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He only shuts up when he is writing!

USCCB Solves Refugee Caravans Crisis!

11/4/2018

 
From the Pastor:    USCCB Solves Refugee Caravans Crisis!

      I opened an email from the diocese this week and saw this: “Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the USCCB have released a joint statement about the migrant caravans.” Note the plural number. There was a link to the “joint statement” (which was simply a press release) which I will print in its entirety below so that you can read it for yourself. I encourage you to read it, since it comes from our Bishops’ Conference and, therefore, not only supposedly carries some amount of spiritual weight for every Catholic in the US but is also produced and paid for and distributed with our money. You may come to your own conclusions about it but I will give some small amount of commentary regarding it at the end of this column.

Catholic Agencies Urge Governments to Protect Migrants Seeking Safe Haven

Calling for compassion toward those needing refuge from violence and poverty


BALTIMORE, MD, October 29, 2018 – As thousands of people from Honduras and other Central American countries are making their way toward Mexico and the United States, three major Catholic agencies are urging all people of goodwill to speak and act with compassion towards those seeking refuge from violence and poverty.

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, Sean Callahan, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and Sister Donna Markham OP PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA issued the following statement:


“As Catholic agencies assisting poor and vulnerable migrants in the United States and around the world, we are deeply saddened by the violence, injustice, and deteriorating economic conditions forcing many people to flee their homes in Central America. While nations have the right to protect their borders, this right comes with responsibilities: governments must enforce laws proportionately, treat all people humanely, and provide due process.

We affirm that seeking asylum is not a crime. We urge all governments to abide by international law and existing domestic laws that protect those seeking safe haven and ensure that all those who are returned to their home country are protected and repatriated safely.

Furthermore, we strongly advocate for continued U.S. investments to address the underlying causes of violence and lack of opportunity in Central America. Our presence throughout the Americas has convinced us that migration is a regional issue that requires a comprehensive, regional solution. An enforcement-only approach does not address nor solve the larger root causes that cause people to flee their countries in search of protection.

As Christians, we must answer the call to act with compassion towards those in need and to work together to find humane solutions that honor the rule of law and respect the dignity of human life.”

Catholic Relief Services is working with church partners in Guatemala and Mexico to monitor the situation and provide humanitarian assistance to migrants. Recognizing the need to address the violence and lack of opportunity that drive migration, our programs in Central America create economic opportunity and reduce people’s vulnerability.

      Now for my comments. What a bunch of gibberish! We have thousands of “refugees” who illegally entered into Mexico with the express purpose of breaking their immigration laws so that they could illegally pass through that country on their way to purposefully and publicly illegally break into our country. Our own Catholic Relief Services has been subsidizing over 7000 of these “refugees” (with our CRS second collection money) as they travel through Mexico (that information comes from the CRS webpage also linked in the diocesan email). Yet in this statement there is not a single word about what our country can, might, or should do about the “migrant caravans” as would have been thought by reading their headline, which I quoted above in the first sentence. Are we to just open our borders and let them in? Without a doubt, there will be a third (a second caravan has already been reported), fourth, and fiftieth caravan marching in if this one succeeds in entering our country without consequences. How about some actual commentary from the Bishops on the pros and cons of this and other various scenarios or solutions? How about some actual guidance instead of just saying, “Be nice to poor people”? I am sorry, but if this is the best they can do and they think this is actually good enough for publication and distribution, it is no wonder our Church is in the mess She is in today. God help us all. And, yes, I offer that last line as a true prayer.
With prayers for your holiness,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka

I .I.H.M
11/3/2018 04:07:54 pm

The annoyance at the seeming invitation to just open the borders seems understandable ; yet, could there be more to dealing with the issue , such as having preferably a Church related agency such as the Knights of Columbus working with others such as farmers /industries , even the military ; they , in turn , can hire some or even many of these persons , as ' interns' for a period of testing and training , with the understanding that part of their wages or they themselves can be sent back to own country , to support good programs there .

That mercy , in turn be in reparation for sins against life .

As to the themes related to the crisis in The Church and the world at large , hoping that there would be an easy remedy , such as reaching out for the graces of the Immaculate Conception .

We have seen many examples of Godly wisdom having come to our rescue on many serious problems , in the past - plague curtailed when the connection to mice was noted from the biblical account of the lost Ark and its return after outbreak of plague ; the discovery of vaccines , in the land of the Apparition of the Immaculate Conception ( France ) etc .

The Immaculate Conception and its graces to be more widely asked for and taken in , esp. into the realm of marriages and family lines , in order for persons to see themselves as conceived in the warm and welcome hearts of the parents as wanted and precious .
That to also include the graces of the Incarnation , its memory and joy that we are to recall at every Hail Mary , to take ever deeper roots , in mercy , holiness , free from the deep mistrust that own parents, thus God too , did not truly want or desire one - such an attitude easy to fall under too, esp .if there has been sins against life or purity in marriages , in own lives or in family lines .

Such attitudes easy to fall under too , when the culture itself has taken in the anti life death spirits .

Such persons , in turn could be like the widow with the lost coin, searching for approval in wrong relationships .

Hoping that the ways to incorporate the themes of gentle deliverance of verbally renouncing the spirits behind such fears would help , to have deeper gratitude to the gift of life itself and to own parents and their marriage .

Same thus to be seen , in the light of the goodness and grace of the above truths - the Immaculate Conception and Incarnation , couples also blessed to recall same in own marriages , to overcome alienations and hurts as well as in gentle dealing with own children - same could also help them to overcome need for excesses and be in good self control , to thus avoid laborious means of NFP and the detrimental anti life cursing means from using artificial means.

The Church needing to bring such good remedies to the front is a true need so that persons / the world do not see The Church as tying heavy burdens but not lifting a finger to help - we have the Hearts of our Mother and of the Lord and the finger of the Spirit , to help us to take in the goodness of His light and love , to all occasions and needs .
Glory be !


Comments are closed.

    Author:
    ​Fr. Palka

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Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
  • Home
  • About
    • History >
      • Altar Relics
    • Meet the Staff
    • Map: Find us!
    • Calendar
    • Bulletins >
      • Article Submission
      • Pastor's bulletin article
    • New Parishioners
  • Liturgy
    • Latin Mass Schedule
    • Sacrament Prep
    • Altar Boy page
    • Music
    • Vocations
    • Extra Stuff >
      • Divine Office
      • Fraternity of the Sorrowful Passion of Christ Prayer Book
      • Help! I cannot find the right Mass in my missal! I don't know when to sit, stand or kneel!
      • Understand the Bible!
      • Formed.Org
      • Old talks you missed!
  • Community
    • Photos >
      • First Communion 2025
      • Confirmation 2025
      • Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Mass 2024
      • Confirmation 2024
      • First Communion 2024
      • Archbishop Cordileone - March 2024
      • Bishop Schneider's visit
      • Cardinal Burke visit
      • First Holy Communion 2023
      • Confirmation 2023
      • Sr. Winny's Projects
    • Adults >
      • Adult Catechism Class audio
      • Council of Catholic Women
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Holy Face of Jesus Prayer Group
      • Fraternity of St. John the Apostle >
        • FSSJA - Martinmas 2023
      • Men's Club (Holy League)
    • Youth >
      • Anima Christi High School Youth Group >
        • Anima Christi Prom 2023
      • Sancti Amici Middle School Youth Group
      • American Heritage Girls
      • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
      • Catholic Enrichment Week (CEW)
      • DOVES
      • Troops of St. George
    • Spiritual Motherhood
    • Parish Business Directory
  • Give
    • Online Giving
    • Things that need doing