About that immigration message
Purple Catholic Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday.
This week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops held its annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. On the docket were several items of interest, including a new translation of the New American Bible (which will eventually replace the current scripture translation at Mass), artificial intelligence, and a “special message” on immigration.
Special messages are uncommon for the USCCB. The last time the body published one of these was in 2013; that message was on the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate.
Like the 2013 message, this week’s message is on an important political issue that has deep emotional and moral implications.
As with any hot-button issue, there are plenty of opinions floating around out there by people who clearly have not read the message. I encourage you to do so; I have linked it below. It does not call for open borders and it does not call on the government to ignore immigration laws. What it does call for is a “just and orderly immigration system” and an end to “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
As Jonathan Liedl noted in the National Catholic Register on Thursday, the current administration has no interest in dialoguing with the USCCB. That became abundantly clear when they terminated contracts with Catholic charities. It also means that, contrary to what one columnist wrote in a progressive Catholic publication, the USCCB is definitely not going to have an office in the West Wing.
Perhaps more challenging, however, is the disconnect between lay American Catholics and the USCCB on this issue. They are not listening to the bishops.
Archbishop William Lori (Baltimore, Maryland) told the Register that there are “partisan messages … out there. They’re vitriolic; they’re pervasive; they are ubiquitous. It’s hard to compete with that.”
People are so sucked into whatever television network or podcast they listen to that they are drowning out the teachings of the Church and they are drowning out the shepherds tasked with guarding that teaching. I’ve seen cults of personality build up around some of these influencers to the detriment of parishes and dioceses. It’s why people spout off on X about “the bishops” this and “the bishops” that. People are becoming convinced by certain publications and influencers that the episcopacy is leading them astray.
I’d like you to pause for a moment and think about who might want to lead people away from the shepherds of the Church.
Our faith should not ever be subservient to our politics. Archbishop Lori noted that, as did Bishop Kevin Rhoades (Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana) and Bishop Mark Seitz (El Paso, Texas).
Reasonable people can disagree on what a “just and orderly immigration system” looks like. No one is disputing that. But if the first thought we have when reading a headline (or even a document) from the USCCB is “I disagree with this, so therefore it’s wrong,” maybe we should take a moment to humble ourselves and reflect on our place in the Church.
Our bishops have been placed over us to shepherd us and preach the Gospel. That doesn’t mean they are right all the time or that all of them are good men. But when they speak in unison (216 to 5), we ought to take the time to reflect on our own positions and see where our priorities lie: our politics or our faith.
Futher reading:
U.S. Bishops Issue a “Special Message” on Immigration from Plenary Assembly in Baltimore - USCCB
The US Bishops Have a Message on Immigration. But Will Anyone Listen? - National Catholic Register
Listen to Death Comes for the Archbishop on Ave Maria Radio and Annunciation Radio!
I am excited to announce that Death Comes for the Archbishop will be airing on Ave Maria Radio in Michigan and Annunciation Radio in northwest Ohio beginning this Saturday, November 1st, at noon.
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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
This Sunday at Mass we will hear from Malachi 3:19-20, Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12, and Luke 21:5-19.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Monday, 17 - Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious
Tuesday, 18 November - Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles (optional) or Memorial of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin (optional)*
Friday, 21 November - Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, 22 November - Memorial of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr
*In the Dioceses of the United States
Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:28
In the news:
The United States
Iowa man receives life in prison for 2023 stabbing of Nebraska priest - Catholic News Agency
New York exhibition celebrates the most cherished book of the Bible: the Psalms - America Magazine
The Vatican
Pope Leo XIV Plans to Hold Major Meeting of Cardinals in January - National Catholic Register
Pope warns of AI’s threat to children’s dignity - The Catholic Herald
The World
Abolishing death penalty faces sharp challenges in Japan - UCA News
Filipino Catholics’ crusade to save the Verde Island Passage - UCA News
Have a good weekend,
Matthew