Now, I'll admit I'm not often accused of being the sharpest pencil in the box but, to my simple mind anyway, it appears that the bishops are upset because Arizona has made it illegal to break the law.
Besides, wasn't it already a crime to be in the state illegally?
"In a statement released April 27, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) denounced a recently signed law in Arizona which criminalizes undocumented immigrants, calling the legislative move “draconian” and saying it “could lead to the wrongful questioning and arrest of U.S. citizens.”
Writing on behalf of the USCCB, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the U.S. bishops' committee on Migration noted that he joins the Arizona bishops in “strongly opposing” the implementation of SB 1070, which was signed into law by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last Friday.
According to ABC news, the new Arizona law makes it a crime to be in the state illegally and allows police to arrest and question suspected individuals about their status without a warrant. It also criminalizes transporting illegal immigrants anywhere in Arizona, even if by family members.
“This new law, although limited to the State of Arizona, could have impact throughout the nation, in terms of how members of our immigrant communities are both perceived and treated,” Bishop Wester said." Catholic News Agency
I just don't get it. People from other countries come here, break the law, avoid taxes, use the public services they don't pay for, take jobs from legal citizens by working for slave wages and yet, we are supposed to turn our backs. Many of these same people are involved in the drug trade, complicit in murder, extortion, kidnapping and all sorts of felonious activities and we're supposed to turn our backs.
WHY??!!
Because of some misplaced religious concern for the welfare of criminals that completely overlooks the very real threat posed by these same criminals to the welfare of the law abiding citizen, regardless of ethnicity.
Families may be separated; true enough. Families are separated every time a criminal is sentenced to prison. Yet, I don't hear an outcry from these same religious leaders to abolish prisons and set the felons free to maintain the cohesion of the family structure. Why?
Witnesses may be afraid to come forward. Again, true enough. The real and complete truth is that they are already afraid to come forward because they know that the drug gangs have the power along the border. If anyone is found to have reported criminal activity they will be killed along with their family. So tell me bishops, how does refusing to allow law enforcement to do it's job protect anyone from drug gang coercion? And who are you more afraid of; the American law enforcement officer that is controlled by the force of law or the Mexican drug gangster that controls by the gun?
We must absolutely control our borders before any other discussion takes place. Murder is a greater sin than separation of families and until immigration is controlled and our borders are secured murder will be the way of life along our Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California border. The bishops have let a false sense of compassion blind them to evil. They've accepted this idea of a seamless garment; that all sins are equal, abortion and murder equivalent to a perceived denial of "social justice".
Common sense and our faith tell us this is a lie.
"Arizona’s three Catholic bishops and other religious leaders in the state have issued a statement calling on Gov. Jan Brewer to veto recent legislation targeting undocumented immigrants. They warned the bill would separate families and discourage crime victims and witnesses.
The Arizona Senate passed SB 1070 on Monday by a vote of 17 to 11. It requires state and local police to determine the immigration status of people if there is “reasonable suspicion” they are illegal immigrants. They must arrest those unable to provide documentation showing they are in the United States legally.
The religious leaders’ April 19 letter voiced “common serious concerns” about the bill. Bishop of Gallup James S. Wall, Bishop of Phoenix Thomas J. Olmsted and Bishop of Tucson Gerald Kicanas were signatories to the letter, as were leaders from Protestant denominations and a rabbi with the American Jewish Committee.
They warned it could classify as felons not only dangerous criminals, but also undocumented immigrants who came to the United States at “a very young age” and have “no familiarity” with any other country." Catholic News Agency
They have been credited with “a critical demonstration of support” for the health bill that will cost the lives of innocent unborn children. And yet, not a whisper, a whiff, a murmur or a hint of canonical action against these "sisters".
So where are you bishops? This is an American group under your authority.
WHERE ARE YOU??!!
"Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards has praised the Catholic religious sisters who endorsed the Senate health care bill, claiming they deserve gratitude for making “a critical demonstration of support” for a bill that significantly increased coverage of “reproductive health care.”
Writing for the Huffington Post Wednesday in her capacity as president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Richards claimed that it was Catholic nuns who “most importantly broke with the bishops and the Vatican to announce their support for health care reform.”
“This brave and important move, demonstrating that they cared as much about the health care of families in America as they did about church hierarchy, was a critical demonstration of support.”
Funny isn't it, that the bishops in America just can't see this. Sure, they're against abortion, and it does have the first place in any discussion of the health care bill, but what about the rest of these issues? Do they think it's right that the government can steal our property? Do they think it's right that the government can mandate that we must buy a product from a private corporation as a condition of our citizenship? Do they believe the government has the power to override our Constitution, a document created by the people through a free will act, a document that created the very government that now seeks to claim it's preeminence over it? Isn't an all powerful state bent on the redistribution of wealth a Marxist state? Do the teachings of the Popes and the Magisterium have no bearing at all on this subject?
The bishops aren't answering these questions because if they do they will be bound to stand up to this corrupt government and it's leaders. They will be forced to confront Marxism head on which will bring into the open their cooperation, through support of the Democrat party and all of the various "social justice" groups, in bringing this evil to power.
They've been bought and paid for. It will take an act of extreme courage for most to speak the truth because it will cause them great loss.
Pray for the bishops that they will die to themselves and put the Church and the people ahead of ambition and avarice.
"Parallel to the actions of 13 states’ attorneys general, the Thomas More Law Center has filed a lawsuit challenging the health care reform bill. The suit argues that it is unconstitutional to force someone to purchase health care coverage and to force those who object to pay for abortions.
...According to the complaint, filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, because of their “deeply held religious beliefs” the plaintiffs object to “being forced by the federal government to contribute in any way to the funding of abortion.” Abortion funding is contrary to their First Amendment rights of conscience and free exercise of religion, the complaint continues.
The lawsuit also charges that the health care reform law imposes unconstitutional government mandates on citizens. It challenges Congress’ authority under the Commerce Clause to pass the law, and claims violations of the Tenth Amendment which reserves power for the states and the people.
“Let’s face it, if Congress has the power to force individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or pay a federal penalty merely because they live in America, then it has the unconstrained power to mandate that every American family buy a General Motors vehicle to help the economy or pay a federal penalty,” Thompson argued.
He commented that Americans agree on the need for reform of health care, but said they do not want reform “by trampling on our Constitution.”
Attorneys general from 13 U.S. states have also filed a lawsuit charging that the Constitution “nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage." EWTN News
All this signing and talk sounds good. Now, I have a question; what will the Italian bishops do when a politician votes for a pro abortion piece of legislation? If America is any indication they will immediately turn their backs and change the subject. There won't be any punishment and no one will say a word. They'll just ring their hands and slink up to this politician, get down on their knees beg for more public funds to support the Church in it's many various enterprises.
But that's just the way it goes in America. Maybe in Italy the Church has a bit more backbone and honor, not to mention fear of the Lord.
I've got to do something about this cynicism.
"After appearing in public on Monday to speak about the necessity of keeping pro-life ideals in mind while voting, the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, signed a document with seven other bishops which detailed several essential values for Italian voters to keep in mind during the upcoming elections.
The most imperative in the upcoming regional elections, the bishops said, is “the right to human life, from the point of conception until natural death.” At the same time, the bishops, headed by Cardinal Bagnasco, also reiterated the importance of upholding policies in favor of "protecting and supporting the family, based on marriage between a man and a woman.” EWTN News
Now that health care has been signed into law I've got a question for all of the Catholic bishops that have gotten in bed with the Progressives over the years; are you happy? You have supported spiritually, monetarily and politically legislation that will cause the deaths of unborn children. Yeah sure, you said that you didn't want it passed with the abortion funding intact. OK, fine. You made a valiant effort after the bill was a fait accompli. But because you got in bed with the devil you will be held accountable. Your actions assisted the Progressives in achieving their ends.
Somehow you thought that you could control the process. You thought that the power you possess in the Church would transfer to the world of politics. You thought that the years of working with the government to get funding for your charities, your schools and your pet causes had established some sort of mutual friendship. You believed that you were using the government as your soldiers in the war on poverty. You believed they were on your side.
It looks like you were played. It looks like you were the ones that were used. You've accepted restrictions on religious belief as part of your deal with the Devil. You've accepted medical staff into Catholic Hospitals that recommend contraception and abortion. You made the cause of socialism your cause. You've twisted authentic Catholic teaching to suit your "friends" political agenda. And because of all of this you ceded the moral high ground and lost your way.
The government has replaced God as the final arbiter of right and wrong. We turn to the government to solve the problems that were once handled in the Church, such as poverty and sickness. Attendance at Mass has fallen precipitously while more Americans would rather seek pleasure at a sporting event than truth in front of the Eucharist.
Bishops, in as far as you have cooperated with the Progressives to see this Satanic bill passed you are guilty and accountable. We're going to see all kinds of efforts to cover your trail but we know. We are quite aware of what you've done and why you've done it. And somehow, someway we are going to see that this doesn't happen again.
I'm posting this reply from Ioannes at Commentarius de Prognosticis to an article posted below not because he says nice things about me but because it's important that everyone understand why we're "attacking" the Bishops. The Bishops, and through them the Church, have become so entangled in government largess that it is becoming impossible to preach the truth without fear that the money will be shut off. And it's not just the financial connection with the politicians; there seems to be a commonality of beliefs in a system of Socialist governance that can only be described as diabolical.
I believe that it is our job as members of the Church to defend her, from enemies inside and out. I pray that I'm doing the right thing and that I'm not making false accusations that will damage the Church I love. That being said, based on the information as I see it some members of the Church leadership are not preaching the truth of Christ, rather the opinions of Marx.
I feel compelled to defend against this.
"Folks,
Catawissa Gazetteer has written another excellent piece about the current health care debate and the mistaken notion that health care is a human right:
STEALING IS GOOD- THE BISHOPS SAY SO
Interestingly and consistently, Archbishop Dolan figures prominently in this debate. Let us recall that he has stated he will NOT bar pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage Catholic politicians from receiving Holy Communion. Lest anyone accuse me of slander, please see the following report from Catholic World News Agency:
That aside, Archbishop Dolan has also stated that "...New Yorkers could get clobbered with even higher taxes if the state continues to default on its school aid promises to Catholic and independent schools."
Thus (as WTEN TV reports it), the Archbishop requires funding authorization from pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage Catholic Governor Patterson for State to float the Catholic school system in NYS. Again, lest anyone accuse me of slander, please see the following:
One can easily see why Archbishop Dolan does not want to discipline Governor David Patterson: he is beholden to him for largess from the teat of the public treasury.
Now (as Catawissa has so masterfully explained it) the Archbishop wants to use money from this same public treasury to fund health care for illegal aliens. Once more, lest anyone accuse me of slander, please see the following:
So one can see the appropriateness of the title for Catwissa's most recent blog post entry:
STEALING IS GOOD- THE BISHOPS SAY SO
This is NOT slander. Rather, what we are doing is what the German people of the Weimar Republic should have done in the first half of the 20th century when Adolf Hitler was vying for ascendancy. But the Germans (after the punishment of WWI) repentend and became good people, being loathe to engage in calumny. After six million murdered Jews and twenty million murdered Ukranians and other Eastern Europeans, one would think we had learned our lesson. But now, because of the moral weakness and hippie theology of some of those who are ordained as Bishops we have more than 50 million murdered babies.
The choice is clear: the apostates and heretics in political office must be publicly ex-communicated for their public defiance of Holy Mother Church, all support for nationalized health care and every other socialist agenda must be withdrawn, and we must return to the true Gospel of repentance and conversion. After all, this is the Lenten Season. We must do those things or suffer the wrath of God Almighty. Indeed, God holds the Shepherds and the Kings more accountable than anyone else, as Ezekiel 34 and Wisdom 6:1-9 so amply demonstrate.
Let us pray for Archbishop Dolan and the remainder of the Bishops in the USCCB. Let us pray for our political leaders, starting with Barack Hussein Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and on down. Let us pray that we all repent and convert.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen"
Real Catholic TVis doing a great job of reporting on the evil being done in the name of Christ and His Church by the Bishops. Many complain of the changes in the Church after Vatican II, blaming the Council for the abuses of the Faith we have witnessed. It wasn't the Council but the way it was implemented, especially here in the US. There are many good and faithful Bishops but unfortunately it seems the ones that have accumulated power unto themselves, like the politicians they are, have worked for their own good and not the good of those they have sworn to protect. They have led many astray but their time is short.
God is bringing everything out into the open so that we can make a choice. Good and evil are being brought into the light of truth so that when the time of judgment comes none of us will be able to claim ignorance. We are fast approaching the time when we will no longer be able to go through life passively. A choice will be forced on us.
Revelation 3:16
But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.
"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth."
1st John 2:18-21
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality”
Dante Alighieri
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams
“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”
George Washington
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”
Thomas Jefferson
" I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."
Willard Duncan Vandiver
"The issue is, to use a sporting metaphor, whether in the game of life the government shall captain the national team or shall act as referee."
S. Harcourt-Rivington
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
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