FACT SHEET: Why Catholics Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is netiher male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2241, good governments have two non-negotiable duties in regards to immigration: 1) Welcome the foreigner out of love and respect for the human person. People have the right to immigrateespecially in the search for a better and more humane lifeand thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations like the United States. 2) Secure ones border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good. Sovereign nations have the right to enforce their laws and all persons must respect the legitimate exercise of this right. Sadly, many immigration reform measures only attempt to enhance enforcement efforts. This approach is against the teachings of the Catholic Church. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ tells us that the nations will be judgedamong other thingson how they welcome the strangers in their midst. Come, O blessed of my father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the

world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matt 25:34-35
Christ does not mince his words: a nations failure to welcome the strangers in its midst is cowardly and separates that nation from Gods loving plan. The American bishops have outlined several key components for authentic and just immigration reform, including earned legalization of immigrants, a future worker program, family-based immigration reform, restoration of due rights process, policies that address the root causes of immigration and a legitimate reform of illegal immigration enforcement mechanisms. There are 11 million undocumented Americans, not citizens, but Americans by desire. They are forced to live in the shadows of our society. They are brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, parents and children. They work hard. They love this country. Only comprehensive immigration reform will allow them to live in the light of day,

under the protection of the law, to avoid unscrupulous people and criminals who exploit them. An overwhelming majority of them are our fellow Catholics. Lawmakers should consider the prophetic words of Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles: Many of us have forgotten our immigrant roots. But our Church has always been a Church of immigrants. In earlier generations, we welcomed newcomers from every nation in Europe. Today, we are still welcoming newcomers - but now most of them come from Latin America, Asia, Oceania and Africa. Our nation will be far stronger and more secure when we find the political will to welcome this new generation of immigrants into the promise of America. [Let us pray that we are able] to open our hearts so that we build a world where no one is a stranger.

This item was published in the Common Good Forum on the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Goods website at www.catholicsinalliance.org. To receive weekly future editions of the Common Good Forum, email subscribe@catholicsinalliance.org

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