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Posted on Tuesday July 29, 2008
Cardinal Mahony Calls For Presidential Candidates To Be Held Accountable On Immigration Reform
— ‘A human being’s worth is defined by their God-given dignity, not by what papers they carry,’ states Cardinal during keynote address at National Migration Conference in D.C.—
Cardinal Roger Mahony delivered the keynote address this evening at the National Migration Conference in Washington D.C. calling for renewed hope and justice during “a dark moment in our nation’s history” with regard to immigrants, refugees, and newcomers to the United States.
Cardinal Mahony denounced the enforcement-only policies that “have led to fear in our immigrant communities and to the creation of a negative atmosphere against all immigrants, fanning the flames of intolerance, xenophobia, and, at times, bigotry.”
“We have also seen attempts to stifle the Church’s mission through proposals to criminalize those who strive to serve the basic human needs of migrants. A human being’s worth is defined by their God-given dignity, not by what papers they carry,” stated the Cardinal.
I his remarks, Cardinal Mahony renewed the Church’s commitment to stand with the immigrant community and renew efforts to bring about comprehensive immigration reform in the next two years. He also called for the two presidential candidates—Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama— “to pledge to make comprehensive immigration reform one of their highest priorities in early 2009 and to work with Congress to enact it.”
“The terms ‘rule of law’ and ‘national security’ should no longer be used to justify the harsh and inhumane treatment of immigrants, refugees, or asylum-seekers,” stated Cardinal Mahony. “While we acknowledge the right and the need for our government to enforce the law, we must remind our fellow Americans that man-made law does not permit the violation of God’s law. And by repairing the law, we are better able to enforce it in a humane manner.”
(The full text of the Cardinals address, “Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice,” is attached.)
