Before we get started, there is a bit of disclosure that needs to happen. Namely that your editor is a Catholic. He was raised in an Irish Catholic household, and still regularly attends St Brigid’s for Sunday Mass. Now that’s out of the way, lets discuss what Il Papa said recently.
At a recent general audience, an informal gathering where the Pope addresses those present, Francis had this to say;
“There are those who systematically work to push back migrants. When this is done consciously, it is a grave sin.”
“There are those who systematically work to push back migrants. When this is done consciously, it is a grave sin.”
While tolerance of immigrants has long been a tenet of the Catholic Church, opposing it has never involved ‘grave sin’.
This is false. Catholic social teaching affirms the right of states to safeguard and control their borders. This is qualified, but there’s no absolute right of immigrants to cross borders.
By the way, I was an immigration attorney with Catholic Social Services for 11 years.
Bergoglio’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI issued a statement on world migrant day back in 2010. That statement pointed out that those immigrating had a duty and responsibility to integrate into their new hosts societies. And in 1990, before he was Pope, then-Cardinal Ratzinger lamented ‘the slow suicide of Europe’ because of unfettered muslim immigration.
I will admit to not being active in Church politics, nor am I much interested in them as they are frankly Byzantine and have little effect on my day-to-day life. That said, even I’m seeing rumor that the College of Cardinals are looking for a way to force the Argentinian bouncer out of the Chair. It’s my opinion that his term as Pope has caused incalculable damage to the Church.