Pope Francis released a letter this week asking his bishops to oppose President Trump’s immigration policies. The Pontiff has clashed with Trump several times, and this letter represents an escalation of their feud. In it, the Pope tells American Bishops to oppose ICE and offer support to illegal immigrants. He cites scripture and Catholic tradition to support his argument.
“I am writing today to address a few words to you in these delicate moments that you are living as Pastors of the People of God who walk together in the United States of America,” the Pope began. “Even a cursory examination of the Church’s social doctrine emphatically shows that Jesus Christ…did not live apart from the difficult experience of being expelled from his own land because of an imminent risk to his life, and from the experience of having to take refuge in a society and a culture foreign to his own.” He added, “The Son of God, in becoming man, also chose to live the drama of immigration”
He quoted from Pope Pius XII, who wrote, “The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.”
He said these teachings are specifically relevant to America. “I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations,” the woke Pope said .” The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality. ”
“This is not a minor issue: an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized… This does not impede the development of a policy that regulates orderly and legal migration,” Francis argued. ” However, this development cannot come about through the privilege of some and the sacrifice of others. What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly,” he countered.
The woke Pope says, “Worrying about personal, community or national identity, apart from these considerations, easily introduces an ideological criterion that distorts social life and imposes the will of the strongest as the criterion of truth.” After is progressive rant, he pivoted to giving orders to American bishops. “I recognize your valuable efforts, dear brother bishops of the United States, as you work closely with migrants and refugees, proclaiming Jesus Christ and promoting fundamental human rights.”
“God will richly reward all that you do for the protection and defense of those who are considered less valuable, less important or less human!” said the Pontiff. He also addressed rank-and-file Catholics, ” I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of goodwill, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.”
He concluded, “Let us ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect individuals and families who live in fear or pain due to migration and/or deportation. May the “Virgen morena”, who knew how to reconcile peoples when they were at enmity, grant us all to meet again as brothers and sisters, within her embrace, and thus take a step forward in the construction of a society that is more fraternal, inclusive and respectful of the dignity of all.”