The Catholic Message Board

I agree with JD Vance (himself Catholic) on Meet the Press today when he said that the US Catholic bishops seem to be serving Mammon rather than God in their insane "pro open borders never deport anyone under any circumstances ever even if they are guilty of multiple violent felonies" position.

This is neither the traditional Catholic view of immigration nor the view of the Bible. And it has never been the custom of traditional Catholic states such as in Catholic Europe before the late 19th/early 20th century collapse of the "union of throne and altar".

Yes, the Old Testament contains many provisions about "welcoming the stranger", but to simply say that is to engage in dishonest exegesis. The same Old Testament ALSO says that the stranger is to obey the laws of Israel, including getting circumcised, observing the Sabbath and Passover, following the Kosher laws, and fully integrating within the community. It never explicitly says that foreigners have to become Jews, but to seems to be implied.

The idea that immigrants would be exempt from all of that and be allowed to undermine the entire community, is completely foreign to the Bible.

What Vance is referring to is the fact that Catholic Charities received $1.4 billion from the feds to help resettle immigrants. Are the bishops concerned about justice and the public good, or are they concerned about the bottom line? It is a fair question.

I think you should have said... 'to resettle (mostly) non-legal immigrants'. I can't imagine anyone has a problem with legal immigrants and I certainly don't think there is a problem (actually, I welcome it) if the Catholic Church helps settle legal immigrants.

Society has laws for a reason. Most laws in the US are not 'unjust'. And in the US, there are actually ways, without resorting to violence, to work to change laws that a person may think are unjust. As the overwhelming majority of the US wants... stop illegal immigration, remove illegal immigrants (starting with the most violent), and then provide controlled ways to allow worthy immigrants to legally enter the country, assimilate, etc..

Most people are even tolerant of illegal immigrants as long as they are productive and law-abiding. The problem is that Biden allowed in 20 million or more into the country in the last 4 years, this is unprecedented, this is an invasion, we are swamped, some places, like New York, have so many migrants that they have no idea what to do with them.

This unprecedented swamping has led even many of the most tolerant to consider the previously unthinkable: mass deportation, we have tried everything else, and this appears to be the only option left.

The following statement was issued in response to action taken by the Trump Administration rescinding guidance related to "protected areas" in immigration enforcement.

“Catholic health care, Catholic Charities agencies, and the Church’s other social service ministries work daily to feed, house, heal, educate, and meet people’s needs in communities across our nation. Through these ministries—together with the Church’s responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the sacraments—we uphold the belief that all people are conceived with inherent dignity, reflecting the image of God. Through our parishes, shelters, hospitals, schools, and other Church institutions, we recognize that this dignity is not dependent on a person's citizenship or immigration status. Moreover, the charitable services we provide are fundamental to who we are as Christians. ‘For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being’ (Deus caritas est, no. 25).

“We recognize the need for just immigration enforcement and affirm the government’s obligation to carry it out in a targeted, proportional, and humane way. However, non-emergency immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, social service agencies, healthcare facilities, or other sensitive settings where people receive essential services would be contrary to the common good. With the mere rescission of the protected areas guidance, we are already witnessing reticence among immigrants to engage in daily life, including sending children to school and attending religious services. All people have a right to fulfill their duty to God without fear. Turning places of care, healing, and solace into places of fear and uncertainty for those in need, while endangering the trust between pastors, providers, educators and the people they serve, will not make our communities safer.

“Our organizations stand ready to work on a better path forward that protects the dignity of all those we serve, upholds the sacred duty of our providers, and ensures our borders and immigration system are governed with mercy and justice.”

This statement was offered by Bishop Mark J. Seitz, chairman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States, and Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO, Catholic Charities USA.
https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/human-d ... ion-status

I can't believe the US Bishops are suing the government for money. They did not speak out about abortion or mutilation of children, but they sue the government with money donated from offerings made to God.