The United States Catholic Council of Bishops (USCCB) released a statement on immigration last month that sheds a Catholic social teaching perspective on the controversial issue.
Catholic social teaching consists of moral, just and ethical principles that should be practiced by all Catholics, and shed some important light on the societal issues of our time.
Some overarching themes of Catholic social teaching include caring for the self, others and all of God’s creation. Unfortunately, sometimes world leaders and governments don’t adhere to these teachings, and often create unjust systems of oppression.
Catholic bishops are tasked with guiding priests and congregations to be better stewards of the faith and to create communities that reflect Christian values. These values should always be at the forefront of our minds and decisions we make while interacting with others.
Immigration is a controversial and inflammatory issue in American politics with President Donald Trump signing over a dozen executive orders relating to immigration in the first few days of his presidency. While it’s important to keep our country safe and have proper, legal systems in place, there are a few important things to keep in mind when discussing and creating policies relating to the subject.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church believes and teaches that all human life is sacred and has intrinsic dignity. When discussing immigrants, the USCCB reminds us that “this dignity is not dependent on a person’s citizenship or immigration status.” The term “aliens” comes up frequently when referring to immigrants, but it’s important to think about the connotations of the word.
For me personally, the word “alien” conjures up images of something foreign, otherworldly and possibly even dangerous. Associating immigrants with the ideas of otherworldliness and danger perpetuates stereotypes that divide us and lead us to believe that differences are bad and something to be feared.
Call to Family, Community and Participation
It’s important for communities to be safe places for people to live and work in and law enforcement agencies should do what they can to keep communities just and peaceful. That being said, local, state and federal legislative politics should do the same. Communities are made stronger and more beautiful when they value diversity and inclusion.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
An overwhelming number of canonized Catholic saints dedicated their lives to caring for the poor and vulnerable, and the rest of us should take notes. The USCCB says that a good litmus test for the morality of a society is how it cares for the poor and vulnerable.
Recalling the famous Sermon on the Mount, empowerment and uplifting of the poor and oppressed are essential to Christian living and ethics. According to Global Refuge, a Christian 501(c)-3 organization, some of the leading causes of immigration include economic and quality of life motivations.
We should all be doing more to care for the poor and oppressed on an individual, communal and global scale.
Solidarity and Care for God’s Creation
Some of us have been blessed enough to not have experienced the trauma of war, environmental disaster and extreme poverty. The experience of a college student from Northeastern Pennsylvania is very different from that of a young woman in Ukraine, Gaza or Haiti.
In spite of our differences, we must recognize that we are all part of the same human race, and are all equally valuable and loveable children of God. We must stand in solidarity with the oppressed everywhere and recognize our inherent connection to one another.
Two things can be true. Communities have the right to keep people safe through law enforcement and policy while still protecting the vulnerable and the oppressed. As Catholics, we should take the words of our bishops to heart, and understand that their guidance is both in line with church doctrine and relevant to the controversies of our time.
We must be mindful of the way we speak and interact with others, and remember to keep Catholic social teachings at the forefront of our minds when voting and making other important decisions that have the potential to impact our communities, especially the vulnerable.
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