51 - 60 of 117 Comments

1. Wes Lisitza

   3 years ago

   John Grimes: I have to ask. What makes this law inherently unjust or evil? Our country has many requisites for doing things here. If you want to drive, you need a driver's license or permit. If you want a car, you need car insurance and a license plate. If you want to buy alcohol, you need to be 21 years of age or older, and be able to prove it with some I.D. If you pay taxes, you have to allow the government some way to track you (most likely a SSN). While I understand that it is wrong to blindly follow unjust laws, there really isn't anything unjust about police officers being able to ask to see papers of immigrants who aren't naturalized in this country. Don't you need to keep your passport on you when you go overseas or out of America? Can't you get in trouble for not having it? While I'm for the enforcement of this bill, I'm not saying that we don't need immigration reform in our country. Arizona is a brave state in my view, and I commend them for making a decision that protects the citizens, who have been crying for a solution for a long time. It may not be the best solution, but at least it's something.

2. Irene

   3 years ago

   The position taken on illegal immigrants falls right in line with the bishop's wasting millions of dollars of church donations to ACORN who have been convicted of fraudulently registering voters among other things. Since when is it not a persons responsibility to obey the laws. The laws in place allow for legal immigration. Laws should be followed until they are amended. If the bishops don't believe the law is fair then they should work to change it, not to continue to condone and encourage illegals to come into the country to use up the resources that were meant for legal citizens.
   

3. John Grimes

   3 years ago

   Maria P (and others willing evidently always to 'obey the law'): When you say, "It is wrong to be supporting the breaking of laws," how then do you view the tragically few Catholics who decided their faith impelled them to break the laws of Vichy France in the early 40s? They couldn't abide by the race laws of Petain and his cohort and so they 'broke the law.' They at least knew how to answer your question, "Are things only wrong sometimes or all the time?" They knew that some things are just plain wrong always....even if some politician in a pin-striped suit says otherwise.

4. Tim

   3 years ago

   Wow. I usually agree with the Bishops on these issues. But I think his position is truly insensitive to the plight of the Arizonans' struggle with the intense levels of murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking that have arisen in recent years due to lack of border control. The law, if nothing else, certainly has caused the nation to rise up and pay attention to the situation. It is not "anti" anyone--in fact it is supportive of Federal Law. And, although there are always individuals who will yield to the temptation to abuse power in any seat (whether they be a Bishop, President, Governor, or policeman), it seems that the current law has provisions that are intended to prevent the kind of racial profiling of which many are afraid. We are all asked for "our papers" (e.g., license, registration, proof of insurance) every time we are stopped for a traffic violation. That is part of the responsibility we take on in order to have the privilege of free travel on roads that are cared for by our government. Why should not an immigrant be required to do the same? The Driver's License will usually suffice. Most states can now electronically check everything they need to know from a magnetic strip on the back.

5. Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick

   3 years ago

   Shocking!
   
   Following on his appalling statement that the pro-abortion Governor of New York is "a Catholic who takes his Christian faith seriously," in a NY! interview in which he gushed and gushed about every pro-abortion New York politician mentioned, and said he "doesn't know" where Andrew Cuomo stands on abortion--Now Archbishop Dolan comes out of the closet as a full-blown Mahonyite. By which I mean a Democrat Party hack posing as a bishop.
   
   With this incredibly nasty, juvenile screed--filled with mockery of decent Americans--lumping them with bigots, racists, nativists, Know-Nothings--mocking their supposed speech ("forners," etc.)--Archbishop Dolan disgraces himself and his office even further than he did a few weeks ago on NY1.
   
   Fortunately, many commenters on Abp. Dolan's own blog have ably called him to task for his irresponsible, bigoted rant.

6. Greg

   3 years ago

   "Social Justice" is a progressive term used by the liberals now occupying congress and the presidency. Our Constitution was written based on each individual's God given rights not collective rights. The Government is responsible for protecting all citizens of the US that are here legally and as such keeping our borders safe from illegal immigration.
   The church, in my opinion, needs to look at it's members for the funding required to help the less fortunate not the Government (who have proven their inability to effectively administer the taxes they collect from us). The church needs to take the position our founding Fathers expressed in Our "Bill of Rights" and ask us as Christians to help the poor.
   

7. Dolly

   3 years ago

   I tink the church and our Bishops should stay out of this conflict. As Our Lord said
   "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
   
   The Church has enough on her plate now and doesn't need to become embroiled in this mess.
   
   

8. Nadine

   3 years ago

   I have to disagree. There is a proper way to do something and an illegal way. Certainly we have compassion for people who want to leave their home country, but it is unfair in an economy like this, to ask ordinary legal citizens to fund social programs and schools for people who are not here legally or paying taxes. Thank you.

9. Bob

   3 years ago

   What is so confusing about the word "illegal to some? I have great respect and admiration for Archbishop Dolan, but absolutely disagree with him on this issue. I am not from Arizona, and I must confess that I have NOT read the bill, but to my understanding ... this is about ILLEGAL immigration ... so where is the justice for the LEGAL immigrants that try to follow the laws of these United States? Where is the justice? Where is the JUSTICE to legal American citizens, regardless of race, color, creed or sex, that compete for jobs, housing et al with those who have broken U.S. laws? This is about enforcing current U.S. law!!!
   Should we not enforce our mandated 21 year old drinking age? What about our use of illegal drugs - should States ignore that rule, too?
   Here's an idea: establish the same immigration rules in America that our neighbors to the South have established.

10. Michael C

    3 years ago

    the bishop is in favor of the welfare state and more on the middle classes tax bill.
    
    thats why the democrats want more illegals to get more amnesty and line there pockets with votes.
    
    sorry if I am going to be attacked as a republican for I´m a Libertarian and the republican party is the same as the democrats.
    
    

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