Take, for example, the presentation by the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Chicago's Dominican University, Sister Diane Kennedy. Effusive in describing 17 Dominican students, Sister Kennedy noted that several not only have achieved high academic honors but 2 also have been arrested by immigration officials and even spent time in jail.
Why are these 17 students so special?
Each is an illegal immigrant and Dominican is spending $274k to help them pay tuition.
For example, consider one of the 2 Dominican students Sr. Kennedy spoke in particular about, a senior named David Ramirez. David traveled to Georgia in May 2011 to "come out" as an illegal immigrant and to protest the passage of one of the nation's strictest immigration laws. Ramirez was arrested and spent the night in jail, but immigration officials did not pursue the case. Ramirez posted bail and returned to Chicago, Kennedy, just in time for graduation.
Relating David's story, Sister Kennedy could barely contain herself. And her audience was moved by her presentation.
If Sister Kennedy was the warm up to the featured act, it was the former Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahoney who was passionate when urging the administrators of other Catholic institutions to imitate Dominican’s example. Cardinal Mahoney told the audience:
Many of your institutions began because young men and women who are immigrants, especially from certain Catholic backgrounds, were not permitted to attend other denomination- founded and -supported institutions. Much of our history as a college and university system starts with that outreach to immigrants.
The Cardinal argued that "advocacy for ['undocumented'] immigrants" is not only one aspect of the heritage of Catholic colleges but also a core expression of its Catholic values. Consider, for example, that Dominican's student body is 28% Hispanic and the institution is known as a "welcoming, hospitable place" for immigrants.
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| Cardinal Roger Mahoney Retired Archbishop of Los Angeles |
The Motley Monk would note that the Cardinal's lofty rhetoric conveniently neglects one irrefutable fact: The word "undocumented" means "illegal."
To those on the Catholic political left, how an illegal immigrant gets into the United States or that an immigrant is in the United States illegally doesn't seem to matter much. Their goal is to provide not only a welcome and hospitality but also the benefits of legal citizenship.
Yet, the simple fact that Cardinal Mahoney didn't mention is that, in previous eras of U.S. Catholic history, legal immigrants by the tens of millions were welcomed and given hospitality with open arms as long as they fulfilled their legal obligations. Those who didn't---"illegal" immigrants---were deported, being provided neither the benefits of citizenship nor legal immigration.
This convenient and misleading revision of U.S. Catholic history is disturbing, if only because it is explicitly intended to remake the education mission of Catholic higher education into a political mission, one that seeks not to form minds that are conversant with the Catholic faith and the dictates of reason, but to indoctrinate young people into a form of social justice that is rooted primarily in Marxist, anti-capitalist theory.
The presentations by Sr. Kennedy and Cardinal Mahoney---as warmly received by the audience as they were---exposes what is really transpiring within many of the nation's Catholic universities and colleges.
Let the discussion begin...
To read about these presentations, click on the following link:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/01/31/catholic-colleges-urged-support-undocumented-students
What part of illegal don't they understand?
ReplyDeleteThe Church is so hypocritical when it comes to illegals:
-You can't get married in the Church without attending Pre-Cana.
-You can't be baptized in the Church with parents attending class.
-God-parents have to be Catholic.
-Parents, at least one, need to be practicing Catholics and have to prove it
-Try to get married in a Church without being a registered member of the Parish.
-Try getting married if you don't have proof that your received the Sacraments.
-Try getting married and telling the Pastor you're not paying the stipend.
-Then, see what happens when you want to bring in your own music and not pay the Parish.
SO... what makes rules for the Church so necessary but rules for a Country so situational?
1. Why don't these leaders look at the source of the problem with regard to illegal immigration?
2. It is much easier to give away other people's money, pander to the illegals and criticize anyone who questions this nonsense than challenge the corruption in Mexico that forces its people to break laws.
3. Mexico, supposedly, can't stop illegal migration from their country to the US
4. Mexico and the Church can decry American law as anti-immigrant or un-Christian.
5. Where is the outrage over the border, built by Mexico, along its southern border to stop the illegal immigration into Mexico from Central America?
6. Why don't leaders like Mahoney and educators like Kennedy go down to Mexico City or Juarez and spew forth their enlightened words?
Why... because we all know what would happen.
Universities can give scholarships to illegals and the Church can take whatever social positions are in line with 'current thought' on any issue. However, being popular has little to do with being correct, fair or just.
The truth shall set you free... but Spin is so much easier