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Wednesday, November 23, 2011 |
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IMMIGRATION
By St Mary Administrator @ 1:20 PM :: 48 Views ::  :: Social Justice
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On January 7-8, 2012, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord will mark the beginning of the Church’s observance of National Migration Week. The U.S. bishops have issued two pastoral letters to guide Catholics on the issue of immigration and the movement of peoples: in 2000, Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity; and in 2003, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope. Both documents outline several basic principles on Catholic social teaching as it relates to immigration; these principles provide good food for thought during the Advent season as we prepare to welcome Jesus, himself an infant refugee fleeing his homeland to seek protection from King Herod.
Catholic social teaching on immigration has biblical roots, both in the Old and New Testaments. Israel, the Chosen People, was oppressed into slavery in Egypt; with God’s help, the Israelites escaped into the desert until God fulfilled for them the promise of a land they could call home. In addition to Mathew’s gospel story of Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt to protect their child, the New Testament also gives us the Apostle Paul who firmly establishes the equality of all people before God: “There is neither Jew nor Greek….for you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). Mark’s gospel this weekend speaks to us of Christ’s second coming – we will recognize him? Would the U.S. policies on immigration turn him away?
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