St. John Henry Newman, the great theologian of the nineteenth century, chose as his motto when appointed a cardinal, “Cor ad cor loquitur” — “Heart speaks to heart.” This is a time in our history, I respectfully suggest, when we need heart speaking to heart. Through hearts that are open to mutual understanding, we can increase the hallmarks of understanding that serve the highest ideals of our country. As immigration questions continue to make headlines, we are concerned with real flesh and blood people, some seeking the hope that only the United States of America can provide — and others seeking the safety and security that is their right. There must be a way for our hearts to speak (and listen) to each other.
I will attempt to say something as clearly and as succinctly as possible. I say it to all, but in a particular way, I wish to speak to our sisters and brothers, people of goodwill, who are currently concerned about the Church’s advocacy on behalf of our sisters and brothers who have come to our land as immigrants and, especially those who are called (by some) “illegal immigrants.” I hope that, for most citizens of our nation and for people of goodwill, it is obvious that there is a difference between someone who has committed a violent crime and someone who has overstayed a visa or someone who has come to our land as a true “refugee,” having to leave his or her homeland in fear for one’s life, whether from war, violence, or severe poverty.
The (clear and succinct) message that I wish to offer is this: The Church’s current concern for our sisters and brothers in our immigrant communities is not an effort to deny our country’s right and responsibility to have secure borders, nor does it encourage a lack of respect for just laws. It is a concern motivated by the teachings of the Old and New Testaments and the consistent teaching of the Church, especially Catholic Social Teaching. At Mass this past Sunday, we were reminded of some of the ways that Jesus taught and teaches when we heard Luke’s version of the Beatitudes (Lk. 16:17, 20-26).
While many in the Church and her leadership, including “yours truly,” have attempted to articulate the reasons for our concern at this time, I would like to encourage readers to take the time to read:
- A (brief) letter from our Holy Father, Pope Francis, to the Bishops of the United States:
- What I believe to be a very well-balanced and well-reasoned statement from the Bishops of the State of Minnesota:
I have shared in previous columns that, although I am not able to respond personally to each email or letter that I receive, I do read them all. In recent weeks, I have received emails and letters thanking me for speaking on behalf of our immigrant communities, and I have received other emails and letters from parishioners who question what I have said and written, especially on the topic of immigration. Others have questioned the Church’s stance on these issues. I hope that the Holy Father’s Letter and the Statement from the Bishops of Minnesota can help to clarify the Church’s position and motivation.
I would be happy to hear from readers your thoughts and, possibly, follow-up questions to either of these documents. You can email any questions or comments to me at shepherd@patersondiocese.org I will attempt to respond directly to as many inquiries as possible. I may also be able to share some responses in a future column or, perhaps, on an episode of the Beyond The Beacon podcast. I am convinced that, as fellow Catholics and fellow Americans, we can have healthy and helpful “heart-to-heart” conversations, listening respectfully to one another and striving to understand one another if or when we disagree.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope and as Pilgrims of Hope, let us continue to pray for one another as we walk the journey of life and faith. Let us join with Pope Francis in asking for the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother, as he did at the end of his letter:
Let us ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect individuals and families who live in fear or pain due to migration and/or deportation. May the “Virgen Morena,” who knew how to reconcile peoples when they were at enmity, grant us all to meet again as brothers and sisters, within her embrace, and thus take a step forward in the construction of a society that is more fraternal, inclusive and respectful of the dignity of all.”
(Pictured at top: Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant at a trilingual Mass at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Clifton on Feb. 14. The Mass — in English, Spanish, and Slovak — honored the parish’s patron saints.)
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