The Both And of Immigration

The media, pundits, and activists on the left and the right still cannot figure out the Catholic Church and its teaching. Each time a statement comes out from the Vatican or the Pope, each side seizes on what they see as reinforcing their point of view or attacking what they disagree with. This was apparent with the mostly inaccurate portrayal of Pope Leo’s recent interview with Crux. Now, with the release Pope Leo’s first formal document, his apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te ("I have loved you"); the left was quick to present Leo as at odds with American Conservatives. A recent article in The New Republic went so far as to say that Dilexi Te “marks the triumph of Liberation Theology, once derided and maligned by the Western Catholic establishment, as now a central part of papal teaching.” This may be wishful thinking from the far left, but Pope Leo is no Marxist. It is nothing new for a Pope to call attention the plight of the poor and immigrants. This is a central Christian theme. But this is a far cry from the Marxist class struggle of Liberation Theology. No, this is another example of the “both and” of Catholicism. The Church teaches both mercy and justice.

Both And

The Catholic Church’s answer to the world’ binary questions often tend to be “both and” rather than “either or.”  We believe in scripture and tradition, faith and reason. We believe Jesus is God and man. God offers us mercy and justice. Sacraments are symbols and they convey the actual Grace they symbolize. Many Catholic writers and theologians have made this point from Saint Pope John Paul II in Fides et Ratio, (Faith and Reason) to Bishop Barron and his book Vibrant Paradoxes.

In Dilexi Te Pope Leo writes “the Church has always recognized in migrants a living presence of the Lord who, on the day of judgment, will say to those on his right: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35).” This is not a radical idea. It is something Catholics learn from an early age. And this is not simply about acts of charity. As Pope Leo writes, in the poor and the migrant, we encounter the “living presence of the Lord.” Pope Leo continues in Dilexi Te “The fact that some dismiss or ridicule charitable works, as if they were an obsession on the part of a few and not the burning heart of the Church’s mission, convinces me of the need to go back and re-read the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of this world.”

Seeking the Truth

In our polarized world, the media, politicians, activists, and most of the general public struggle to see complex issues in any way other than through the lens of their particular political persuasion or world view. It is the Catholic Church that says there is a truth. And that truth does not belong to the left or right. Seeking the truth is not about compromise which might entail sacrificing important ideals. No, seeking the truth is the difficult task of following a clear path which happens to be occupied by different forces at various points along the path. It is all too easy to fall back into one’s group mindset and see everything from that point of view.

Pursuing the Truth that the Catholic Church proposes, means embracing what the secular world sees as opposing ideas. This means that a nation has a right to secure its border, control immigration, maintain an immigration force, and expel those in the country illegally who pose a threat or otherwise have committed crimes. It also means supporting the immigrant with food and shelter. It means welcoming those who have fled violence and oppression and speaking up against injustice and discrimination.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 2241 “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin… Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”

Justice and Mercy

These are not opposing ideas but rather both sides of the teaching of Christ. This means choosing both justice and mercy rather than choosing between justice or mercy. Many people today have difficulty not embracing their political tribe completely. The constant political media steam has no room for complexities. A Catholic voter might say I voted for this candidate because they support the pro-life cause, religious liberty, or reject gender ideology; but I am not comfortable and even disagree with the candidate on X, Y, and Z issues. The media has no capacity to process such a point of view. They report as if you must be all-in on one side or another. It is not that simple regarding different issues and certainly not that simple regarding a single issue as complex as immigration. The news media does not acknowledge the point of view that says make the border secure and remove dangerous illegal immigrants; but help peaceful hard working immigrant families feel safe and receive support. With the western birthrate falling below replacement levels, hardworking immigrant families are necessary to keep any nation strong.

Finding Balance

On October 8, Pope Leo asked a group of visiting American Bishops to be more forceful in defending immigrants in the U.S. The next day, he met with union leaders from Chicago and said, “While recognizing that appropriate policies are necessary to keep communities safe, I encourage you to continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable.” One might argue the Church is placing an emphasis on mercy over justice, but that is only because justice is firmly written in our laws and well-staffed in developed nations. Mercy is a volunteer operation and clearly the mandate of the Christ to his Church. In a third-world nation without adequate law and enforcement; the balance might shift. Regardless of the balance, it is an approach of both justice and mercy.

The Catholic Church has a long history of prison ministry. Why would the Church fail to provide basic support to those in need regardless of their immigration status. If they happen to be deemed dangerous or a criminal, the authorities can deal with them in a just and humane manner. But the Church should be there all along the way ministering to them whether in a shelter or a detention center. That is what Christians are called to do.

The increased discussion of immigration in the U.S. has spurred recent articles in the Catholic Media. Any article on immigration is sure to generate clicks and comments. This risk of further stoking strong emotional reactions made me hesitate to address this topic. However, I am more interested in discussing the fact that each side gets something right and neither gets everything right. We need to focus on the Church’s proposition that we embrace both justice and Mercy rather than either justice or mercy. The right balance can be debated. At the present time, those on the left are screaming that Church should speak out more on immigration and those on the right are complaining when the Church does speak out or offer support to migrants. If the Church is being criticized by those on both sides of an issue; that is generally a good sign that the Church has it about right.