US bishops urge passage of DREAM Act
December 06, 2010
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Congress to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
“Under the DREAM Act, deserving immigrant youth can adjust to permanent resident status provided that they entered the United States before age 16, have been physically present in the United States for not less than five years, demonstrated good moral character, have no criminal record and do not threaten national security, and have earned their high school diploma,” said Archbishop Jose Gomez, coadjutor archbishop of Los Angeles and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, in a December 2 letter to members of Congress. ‘This bill also offers students a fair opportunity to earn US citizenship if they commit to and complete at least two years of college or two years of honorable service in the military.”
“It is important to note that these young persons entered the United States with their parents at a young age, and therefore did not enter without inspection on their own volition. We would all do the same thing in a similar situation,” he added. “The United States is the only country that they know. They have incredible talent and energy and are awaiting a chance to fully contribute their talents to our nation. We would be foolhardy to deny them that chance.”
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Further information:
- U.S. Catholic Bishops to Congress: The Dream Act is the ‘Right Thing to Do’ (USCCB)
- DREAM Act (Google News)
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Posted by: unum -
Dec. 06, 2010 7:51 PM ET USA
Once again the bishops are acting beyond their competence and responding to their liberal political bias to endorse a piece of legislation that has been hotly debated in the Congress. And, once again, the bishops are sending a message to the laity that we are not smart enough to decide on political issues based on moral principles. No, wait! The bishops have been so busy with politics they haven't had time to explain the teaching of the Church on illegal immigration (to teach as Jesus did).
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Posted by: imanxufan9901 -
Dec. 06, 2010 6:20 PM ET USA
I know this will never make the SOUND OFF> Once again the U.S.Catholic Bishops are wrong. Congress should never pass the dream act. ILLEGALS have no bisiness in this country!
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Posted by: stpetric -
Dec. 06, 2010 6:01 PM ET USA
"[E]nter without inspection". Is that the new USCCB euphemism for "enter illegally"?
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Posted by: -
Dec. 06, 2010 5:43 PM ET USA
If all our bishops raised their voices strongly, loudly, and consistently in support of life, the country would not be confused as to what the Church teaches about abortion. How they waste their resources crafting positions about everything else under the sun! Do they deliberately try to divert attention from the most obvious moral crisis of our time?
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Dec. 06, 2010 4:09 PM ET USA
non, what makes you think the bishops don't know what's in the act? They want 100% amnesty, no matter what it's called.
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Posted by: -
Dec. 06, 2010 10:49 AM ET USA
It might be to the Bishop's benefit to read the Act before they start endorsing it...It allows the person to bring in their ENTIRE family. This would mean a burden on an already stretched to the limit system and then where are the jobs coming from to support them? Maybe the Bishops should clean up their own house before they want to add to the expense of the rest of us. This is a political ploy to grant a back door amnesty to illegals. Period. Bishops, mind your own business.
