Thomas Creen, MJ • Phoenix, AZ
Is your body you? When you eat, do you think, “My hand just grabbed a cookie,” or do you think, “I just grabbed a cookie?” As your body is you, so too is the Body of Christ Christ. In other words, the Church is Christ. That being established, what does Christ say about the question of immigration? It is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2241, included here below in its entirety:
The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
This magisterial teaching of the Church is so supremely true, balanced, and clear that its application would bring about tranquility and justice for all concerned about the difficulties associated with immigration. It delineates perfectly the duties and rights of the secure and powerful toward the weak and vulnerable who are immigrating. And the interesting point (that is not often discussed) is that it perfectly describes not only the rights, but also the duties, of the weak and vulnerable toward the countries where they immigrate.
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