December 15, 1995 The Gospel tells a story of refugees - undocumented migrants - fleeing the violence of their homeland for safety in another land. As Pope Pius XII observed in response to the massive movement of peoples in the aftermath of World War II:
All of us, with the exception of our Native American sisters and brothers, are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Some were brought to this land by force - as in the case of our African-American fellow citizens - others by circumstances, whether, like the Holy Family, fleeing violence and oppression, or seeking religious, political or economic freedom. All found difficult challenges, but also great opportunities to improve their lives and those of their children, and to contribute to the economy, the culture and the political fabric of their new home. Out of great diversity came a new people and a new society which brought hope and inspiration to the world. But this process was not without pain and tragedy. Lynchings, race riots, anti-foreign sentiment, and religious bigotry have too often marred the development of an "American" nationality. Frequently, animosity towards the "other" who may be different in race, ethnicity or religion, occurs during periods of economic or social uncertainty. As John Paul II recently said,
Our economy, enmeshed in world interdependence, is undergoing a traumatic period of adjustment. Our political and social institutions have not kept pace, and, out of a sense of frustration, some people look for scapegoats. The real culprit is not our people, but our structure; we have somehow forgotten that the economy exists to serve the human person, and that the economic choices should be measured by whether they enhance or threaten human life, human dignity and human rights. The state has the right and obligation to control its national borders, but there are moral and ethical norms that must be considered in developing national immigration policies. Among these is the need to support "authentic human development" abroad which can mitigate the forces which drive immigration. Such development abroad, coupled with an expanding and more just economy at home consistent with our democratic traditions, can encourage the correct perception of immigration as a positive contribution to our society. The just man welcomes the stranger. The Old Testament tells us:
In our own time and in our own land the lesson is the same; the alien is our brother or sister, not our competitor nor our enemy. God's bounty, justly managed, is sufficient for all of us to achieve authentic human development. Such punitive mechanisms as California's Proposition 187 or the proposed Save Our State and other initiatives in Florida, play only upon the fears and frustrations of our citizens. They strike at the most vulnerable among us without addressing the larger social and political causes of the problems, especially at the federal level. As John Paul II reminded us on his arrival in the U.S. on October 4, 1995:
Just as we would provide refuge in our hearts for the Holy Family, so should we welcome the strangers who seek only to better themselves and this great nation. RESOURCES
John Clement Favalora John J. Snyder Norbert M. Dorsey John M. Smith J. Keith Symons John J. Nevins Agustin A. Roman |