Journey to Justice: A Catholic Vision of Immigration
History
On our journey toward solidarity it is necessary to get the lay of the land. Many say that the most important historical factor to keep in mind is that we are a nation of laws, and that fidelity to this principle must drive our attitude and policymaking. Following the law must be our guide; therefore, we will not allow lawbreakers to benefit from any government immigration policy.
On this leg of our journey we rely on what I call “holy remembering.” From Scripture we recall the journey of the people of Israel as they moved from the slavery of Egypt into the freedom of the Promised Land. For the Israelites, their overarching concern would not be to remember that they had laws, but rather that their laws were inspired by a liberating act of God: “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt” (Lev 19:34). As we journey toward solidarity we are strengthened with this food from Scripture. This also helps us to remember the original inspiration for the founding of our own nation.
In United States history, the idea that the human person is imbued with certain inalienable rights was a first step in our independence. Recall that these rights are not predicated on any other reality because they come from God. Of course this declaration of the rights of the individual was made before the existence of any such thing as a citizen of the United States. Remembering this part of our own history bolsters the belief that we have already gained from Scripture. People have a fundamental dignity expressed in rights that must be respected regardless of any other attribute the person may or may not have, for example whether a person is documented or undocumented.
Another way to do holy remembering is to recall the sacrifices made by our own ancestors who came to this country from far-off places. Of course for Native Americans and descendants of the enslaved, this might not apply; but for the rest of us, remembering the journey endured by our own family is a wonderful way to move toward compassion for others. This is exactly the type of remembering the Israelites did as they formed attitudes about the alien who lived among them.
Now let us use our walking stick a bit to support our journey. The bishops of Mexico and the United States call upon us to remember our common history in the Americas. They call this a “common history of migration and of shared faith in Jesus Christ.” It is true that not all immigrants come from other parts of the Americas, but for the vast majority, this is the case. With them we share this common bond of history.
Finally, let us recall the family that I spoke about at the beginning. Their journey involves a considerable shift in their history, witnessed in how they have ruptured a line with their own family history. Take this family as the image of your own ancestors’ journey to this land. Let it help you to remember your family’s history and the hardships they endured to start a new life. Holy remembering is richer, deeper, and more profound than simply remembering that we are a nation of laws.