Complex Immigration

“Read the gospels because that’s where we get most of our stuff”.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration – CBS interview.

What part of the gospels could the good bishop be referring to? The parable of the Good Samaritan perhaps? Other of Jesus’ teachings? When Jesus taught the crowds that followed Him, hanging on His every word, Luke 19:48 …for all the people were hanging on to every word He said., He taught them how to live as His true disciples. Jesus’ teachings were addressed both to large gatherings and to individuals. Jesus’ answers to individuals were as varied as the people asking Him the questions. This needs to be stated because the Catholic bishops are justifying their flouting of US immigration laws based on Jesus’ teaching in the gospels. Jesus’ teaching is also now being referred to by non-Christians. Good that the Bible is figuring in their assessments but let’s not jump to conclusions. So what do the gospels tell us that Jesus taught? In the case of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus was teaching the heart of God’s intention for how His people live their lives – in concern for, and provision of, those in need. Living this way is a voluntary action of individuals and organisations dedicated to this task but I must admit, is also a challenge for all of us as Christians. After all, the Good Samaritan was simply walking along and happened upon the man in need unexpectedly yet responded instantaneously generously. That said, I don’t think Jesus had national or provincial immigration policies in mind when He responded to His inquirer about who constitutes his neighbour.

Christian missions are set up to answer this special call of Christ. Often, individual Christians also quietly answer this call. I am amazed at how giving some Christians and even some outside of the faith are. But Jesus’ message was not intended to be an enforced call on an entire country. That’s more like Marxism – enforced “generosity” of the state. A big issue with the bishops unelectedly acting for all other Americans is that US citizens have suffered shockingly on account of their and other groups’ “generosity”. According to President Trump, “They came from prisons and jails and insane asylums and mental institutions from all over the world, not just South America…from every continent. And they came here by plane” (often dumped by their home countries’ governments) “and they were loaded onto buses and they were driven right up to our border and nobody even said a word to them and in those buses and cars and trucks were some of the meanest criminals from anywhere in the world. As of last September, 425,000 illegal alien criminals were roaming free including 13,099 convicted illegal, alien murderers of which almost 50% killed more than one person and they were roaming all over the country; on our farms, in our cities…We are moving to get these vicious and violent criminals the hell out of our country…”.

 As well as murder crime there were crimes of drug trafficking, child sex trafficking (thousands of children who crossed the border are now unaccounted for), rape, robbery and other forms of violence imported into the country by illegal aliens. The quote above by President Trump came amid the signing into law of the Laken Riley Act which had garnered sizeable bi-partisan support. Laken Riley, a 22 year old student nurse, was murdered by an illegal alien criminal gang member. Laken’s family was present at the signing of the Act. Her mother gave a brief speech and we could all feel her pain and that of her family. Other victims’ families were also present. Caring for your own first is a biblical principle. Here are three biblical quotes which demonstrate this principle, the first from Christ followed by two from the Apostle Paul:

Matthew 15:1-6 (NASB) 1 Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

1 Timothy 5:3-4 (NASB) 3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB) 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

There will remain an immigration policy for the USA but one that can be sustained in a way that is sensible and ordered. Any government’s primary duty of care is to its own citizens, as VP Vance expressed in a Fox interview.That’s just, as President Trump would say, “common sense”. But common sense is a disputed concept by those with a strange moral compass. I have gone beyond common sense to Scripture to show that serious misunderstanding of the right ordering of charity may be more complex than at first thought. I don’t think Jesus intended that following Him would entail carnage on others, nor that His words should form the policy of a sovereign state. As a result of illegally supporting illegal aliens, the number of victims the Good Samaritan has to attend has now sky-rocketed. May all of us approach Scripture with an openness to what it is saying in all of its rich fullness. Preconceptions can sometimes mar our willingness to follow the spirit of what it is actually saying. This is a challenge for all of us.