This is Not the Time to Be Silent

Last week I was criticized in a predominantly Catholic blog for comments I made about Cardinal Mahoney and Bishop Slatterly with respect to illegal immigration and about the recent protest march in Phoenix. As I am sure you are now aware, both of these Catholic leaders called for the breaking of Federal laws with respect to aiding illegal immigrants. Regardless of the small amount of criticism I received, I still remain staunch in my beliefs that their comments were irresponsible and meant only to incite further civil unrest.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Congressman J.D. Hayworth this week. He was aware of my comments regarding the lack of sound advice from Catholic leadership and the perceived silence from the Evangelical community on this hot button issue. Congressman Hayworth astutely remarked, “the bottom line is that there is false of compassion, a misplaced compassion”, he explained. He went on to say, “there is nothing compassionate about treating people as a commodity, about exploiting their poverty and giving them substandard living conditions.” Of course, Congressman Hayworth was pointing out the flaws in the proposed guest worker program, which does nothing but create a second class of citizens. The Congressman stoically remarked that we are headed down a path of creating a 21st century American caste system based upon misplaced compassion.

Congressman Hayworth adeptly pointed out that even the Apostle Paul, in his writings, spoke about respect and accordance with the laws of the time. Ultimately, it was Paul, who, himself, asked to be tried as a Roman citizen. Today in America, the great paradox in Washington politics could be summed up, as Congressman Hayworth said, “cheap labor or cheap votes,” depending upon what side of the aisle you are seated. He concluded by adding: “what we are seeing is non-voters being treated as a voting block. It can only be assumed that this being done so as these people are being treated as if they are going to be granted the full fruits of citizenship.” This type of amnesty only encourages disrespect for the law. Hayworth concluded by saying, “the law exists for a reason and borders exist for a reason.”

In Phoenix, the March of April 10 cost taxpayers $300,000. The slogan of the march, “today we march, tomorrow we vote,” was as misguided and misrepresented as the compassion of those in support of the amnesty program. Of the reported 150,000 protesters, the county recorders office only received 121 new voter registrations. Much could be said about this poor showing; unfortunately, the glaring fact is simply that the vast majority of these protesters were illegal immigrants! Furthermore, these people, not being U.S. citizens, did not even have the right to protest to begin with!

It is time for all Christians to be heard on this issue. We have a voice that is powerful. We have a voice that is respected and as citizens of this country and Christians, we need to be aware that misguided compassion is not the answer to solving illegal immigration. Rather, it is about protecting our border and protecting our legal citizens.