25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,

In Judeo-Christian tradition, it has always been taught that societies should take care of the widow, the orphan and the alien. These persons represented those who were most vulnerable in the Jewish mindset. Countries would be judged by the Lord as to how they took care of those in most need.

Right now, there is a lot of debate about resident aliens in our midst, migrants, dreamers, etc. Some Catholics try to claim moral authority and act is if they are speaking for the institutional church. Maybe they claim that only citizens of the United States have basic human rights. That is not the position of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops nor is it the position of the world wide Catholic church. The church has always spoken out for the refugee and the migrant.

We as Catholics have always held that each person enjoys a fundamental human dignity. The Catholic Church has taught that there should be a solidarity between peoples and races. As we hear debates about deportations rage around us let there be no doubt what the church teaches.

This is what Jesus taught. He said we are to love our neighbor and even our enemies. His Gospel is a challenge to us to take care of people who are most at risk whether that is the unborn, the poor or the alien among us.

If we know our faith, we can recognize who speaks the truth about what Catholic Church says and that doctrine is not restricted to what is proclaimed in the creed, but includes a more fundamental believe. That belief is that we are to love one another.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark