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Rethinking an 'immigration gap' between European and U.S. bishops
by John L Allen Jr on Feb. 01, 2010
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionBob Dole once quipped that being Vice President of the United States is a great gig: “It’s indoor work, and there’s no heavy lifting.” For journalists, predicting the future is much the same – it sounds terribly smart, yet it requires no real effort because there’s no way to be wrong, at least at the time the prediction is made.
Later on, however, the bills come due if your forecasts turn out to be off the mark. The only way to save face is to get ahead of the curve, before someone else calls attention to your mistakes. Hence one function of this blog is to acknowledge when things don’t seem to be developing in quite the way I suggested in The Future Church, and recent events in Italy suggest just such a case with regard to the Catholic Church and immigration.
In a nutshell, I opined that the future might see a growing divide between European and American bishops on immigration, with the Americans becoming staunchly pro-immigrant and the Europeans more cautious. The basic reason is that a disproportionate share of new immigrants to the United States are Hispanic, thus Catholic, while in Europe they tend to be from the Middle East and North Africa, hence Muslim.
At least in Italy, however, that doesn’t seem to be the way the winds are blowing. Instead, the Italian bishops have repeatedly taken on the government of conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over its tough line on immigration, most recently calling out Berlusconi after he publicly suggested a link between immigrants and crime.
During a press conference this week, the secretary general of the Italian bishops’ conference (CEI), Bishop Mariano Crociata, fired back.
“Our statistics demonstrate that the percentage of criminality among Italians and foreigners is basically equal, if not identical,” Crociata said.
“The dignity of every human person must not be the object of prejudice or discrimination, as the Pontiff recently recalled with regard to immigrants,” Crociata added, in a remark widely taken as a shot across the bow of the governing center-right coalition in view of looming regional elections in Italy. The bishops have advised Catholics to ponder their votes with an eye toward defending “life, the family and solidarity.”
A spokesperson for the Northern League, the far-right component of Berlusconi’s coalition, took offense: “Data like that is furnished by the government, not the episcopal conference,” he said. “The truth is that foreign residents are more delinquent than Italians.”
For the record, the Italian daily La Stampa ran the numbers. For the roughly four million legal immigrants in Italy, Crociata is basically correct: the crime rate is so close to that of the general population as to be statistically indistinguishable. A much higher percentage of the estimated one million illegal immigrants – known in Italian as “clandestines” – are behind bars, but most have been jailed precisely for being illegal. The only category of crime unrelated to immigration status in which clandestines appear over-represented is petty theft.
Why do the Italian bishops seem outspokenly pro-immigrant, in contrast with the reticence I predicted?
Obviously, the defense of immigrant rights is part of the social teaching of the Catholic Church, and one has to assume that Crociata and others are speaking up in the first place because they think it’s the right thing to do.
Beyond that, three other factors may be in play.
First, relations between CEI and the Berlusconi government remain tense in the wake of the “Boffo case” last summer, in which the then-editor of the Italian bishops’ newspaper, Dino Boffo, was forced to resign over rumors of a gay affair first reported in a paper owned by Berlusconi’s brother and edited by a political ally. Whatever its merits, that report was widely seen as payback for Boffo’s decision to publish a few bits of criticism of Berlusconi in L’Avvenire, the bishops’ paper, when a scandal erupted about Berlusconi’s alleged taste for young call girls. The rift has opened a space in which Catholic leaders who have a beef with Berlusconi are probably a bit bolder about taking him on.
It’s worth noting that both Pope Benedict XVI and the Italian bishops also spoke out this week on unemployment, effectively criticizing the lack of a strong jobs program from the Berlusconi government. “We’re seeing families that once had work now out in the streets,” Crociata said. “I can’t enter into the socio-economical and technical complexities, but I believe that we have to hear this cry of pain.”
Second, Italian bishops live cheek-by-jowl with the Vatican and tend to be heavily influenced by Vatican thinking. Conscious that Catholicism’s growth these days is occurring mostly in the global South, the Vatican is ever more sensitive to the social and political concerns of Catholic leaders in the developing world – and the just treatment of immigrants in the West is, for obvious reasons, high on that list. Some of the Vatican’s global perspective, in other words, may be rubbing off on CEI.
Third, the pro-immigrant stance in Italy could also be read as an extension of Pope Benedict XVI's interest in "inter-cultural" dialogue between Christianity and other faiths -- in this case, principally Islam. Ambivalence about Muslim immigration is logical if one's core concern is maintaining the confessional "balance of power" in Europe. If, however, one embraces Benedict's model of Christian life in the West as a "creative minority," then a more pressing concern is forming alliances with other social groups which share similar values on questions such as the defense of human life or the public role of religion. In that regard, the arrival of new Muslim immigrants in Europe (or religiously dynamic Pentecostals from Africa, or faithful Hindus from India, etc.) could be viewed an a boon rather than a threat.
Time will tell whether a contrast between European and American bishops on immigration will eventually emerge, but at least for now, Italy doesn’t seem a case in point.
No contrast? I think the
No contrast? I think the Italian bishops have fir outstripped their US counterparts in terms of speaking up for the human rights of immigrants. A small minority of US bishops have issued some pretty lame statements in favor of undocumented workers, but for the most part, they toe the Republican line with characteristic discipline.
For one John Allen did get it
For one John Allen did get it all wrong.
Has he ever considered the "intellectual and cultural assets" the Latinos bring to the US and the Arabs to Europe? If this is a new tyopic for him, let him consider the difference between Indian and Pakistani immigrants to England on one hand and the Arab immigrants on the other.
If he still have a few minutes per day for study I recommend to him Rodney Stark's work comparing culture and religion and other geo-historical factors.
AS a bilingual teacher
AS a bilingual teacher working as much as possible in Spanish, I 'consider the "intellectual and cultural assets" the Latinos bring to the US0' each day and I think my Living God for these, the best students in America.
But what's this thing "bring?"
Dude, they were here long before the pirate, larcenous anglo invaded.
But never mind ancient history
I look forward to celebrating la misa bachata
you're right about their
you're right about their having been here long before the pirates came. In fact, we may be seeing native americans re-colonizing north america.
Only a fine and world-class
Only a fine and world-class journalist such as Mr. John L. Allen, Jr., can readjust his earlier statements in the light of new developments, and provide astute insight as to the cause. His major recent publication is the Future Church, and here he humbly corrects his prior predictions with the facts as they emerge, in the professional interest of Truth over his personal ego. He does not dig in his heels stubbornly to defend the indefensible, but reports the Truth on the ground, and in the air.
Another strong reason for reading closely and constantly this great and National Catholic Reporter.
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
Will the politicians that we
Will the politicians that we elect ever carry out the interests of the American people? I read today on the AMERICAN PATROL website that President Obama is in a discussion to cap government money such as cutting back on NASA appropriations the sending men back to the moon in 1020? Yet we are still spending--BILLIONS--on illegal immigrants who have managed to settle here? If we cannot afford to go back to the moon, how can we afford to pay for illegal immigration? Obama can find billions to Prop-up States like Sanctuary California to pay for illegal immigrants, but he cannot find the cash to pay for space exploration. How can we allow millions of poor people to continue to cross our borders? So why are taxpayers forced by pariah lawmakers to pay for education, health care and even now anticipating BILLIONS more dollars to enact a ominous Comprehensive Immigration Reform? We all know by now, that this is a very crafty way to pass another AMNESTY. These people who have entered this country without permission? Every time a new immigration enforcement is passed, the open border Liberal-Democrats-Republicans use their influence to water the law down. How many of us know, that the controversial border fence is by law supposed to be--TWO SEPARATE--FENCES? Senator Obama voted for it. more than three years ago, but only 35 miles of double-layered fencing is in place and much of the remaining 360 miles of the border fencing is badly constructed--without real barriers. The Truth is the government is lying to us.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Pub.L. 109-367) was enacted October 26, 2006 in the United States. The act allows for over 700 miles (1,100 km) of double-reinforced fence to be built along the border with Mexico across cities and deserts alike, in the U.S. states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in areas that have experienced illegal drug trafficking, human slavery, gun peddling, illegal immigration and the threat of terrorism. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California who was the originator of the double fence, has not seen this happen, nor the complete wall that is just open areas, with the old barbed wire strands. Underfunded from its inception, the border fence was compromised by the open border organization, that includes American business consortium's. As in Washington today, a team of intelligence operatives stated to Speaker Pelosi that a El Queda attack was imminent within the next 6 months. This is the time to enforce our borders with the National Guard fully armed and obviously apparent along the whole 2000 feet length. The majority of our State economies are broke--with California leading the pack. Arizona lawmakers realizing the main cause of their financial dilemma, the support of illegal workers and their families.
E-Verify is one of the most successful mechanisms to remove illegal workers, but as yet it is not mandatory. It costs nothing to use it and it has been demonized by every pro-illegal immigrant group, along with corrupt politicians and their financial clients in the business consortium's. E-Verify must be national, with no exclusions. THIS SHOULD BECOME THE No.1 PRIORITY FOR EVERY SMALL AND LARGE COMPANY, THAT KNOWINGLY HIRING A FOREIGN WORKERS CARRIES PENALTIES SUCH AS HARSH FINES AND PRISON SENTENCES. THERE SHOULD BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE?
Our GOVERNMENT HAS SOLD ITSELF TO WALL STREET AND BOTH WALL STREET AND THE UNITED STATES ARE DEBTORS TO COMMUNIST CHINA. We cannot afford to subsidize every illegal family member, every Mother with a child who becomes an instant citizen, when 15 million Americans and residents are jobless, when our own people live in poverty. Yes! We always need exceptional highly skilled engineers and scientists, but not the indigent and desperate that we must endlessly financially support. Not semi-skilled labor that will take less wages, than our own people, who themselves will end up in the unemployment benefits line. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Senator and Congressman and use the voting power of THE PEOPLE. Go to NUMBERSUSA AND JUDICIAL WATCH for more information about this catastrophe that could overwhelm this country in the coming months.
Latest Immigration news: President cuts border security budget
While telling the American people that national security is a priority in his administration, President Barack Obama submitted a 2011 budget proposal that includes cuts to U.S. border security. -- The proposed budget cuts include a reduction in Border Patrol agents and a cut in the amount of money allocated for the so-called "virtual fence" on the U.S.-Mexico border...
Brittanicus, your faith seems
Brittanicus, your faith seems to be wandering a bit. Jesus was not about building fences. I want to say to you "tear down that wall." Ronnie Reagan said that to the USSR and won a lot of popular support for saying so. When they did tear down that wall, there were some initial immigration problems in Western Germany, for example. It appears that Germany has survived the tearing down of that wall.
The immigration wall that you would like to build up, for fear of immigrants or terrorist getting into the country, for fear of "indigent and desperate that we must endlessly financially support", are the politics of someone who has more fear than faith. Even Jesus, Mary and Joseph were "indigent and desperate" when they fled to Egypt. They too left their country, for good reason and we have all benefited from it. Good thing they weren't stopped at the border!
Here is an American bishop,
Here is an American bishop, Anthony B. Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock who took a stand: http://paduamedia.com/letter.aspx
It just makes no sense at all
It just makes no sense at all for Muslims both legal & illegal to be flooding into Europe. The Catholic bishops who see nothing wrong with this both in Italy & the rest of Europe need to have their heads examined!
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