The Gospel vs. H.R. 4437

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The Gospel vs. H.R. 4437 – New York Times

In the 1960s, the civil rights movement followed the example of Mahatmas Ghandi and adopted the practice of breaking the law to acheive a moral purpose. It was known as civil disobedience. In Los Angeles, the nation’s largest Roman Catholic diocese, Cardinal Roger Mahoney has suggested that he may make civil disobedience a religious obedience.

It has been a long time since this country heard a call to organized lawbreaking on this big a scale. …If current efforts in Congress make it a felony to shield or offer support to illegal immigrants, Cardinal Mahony said, he will instruct his priests — and faithful lay Catholics — to defy the law.

While it’s easy to see that a nation must have appropriate means for controlling the traffic of non-citizens across its borders, the moral waters become turbid for anyone imposing penalties for illegal immigration.

The cardinal’s focus of concern is H.R. 4437, a bill sponsored by James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Wisconsin and Peter King of New York. This grab bag legislation, which was recently passed by the House, would expand the definition of “alien smuggling” in a way that could theoretically include working in a soup kitchen, driving a friend to a bus stop or caring for a neighbor’s baby. Similar language appears in legislation being considered by the Senate this week.

…

Cardinal Mahony’s declaration of solidarity with illegal immigrants, for whom Lent is every day, is a startling call to civil disobedience, as courageous as it is timely. We hope it forestalls the day when works of mercy become a federal crime.

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2 Responses to “The Gospel vs. H.R. 4437”

1. 

   Anonymous Says:
   March 25th, 2006 at 4:12 pm

   you people are going to take direction from a man that comes from a religion that supports pediphiles

2. 

   Basil Says:
   March 25th, 2006 at 9:06 pm

   Technically, Anonymous, that religion — Christianity — is my religion, and we do not support pedophiles any more than we support any other sin. We take our direction from our founder. You may have heard of him? His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.

   In any case, your ad hominem argument holds no weight here.