Cardinal McCarrick brings immigration reform message to Senate

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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

Washington D.C., Oct 11, 2009 / 06:34 pm (CNA).- Comprehensive immigration reform is needed to help bring undocumented immigrants “out of the shadows” and to reunite them with their families, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick told a Senate subcommittee on Thursday.

Addressing the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the cardinal said the United States requires an immigration system that links legal immigration with the country’s long-term economic needs, with family unity and with basic human rights.

“Now, our immigration system accomplishes none of these goals,” commented Cardinal McCarrick, who is a consultant to the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration.

He added that immigration reform would restore the rule of law and would provide order and legality to “an otherwise chaotic system,” a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reports.

The cardinal urged that any immigration reform legislation help bring undocumented immigrants “out of the shadows” and give them the opportunity to achieve permanent residency and citizenship. He recommended that family-based immigration be strengthened in order to preserve family unity and that legal avenues be created to help migrant workers enter the country legally and safely.

Cardinal McCarrick also called for legislation that would give immigrants “their day in court” by restoring due process protections he said were removed in 1996. In addition, he encouraged international cooperation that would address the “root causes of migration” and help immigrants and their families remain in their home countries to “support their families in dignity.”

Though immigration has economic, social and legal aspects, the cardinal explained that from the perspective of Catholic teaching immigration is ultimately a humanitarian issue.

“In our view, our immigration laws ultimately must be judged by how they impact the basic dignity and God-given human rights of the human person.”

He exhorted the Senators to keep the discourse “civil” and to refrain from both de-humanizing immigrants and “scapegoating” them for unrelated economic or social challenges.

Cardinal McCarrick pledged the Catholic Church’s assistance for the legislators who “lead the nation toward a humane and just immigration system which both restores the rule of law and respects the inherent human dignity of the person.”

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Ted
Washington DC 10/20/2009 08:38 AM EST

American civil rights are grounded on the basic dignity of individuals which is at the core of our Christian beliefs. Laws need to be adjusted to protect both. The current immigration laws with its unrealistic quotas and its emphasis on excluding people from our communities and nation need to be changed. The strength and character of our nation require comprehensive reform focused on legal immigration flows and on collaboration with sending countries to address root causes of migration.

Published by: Ed C
Minneapolis, MN 10/13/2009 10:43 AM EST

The United States may well be a country of laws, but we are a people of faith and called to works of charity. We elect the people who make our laws. Jesus took people to task who stopped at the letter of the law and did not look to the heart of the message of God's love. If we were born into economic hardship in a poor region of the world what would we do? What would we encourage our children to do? Might we not look beyond the letter of the law if it meant survival? And as Christians are we not obliged to go out of our way for our neighbors? It's a tough issue. I don't suggest that there are simple solutions. But it's much easier for us to defend the law -- the status quo -- when it provides us with benefits. Political refugees are welcomed, but economic refugees are not. No, it's not easy. But this should shock us as much as Jesus presenting the Samaritan as the Good Neighbor. In fact it should shock us even more since many are Roman Catholics sharing Eucharist with us and praying for and with us. We can act in a variety of ways. We are not limited to meting out punishment. We are called to do better. If Jesus died for each and every one of us, can't we put ourselves out just a little bit for our sisters and brothers? I am grateful that our bishops are challenging us out of our comfort zones on this issue.

Published by: Robin
Upland, California, USA 10/13/2009 02:49 AM EST

I fear the real issue is MORE money for the Catholic Church. Illegal aliens break our laws and take jobs from Americans. The Catholic Church exploits illegal aliens to fill their pews and add to their coffers. The Catholic Church should lose its tax-free status for its political work. If they were to lose their tax-free status, would they STILL advocate for illegal aliens?

Published by: Ralph
Colorado Springs 10/12/2009 07:00 PM EST

And just how often should we "bring them out of the shadows"? Has everyone forgotten the fiasco of an amnesty that took place in 1986. We DO have legal quotas for immigration. These quotas are based on the ability of our society to absorb immigrants in an orderly manner. No amnesty, no way. The only thing broken on our immigration system is the enforcement of our immigration laws.

Published by: John O'Shea
Boston/MA/USA 10/12/2009 05:49 PM EST

Shamefully American Catholics follow ideology from the Republican Party before having a rational moral aproach to issues. I hear too many times the words "legal" and "illegal" and too few times the words "right" and "wrong" in the reasoning of those that would even check for news at CNS. We should all be consequent: are we to speak of "legal" and "illegal" and not of "right and wrong"? In that case we have no hope of winning the abortion debate, for example, since it is "legal". The wisdom of the Church in its defense of life at every stage applies too to inmigration, war, death penalty, the sanctity and marriage, etc. So, are we to be Republican first and then Catholic...where do we get our core moral backbone from?

Published by: Ron Melancon
Tampa, FL, USA 10/12/2009 01:28 PM EST

We need more voices like Cardinal McCarrick's from all the churches. It is good to hear his respect for family bonds and th expectation that humane legislation making legal migration easier is a moral alternative to wall-building.

Published by: Gabriel Austin
Los Alamos NM USA 10/12/2009 12:23 PM EST

But he carefully avoids explaining how this can be accomplished.

Published by: Ron S
Yardley PA USA 10/12/2009 12:02 PM EST

Cardinal McCarrick needs to understand the US is a country of laws. One who enters this country illegaly is a 'criminal' and needs to be treated as such. What doesn't he unde5rstand about the term 'illegal?' Any and all illegal aliens need to have all federal and local benefits stopped immediately -health, education, welfare etc. They should not be allowed to work here 'legally.' Companies that hire them should be fined heavily. When all this is done they will find their way back to where they came from and 'legal' immigrants can take their place. Children of either illegal parents should NOT become US citizens automatically. Either we are a country of laws or not. We can't have it both ways to suit the few.

Published by: Lou Apa
Sanford, NC USA 10/12/2009 11:01 AM EST

Dearest fellow Christians, Yes...reform is needed; however, with moral justice prevailing in the process. No free pass for law breakers..what about "illegal immigrant" do we not understand?! God will for justice prevails in addition to compassion and forgiveness. JMJ

Published by: Jo Mauro
Bluffton,SC USA 10/11/2009 11:41 PM EST

Immigration reform is for the liberals to expand their voter base and the church to fatten their collection baskets. They are both sell outs.

Published by: tonymynd
Baytown, Texas, USA 10/11/2009 11:41 PM EST

Is funny that, before I searched for the word 'immigration reform' on Google news, I prayed to GOD to give me a positive news, and I prayed this time because after hundreds of times of searching the news had something in common 'bigotry against the immigrant people' and GOD is answering my prayers. I have not seen my daughter since 1999 never saw her growing up, and that shatters my heart every day of my life. Today I hope that the relief is coming. Thank you America the beutiful.

Published by: Wanda G.B.
San Franicisco 10/11/2009 11:30 PM EST

“In our view, our immigration laws ultimately must be judged by how they impact the basic dignity and God-given human rights of the human person.” No, they are to be judged in how well they serve the interest of America and Americans. Period. Currently the lack of enforcement and overly generous numbers impoverish the citizen poor and burden the precarious middle class. Mass immigration is killing the dream of a sustainable future for this country.

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