Words mean things. I don’t like it when people abuse words in order to deceive or obfuscate. I especially don’t like it when Christians do it. I really, really don’t like it when Christians do it in the name of being Christian.
As a Catholic, I firmly believe in the inherent God-given dignity of all men. Many in Christian circles, in an effort to foster respect for the dignity of the illegal immigrant, have taken to disrespecting my dignity or, at the very least, my intelligence.
But I do not view it as an offense against the dignity of man to call an illegal immigrant an illegal immigrant. If someone has immigrated here without the consent of this sovereign nation, they are an illegal immigrant. Not a plain immigrant. Not an undocumented worker or some such silly thing. They are an illegal immigrant. Period.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I don’t think that illegal immigrants forfeit their human rights by virtue of being here illegally. I support some aspects of immigration reform. But this is also a credibility question.
When I hear prominent Christian leaders purposely obfuscate the plain truth of the matter through obvious and deceitful word choices, they lose me. When I hear…
Continue Reading @ National Catholic Register
May 11, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Bravo!
May 11, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I prefer the term "illegal alien". "Illegal border crosser" works too.
May 11, 2010 at 4:37 pm
In Australia Immigration calls them "unlawful non-citizens". Also, regarding the church and immigration (remembering also there is a separation of church and state), let see what God says about law.
Romans 13:1-7 makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to obey the laws of the government. The ONLY exception to this is when a law of the government forces you to disobey a command of God (Acts 5:29). Illegal immigration is the breaking of a governmental law. There is nothing in Scripture that would prohibit obeying immigration laws. Therefore, it is a sin, rebellion against God, to illegally enter into another country. Romans 13:1-7 also gives the government the authority to punish lawbreakers, whether by deportation or imprisonment (in the cases of illegal immigration), or more severe penalties for greater crimes.
May 11, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Well said, now if you could only get the USCCB to read your article.
May 12, 2010 at 1:23 am
You are correct. Render to Caesar…
My Hispanic friends have always admired the fact that we in the USA actually follow the LAW (or at least we DID…).
May 12, 2010 at 1:33 am
Excellent, Pat. Well-said!