support the inclusion of provisions which address “push” factors that compel migrants to come to the United States, such as the lack of economic development in sending countries, so that migrants can remain in their countries and support their families in dignity.
“This issue can no longer wait and should not be politicized or held hostage to ideology,” Bishop Wester concluded. “Our immigration system is badly broken and is in need of immediate repair.”
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Further information:
- Immigration Reform Framework Needs Work, But ‘Important First Step’ In Legislative Process, Say U.S. Bishops (USCCB)
- Democrats Outline Plans for Immigration (New York Times)
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Posted by: unum -
May. 03, 2010 8:28 PM ET USA
Our bishops are falling all over themselves in their haste to bless the progressive programs coming from the White House and Capitol Hill. Perhaps they should slow down and look at some of the leftist elements of the unions and other organizations leading protests to create an "immigration crisis". Then they would see some of the same types of dedicated communists and socialists that Pope John Paul II opposed in Poland. Our naive bishops are willing to hand our country to Godless leftists.
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Posted by: John J Plick -
May. 03, 2010 10:26 AM ET USA
The bishops seem to forget that "poverty" does not give an excuse to break the law.., only perhaps in the case of extreme duress where life is imminently in danger and resources exist but are being unreasonably with-held, not the case in most immigration violations.
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Posted by: DrJazz -
May. 03, 2010 7:15 AM ET USA
"While we support the general direction of the framework... we strongly oppose extending marriage-like immigration benefits to same-sex relationships." Do the Bishops see a pattern here? How did their call for health-care reform without abortion funding turn out? The Obama-Pelosi-Reed crowd is not going to compromise with them. Because of the abuse scandals, no one is taking them seriously as a political constituency. Time to teach the faith and leave politics alone.
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Posted by: DrJazz -
May. 03, 2010 7:12 AM ET USA
"Legislation which affirms the rule of law." Yes, and the rule of law is that people must enter the country legally. Bringing drugs, AK-47s and crime is not legal. Immigration must be controlled. We can start by enforcing current laws.
