The Littlest Immigrants

I wonder if Rome grasps that, in appearing to be “just” and “compassionate,” word smithing and cherry picking over both the abortion and immigration issues may lead more people away from salvation than towards perfect, loving Truth.  Weakly conflating abortion with the death penalty, and hyper focusing on some regrettable ICE encounters, albeit out of context and often skewed, may well leave the “prochoice, open border” Americans (in particular) complacent in their grave sins.

 
I just read yet another article, quoting Pope Leo XIV regarding the “extremely disrespectful way” ICE is treating some immigrants who have lived in the United States for ten, fifteen or twenty years, presumably without breaking laws (other than lacking documentation).  This follows on the heels of numerous story links to how he thinks that pro life persons who favor the death penalty are somehow out of kilter morally.

 
The ultimate irony is that abortion is the most serious rejection of the littlest “immigrants” who are murdered before they can pass the border of their mother’s womb.  Approximately 65,000,000 completely innocent persons have never realized the fruits of American citizenship since the 1970’s. (It has been estimated that 14,000,000 innocent lives are aborted  yearly worldwide—World Population Review).  Moreover, they are torn apart, poisoned, and otherwise tortured, sometimes up to birth and even beyond.  No way can this be compared with the death penalty on many levels.  In many ways, this contradicts the moral high ground of pro-choicers who stomp—literally—to prevent any deportations.

 
Yet, where are the indignant exhortations against the “extremely disrespectful” ways of those who promote artificial contraception and abortion especially “in the land of the free”?  Where and when have these little ones received judicial review and defense of life?  Furthermore, the same pro abortionists who lament immigrant “injustice” push their lawless agenda on both fronts.

 
Furthermore, as the maneuvering of these issues:  abortion and contraception are often twinned, it is imperative to underscore the faults in the Church’s “scolding” of those who support strict immigration laws.  Like  with abortion, the Church seems deaf and blind to the sinister ploys of the enemies of life—though these contortionist activists claim to be the opposite.  They have learned well, though, how to deploy the same approach for illegal immigration as they have for furthering what should be illegal abortion.

 
The Church at the highest level would do well to consider the following:

 
One, over reliance on main stream media reporting curves impressions that sanctify the immigrant and demonize the enforcers.  Had sanctuary cities and states cooperated with federal law, years ago,  the most hardened criminals would have already been identified, judicially processed and imprisoned or deported.  When ICE is compelled to search for these villains, local officials often deny a problem, but some cartel, some rapists, some child predators  are often sheltered by more respectable sympathizers—perhaps even family members.   

 
Later searches and arrests therefore may include the more innocent but portraying what appears to be inhumane—disrespectful—behavior.  Also, though an immigrant may well have lived a relatively peaceful life for many years does not mean he or she is guiltless of some infractions.  (Consider cold cases whereby murderers are caught decades after the crime.)

 
Two, Rome and other distant audiences are reacting in the absence of the full facts.  The media will let a picture “tell a thousand words,” inferring victims of overzealous officers, but the enforcers’ information and warrants about a subject are not included in the news.  Or certain outlets will magnify any excess enforcement but ignore dangerous culprits.  Moreover, news and more progressive elected rarely mention dangerous citizen behavior towards police.  Thus, a significantly skewed impression is given of immigration detentions and arrests while libeling the police.  (As an aside, where is the Vatican outcry against threatening persons—and their families—doing their lawful duty, most often with incredible restraint.) 

 
This propagandized media worked similarly in the abortion battles.  Rarely was there any coverage, let alone negative,  of the murderous doctors, Planned Parenthood, or the women who died by botched procedures.  Instead, friendly interviews were given abortionists who claimed to be crusading for distraught mothers.  Pro lifers were almost always—and still are— profiled as extremists who seek to impose their dictates on all women and force them to “have babies.”

 
Three, commonly the hierarchy of the Church may not realize that they are further duped by media and politicians ignoring or excusing those who harm law enforcement and impede sensible immigration laws and policies.  These include from the average street protestor to the governors of some sanctuary states.  Incidentally, the latter group, so-called political “leaders,” then feel justified in their “outrage,” though their very own poorest citizens, including documented immigrants, suffer the most under a conniving system of supposed assimilation.  This includes the children in the womb of these often overwhelmed families.

 
Bottom line, though, both lawless dissenters and Catholic critics are challenged to resist evil.  The rebel abortionist wrapped in the enticing cloak of immigration favoritism may doubly escape both the truth and the correction, possibly to their eternal detriment.  We must pray for their illumination of conscience and that Church leaders strive for fuller evangelization and not give false comfort.

 
Regardless, even faithful Catholics who believe themselves just—if not loving—on immigration, must resist temptations to resentment and self pity about being misunderstood or having their concerns minimized.  The great saints concurred on the deepest humility required not to be barbed by what is perceived as undue admonishment.   Instead Catholics should be saddened when good people are swept up in the chaos, and pray and hope for the day when all life is deeply, lawfully respected.  We carry the Cross!

 
Still, hoping that the littlest immigrants who died in the womb are also interceding on both fronts for all of us..