The Place of USA Marianists in Calling our Government to Its Responsibility for Immigrants
The USA Catholic Bishops Conference is engaged in a nation wide effort to bring a balance and centering in justice for a solution to our treatment of immigrants. They are asking that Catholic people understand the nature of the present situation and become advocates for a just solution to the crisis.
I attended the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC, Feb. 24-27, 2008 with about 700 diocesan social ministry officials, members of religious orders and other organizations to share on the important social justice questions confronting our nation. At the immigration sessions a policy and process of action for Catholic involvement in the immigration crisis was clearly proposed. The highlights of this policy are the following;
The US Catholic Bishops Conference is asking Catholics to call our federal government to its responsibility for the much needed reform of our immigration laws. The present absence of good federal laws for immigrants leaves a vacuum resulting in flawed local laws being passed. Reforms are needed in our federal immigration laws:
· To enable immigrants to enter legally,
· To facilitate legal employment for needed farming and other jobs,
· To facilitate immigrants payment as well as benefits of income taxes and social security,
· To facilitate immigrants learning of English,
· To control properly our borders and
· To enable immigrants who wish to apply for citizenship to so.
A very strong extremist moment is active in the country using radio talk and TV shows to push for extremist measures to force immigrants out of the country. The Bishops call for a Biblical sense of hospitality so that immigrants are treated humanly. In fact immigrants in the USA have traditionally worked hard, built up communities, fostered economic growth and assimilated into the American culture.
Marianist Leadership
In Mission with Mary, the final document of the 33rd General Chapter of the Society of Mary (issued October 12, 2006) called for a “focus on immigration which is increasing in many countries.: The document further states: “We should foster sensitivity to the human drama, especially women and children, which underlies this phenomenon of our time. We should work for positive and respectful attitudes in countries that receive them.” (l.3.3)
The chapter members called the Society of Mary to help build a Marian style of Church finding “inspiration in the attitudes of Mary…a model of compassion, of thirst for justice and harmony, of solidarity with the poor, and of longing for another kind of world as expressed the Magnificat. “ (1.3.2)
They called for “Network efforts among Marianists educational institution, parishes and social-service organizations in working for a better world (1.3.3).
What Can Marianists do for Immigrants?
We Marianists can support the effort of the Bishops by promoting programs of understanding in our communities and institutions. We can promote advocacy to legislators. We can share what we are doing to support this effort through Family-on-Line or the MSJC Justice Jottings. We can share homilies, or class presentations or conferences we have presented.
You can click on this URL to take action now: http://capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/utr/2/?a=10569336&i=86513481&c=
(If your email program does not recognize the URL as a link, copy the entire URL and paste it into your Web browser.)
The Anti-Racism Team of MSJC has made the struggle of immigrants its priority. If you would like to contact us to share what you are doing or ask for further information please email Pati Krasensky at patikras@hotmail.com or myself at tcassidy@capemaymariansts.org.