WSJ: That 'Insulting' Pope (by Patty Kupfer)
Thank God for The Wall Street Journal editorial board. Now that's a phrase I never imagined uttering. Then again, who would have thought they'd be the institution to jump so eloquently to the defense of the pope from the likes of Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo?
During his visit last week, Pope Benedict XVI gave a consistent and prophetic call to U.S. Catholics:
I want to encourage you and your communities to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrow and trials, and to help them flourish in their new home. This, indeed, is what your fellow countrymen have done for generations. From the beginning, they have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free." These are the people whom America has made her own.
Somehow this beautiful pastoral call prompted Lou Dobbs to claim the pope was "insulting our country," and Tom Tancredo to accuse him of "faith-based marketing." As if a global spiritual leader shouldn't have the right to offer guidance on how we view and treat our fellow human beings? It's not as if he was laying out policy prescriptions. If anything, the pope's words were a simple and powerful reminder of precisely the pastoral role Jesus calls us to. Not to mention our past as a nation of immigrants.
Today's WSJ said it better than I ever could have:
The pope welcomes immigrants because he's Catholic, not because they are. He isn't "marketing" his faith. He's practicing it.
Patty Kupfer is the Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform campaign coordinator at Sojourners.
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Comments
This will soon change - Rupert Murdoch just fired the editor for being too independent - even though he had promised in the deal he signed to gain control of the WSJ not to do just that.
Expect some big changes in the editorial stance hewing to Murdoch's political control.
Posted by: N.M. Rod | April 22, 2008 4:44 PM
Patty:
Regarding Dobbs and Tancredo--consider the sources. Their comments reflect on their own narrowness.
'nuff said.
Peace,
Posted by: Don | April 22, 2008 5:28 PM
For what it's worth, a lot of conservatives, including critics of "comprehensive immigration reform", thought that Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo both overreacted to the Pope's comments.
Wolverine
Posted by: Wolverine | April 22, 2008 6:03 PM
Maybe the Pope will try an open borders policy at Vatican City. Yeah right!! Or, how bout just liquidating the Brazillian Dollars worth of Vatican art and what not and give it too the poor. (Why does a Church have an art collection anyway?) Or how about just going to Latin America and asking the Catholic population to please obey the law. Besides, inspite of efforts of people like Jim Wallis, we don't live in a Theocracy. And while we enjoy hearing and seeing the Pope and respect his opinions, it's not like he's infallable or something.
Posted by: debarrio | April 22, 2008 7:34 PM
Yeah right!! Or, how bout just liquidating the Brazillian Dollars worth of Vatican art and what not and give it too the poor. (Why does a Church have an art collection anyway?)
Because one time, they anointed Jesus with expensive oils and perfumes and he said you'll have the poor with you always.
Posted by: aaron | April 22, 2008 7:51 PM
Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancreado will over react to everything if it will garner attention. They are just panderers.
Posted by: wayne | April 22, 2008 8:09 PM
The pope welcomes immigrants because he's Catholic, not because they are. He isn't "marketing" his faith. He's practicing it.
There are many of us that have welcomed immigrants because our faith asks us to give a cup of cold water. We even help them fill out all the proper paper work. Secure funds for them to be able to travel from their country to ours and house them. Teach them english and secure empolyment so that they will become contributing members of the US soceity.
All done legally. The Pope did steer clear of the 'illegal' word. I believe even he knows that God is a God of order, fairness and laws.
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 8:04 AM
Mick,
You're right, Lou Dobbs is not a conservative as much as he is a populist. But that doesn't mean he hasn't overreacted.
Anyways, the Pope's comments were fairly general, and as Moderatelad pointed out they don't preclude meaningful enforcement as long as it is combined with generous treatment of legal immigrants.
Which is more or less where I'm coming from. Funny how that works...
Wolverine
Posted by: Wolverine | April 23, 2008 9:44 AM
Moderatelad
How many immigrants have you helped who were, uneducated, unskilled, had no relatives here, and came from Mexico?
How long did it take?
How successful were you?
How many times did you do this?
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 10:06 AM
Exodus 23:9, I hail from planet America, not planet Elitist Ivory Tower like most of you folks. On my planet,we like NASCAR and we can all Bowl well over 37!
http://politicalhumor.about.com/b/2008/04/02/barack-obamas-bowling-disaster.htm
We also accept cynicism and sarcasm as valid forms of political expression.
Posted by: debarrio | April 23, 2008 10:08 AM
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 10:06 AM
How many immigrants have you helped who were, uneducated, unskilled, had no relatives here, and came from Mexico?
They were from several different countries. None of the parents had any schooling past the equivalent of 10 grade. One had a brother in CA but came to MN and has stayed here.
How long did it take?
It was about a 3 year period for each family and took the collective efforts of 20+ people to make it happen.
How successful were you?
Depends upon what your definition of 'successful' is. We housed them until we were able to find housing for them. We got them jobs, taught them english, paid for the health needs and dental needs until they were employed with coverage. They were not allowed to go on welfare, we did get some assistance from the state but not much. With everything that was done to get them established and self sufficent - the state was less than 5% of the equasion. In fact with they found out it was a 'church' that was sponsering - they backed off in the willingness to assist.
How many times did you do this?
Three where I was directly involved - several more where I was able to assist in one area.
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 10:22 AM
Mod
Mexico? Central America? South America?
In what year did this last occur?
You said that the parents had no education past tenth grade, does that mean the children were all very young or were they older? Were the children more educated or less, were they skilled? Were the children adults, or still minors?
Under what programs were you able to obtain a visa and/or green card for these folks?
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 12:09 PM
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 12:09 PM
Why the Third Degree?
They were immigrants, unskilled, low education. They needed our assistance inorder to come to this country. We got their documentation in order and we were able to get them to the point where they were able to support themselves.
Their children now have a college education and are working with major corp. in the US and around the world.
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 12:22 PM
Mod
I am sorry if I appear to be grilling you. I do not mean to. I am interested for many reasons.
1. country of origin, age and education/skill level are important to the discussion and are factors in the law.
2. When you did this work is also relevant to the law, since it has changed in the last years. What was possible ten years ago may not be today.
3. If you have somehow found a way to get a visa for someone I would love to know about it.
Your description is so vague that I am trying to determine if it is relevant and if so to what extent. I am not trying to trap you or make you look bad, or especially to minimize the work you did, but all of these factors, and more, are determinators which can exclude otherwise fine immigrants from coming legally. Our Immigration law is so complex and limiting now that it rivals the tax code.
The fact that it took so many people and so much time for you to accomplish this, years ago (I assume) points to that fact.
Imagine trying to do any of this without someone like you to assist them. Imagine trying to do this while your children are in need.
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 1:11 PM
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 1:11 PM
OK - paperwork another group handled that - not myu forte.
2 families from the former Soviet Block nations. Parents were poorly educated and the kids were better but we started them one or two grades down from the age group they could have been with.
1 family from South America. Mom was the best educated and they had pre-school children.
All three families are working, own their home, productive.
The two families from esatern europe were about 14 years ago and the one from South America was about 8 or 9 years ago.
Hope that helps
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 1:44 PM
Posted by: wayne | April 23, 2008 1:11 PM
OK - paperwork another group handled that - not myu forte.
2 families from the former Soviet Block nations. Parents were poorly educated and the kids were better but we started them one or two grades down from the age group they could have been with.
1 family from South America. Mom was the best educated and they had pre-school children.
All three families are working, own their home, productive.
The two families from esatern europe were about 14 years ago and the one from South America was about 8 or 9 years ago.
Hope that helps
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted by: Mick | April 23, 2008 2:37 PM
We were blessed.
One of my favorite memories is sitting on my parents deck with one of the families. Grandma - daughter - son-in-law and NINE children. we had dinner and then we started to sing. One of the songs we had in common was How Great Thou Art. We sang in english and they in ukrainian. Even the neighbors stopped and listened to us.
One of the funniest memories was my mother trying to make a phone call so that the dad could talk to his brother in CA. Using a dictionary that had both languages she tried to communicate with him that his brother and family were out for the night at a party as someone house. The word for 'party' was the same word for 'communist' in the dictionary. Took us awhile to get that one straightened out.
When my dad passed away a few years ago - they sat with my family at the service.
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 3:00 PM
"Wow Moderatelad , you did an awesome Ministry there . Bless your heart and your family .
I can't help but believe your entire family was blessed also."
Amen.
Posted by: carl copas | April 23, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted by: carl copas | April 23, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted by: Mick | April 23, 2008 2:37 PM
Thanks - I do appreicate it but I believe that if we all did a little things would be so much better. I think I would like to do something like this again but will wait till my kids are out of the house and I have more time.
Blessings on both of you!
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 23, 2008 4:16 PM
You know what you just do not get it about illegal immigrants. What does illegal mean? does it say it is OK to come here in America this way and to collect Social Security when you do not have a right to be here in the 1st place. Do I have to spell it out to you. If you do not go thru the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no other way for salvation, only thru the door, and HE is the Door. The rich do not want to pay repectable wages to anyone. If they had their way we would starve, and lose our homes. Is this not what is happening now. Let Mexico take care of there own and we don't need any illegal immigrants over here because they are like a thief. Read Matt 17: 24-27. The rich do not collect from their own, but from the stranger. Stranger means lower class. The tax system is set to benefit the rich.
Posted by: Sydney Mooradian | April 23, 2008 5:31 PM
One thing I would like to hear Lou Dobbs mention -- just once -- is why people might choose to immigrate illegally to this country (as opposed to doing so legally). The answer, as I understand it, is simply that it costs too much money to immigrate legally!
So the problem is not, as Mr. Dobbs would apparently have his viewers believe, that these are people who just do not respect law and order.
Posted by: Paul | April 23, 2008 5:33 PM
When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 19:33-34
Does this mean anything today?
LB
Posted by: LB | April 23, 2008 5:36 PM
"Did anybody else notice that there are two "23s" in this post line?
Do you think it's a part of The Code?
Also, if you read both the 23s backwards, they say the same thing."
canuckle, you're freaking me out, man.
Posted by: carl copas | April 23, 2008 9:55 PM
Mick,
Thanks for your comments. I mentioned the scriptures only because there is little reflection of scriptures in the above discussion. A real test of how we love our neighbor may be how we treat illegal immigrants. The Holy Father did not distinguish legal immigrants from illegals. The discussion above seems to be more political than Christian. I don't think the Old Testament verse is out of context, because it does seem to fit with Jesus' Greatest Commandment of loving our neighbor as much as we love ourself. Jesus did not say love our good, legal neighbor as much as ourselves. It is difficult to do. But he never said it was easy. I am now sounding too preachy; sorry. God bless you.
LB
Posted by: LB | April 23, 2008 10:15 PM
Traditionally the Christians of the USA have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free", and that is why there are so many Roman Catholics in the USA.
Posted by: StHilarious | April 24, 2008 2:20 AM
Hi Patty, I can appreciate your article as an ecumenical Christian; but was wondering why you chose not to use the adjective Roman before Catholic. Casually simplifying as such perpetuates the negative ignorance and biases of Roman Catholics (a denomination) against Protestant denominations. I've recently commented on this twice in regards to other forums and coverages of the Pope's visit. There is nothing ever mentioned (by the media) equally in support of the Protestant communities of Christianity and their important events... It's like America is enforced and educated to see themselves as either Major (Roman) Catholics with the pedifle priests thrown in there... and fundamentalists way-off-track-wacko Christian sects or "Protestants." Anyway, Thank you for listening~ Sincerely, Nicole A. Macaluso, Chicago, Illinois
Posted by: Nicole Macaluso | April 24, 2008 9:07 AM
Canuklehead,
You missed the "3rd Degree" reference. This, combined with the repeated use of the number 23, is code for "23rd Degree Masons" who are constantly monitoring these posts. They also, with the help of the illuminati, decide who gets to come into this country anyway. So why are we even talking about it.
Posted by: debarrio | April 24, 2008 9:54 AM
It's nice to see an acknowledment when you agree with a conservative voice. Please take the opportunity more often to build bridges when there is common ground.
Posted by: Phil Lindquist | April 24, 2008 3:04 PM
The key word is not Believer, nor is it Catholic, The key word is illegal. Sorry Pope, Christ, or me-we don't have the right or power to break the law. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God what is God's. I will help my brother and love him as I love myself. I am not illegal and I want my brother to be legal also.
The Catholic church has demonstrated its destructive power to live outside the law- why change?
Posted by: Larry Beachy | April 24, 2008 4:34 PM
Mick - I am sure you meant to say that many mainline denominations understand and interpret Genesis differently than you do. Most of us believe that those majestic words give us a hint as to the creative power of The LORD God.
I often wonder why so many who take the Old Testament seriously are so quick to qualify their thoughts and actions when they seem to go against those in Leviticus or seem contrary to the teachings of Jesus.
Posted by: John C. Bonser | April 24, 2008 5:37 PM
Incredible to me how the conservatives like Sen. Tancredo villify the immigrants every day as if they are not human, and then later in the afternoon, puts his arm around the corporate titans that employ them illegally so they can increase their profits.
Tancredo and his conservative brothers political effort has been to reward the top 2% in America with special legislation that benefits mostly the upper crust. Then the working class go and support them in their reelection because he bashes the immigrants with harsh words never figuring out the game.
Lou Dobbs CD & book "War on the Middle Class" was very interesting to me but he didn't fully explain that from 1994 to the beginning of 2007 the conservatives were in charge of all branches of government and this illegal hiring came under their watch. However, the talk show mafia hosts blame the liberals who haven't been in charge making or enforcing the rules!
Posted by: Steve | April 25, 2008 9:06 AM
I forgot to thank Moderatelad and his church for his work with immigrants. That is truly God's work and it is awesome!
I detected some feelings from you that your government didn't really help much and when they found out it was churchy they backed off some. Actually, your government helped very much. You see, they allowed your organization to be tax exempt so that save you about 35% in income and sales taxes.
If you don't want any assistance from the government you elected, then go ahead and forgo the tax exemption.
Posted by: Steve | April 25, 2008 9:40 AM
'...your organization to be tax exempt so that save you about 35%...'
How does my church being a 501C3 organization save me 35%? I know I am not the brightest bulb on the tree. But the Gov't already took their share from me in payroll tax. Now that I want to give some of my take home pay and donate it to my church (or para church organization) you believe that they should be allowed to tax it again? So - would they do the same to United Way, March of Dimes, Jerry's Kids?
If so - is that fair?
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 25, 2008 12:14 PM
If God created man in His immage did he not create the alien? Leagal and not so leagal in the eyes of man's law, did He not create them? If so it is up to us as Christians to ensure just and fair treatment of all of God's creations. While in the end an illegal may have to return to their home, we should howver deal justly and fairly with them.
May His Peace be with us as we strive to be just and fair with all of God's creation - in this case aliens "among us."
Posted by: Randy T | April 27, 2008 12:43 AM
One of the biggest surprises to me in recent years is in seeing how, in matters of social policy, the pope is much more progressive than our political progressive community. On issues of domestic poverty, America's progressives "dropped the ball" years ago. We do hear some about the "working poor", but once an individual slips below that line, they are non-existent to our progressive movement.
The successes of the past were based on the belief that all citizens, even if they are unable to work, have fundamental human rights to food, shelter and medical care (as is true in most modern nations). I don't think people quite "get" how our welfare/anti-poor policies have had the same impact on the US as setting off a bomb in the basement of a building -- when you destroy the foundation, the building collapses. I don't think people realize the impact that this has had on breaking unions, causing wages to stagnate (at best), lowering the number of taxpayers, etc.
Without social supports, far fewer people are able to climb out of poverty, becoming tax payers, so the government takes in a fraction of the money it took in before. Our serial wars, probably culminating in the current one, caused gov. to far outspend what it takes in. More people lose their jobs and homes and become a part of the new permanently poor.
The only chance we have is to reverse these policies, but we haven't even begun to discuss this. This isn't the first time that the super-rich got the upper hand, but this IS the first time that ordinary Americans failed to organize and fight back.
Today we are unwilling to help our poor, and to a large degree, unable to help the poor elsewhere.
Posted by: DHFabian | April 28, 2008 6:23 PM
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