Catholic bishops take lead in rallies showing nat’l immigrant support

[onehandle]

4/11/2006

WASHINGTON – From Los Angeles to St. Louis, and from Jackson, Miss., to Washington, D.C., hundreds of thousands of people nationwide put on white shirts and picked up American flags to join rallies, marches and prayer services April 9 and 10 to call attention to the contributions of immigrants and to ask for changes in immigration law and policies.

In several cities, Catholic bishops gave speeches and led prayers. Many participants were encouraged to join the activities at their churches.

Crowds estimated to be as large as 500,000 in Dallas April 9 and in Washington April 10 blocked city streets and surprised even organizers with their size.

snip...

At an April 10 vigil at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in downtown Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony prayed in Spanish to "the God of one and all" to help members of Congress not be exclusionary, and he asked for the intercession of Mary, an immigrant who fled to Egypt with her son, Jesus.

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=19413

[tocqueville]

1. OMG, it's the final Papal attack...

start learning Latin

[DanCa]

2. So will all those anti immigrants legislators will get excummunicated now?

Man it's weird having the church as an ally. And I say that as a regular church goer who didn't vote for Dubya.

[saltpoint]

3. Under the anti-immigrant legislation, Catholic charities who extend

services to undocumented aliens would be complicit in the felony of their trespass.

The Catholic Church has raised its voice against this legislation, feeling that charity to one's brother or sister must eclipse legislative maneuvering or pointless prohibition of those services.

They speak for the dignity of the human being and not in codes of punishment for that human being's status. And properly so, and bravely so.

The Catholic Church is at its very best when its charitable arms extend both services to, and insist on dignity for, anyone who asks for inclusion or support.

I am not known for my swift defense of the politics of the Catholic Church. But this time, they are right and the Republicans are wrong.

[VegasWolf]

4. Does this mean the Repuke Catholics are forbidden communion? nt

[demosincebirth]

6. Sure.

[MichiganVote]

5. Its..Its...Our Lady of the Church Rescued by the Immigrants!!

[saigon68]

7. Anything to take the heat off the good Father Feeney

[msongs]

8. bigot clap trap - could it be most of these immigrants are....catholics?

It the immigrants were asian non-catholic all those latino protestors would be at home watching tv or out
protesting the.../undocumented/illegal asians.

self serving crap by cardinal baloney.


Msongs
www.msongs.com/impeachbush.htm

[Bridget Burke]

12. You assume the "latino protestors" would dislike others protesting....

Who's the bigot?

[rodeodance]

9. I am glad that these Bishops are there for the people that need them.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saigon68]

11. This baby needs a kick

[SaveElmer]

13. Do they want to screen immigrants to be sure they aren't gay first...?

It's hard to feel anything but contempt for the Catholic leadership even when they do something right...which is almost never lately.

[BlueInPhilly]

14. Why was my message deleted?

Because I defended the Catholic Church and called on those who do not see a good thing without bringing up the abuse scandal?

I became a Democrat because of the Catholic nuns who taught me that good deeds far outweigh empty rhetorics. Those nuns were as devastated as anyone when the scandal broke out, but they still kept the faith. I became a Democrat because those nuns taught me that unless you become one with the poor and the marginalized, you are not a Christian! And yes, because those nuns taught me that the Republican party's principles are not compatible with Christian Charity.

I thought we have are supposed to have a meaningful dialogue here?

[SaveElmer]

15. This is why I restricted my comments to the Catholic leadership...

Who I do not believe speak for most rank and file Catholics (especially here in the US).

I grew up Catholic, but have since left the CHurch due to the hypcrisy and cruelty of its leadership. But the local church that I attended I loved. I have since found the same kind of atmosphere with a different denomination.

[saigon68]

20. Maybe it was your language

[Bridget Burke]

17. No.

It may be hard for YOU to feel anything but contempt. Of course, you are free to express your feelings!

[SaveElmer]

18. Well...

When a bunch of old men in Rome tell me my sister is not a good person because of her sexual orientation, yeah I feel contempt. When they conduct witch hunts at seminaries to drive out homosexuals...yeah I feel contempt. Sorry...the way I feel. I do not think that the Catholic leadership reflects the views of most American Catholics which is why I restrict my comments to the leaders.

[Post]

16. Looks like the GOP is caving in

This issue is backfiring on these idiots...http://postanapology.blogspot.com/2006/04/immigration-cant-take-stand.html#links

[BlueInPhilly]

19. They're family

I always thought of the Catholic Church as my family - like some relatives whom you want to disown, or absolutely don't want to see at Thanksgiving - but they're still your family. I blame it on my mother's old-school Catholicism and years of Catholic education.