Dear Friends and Family
Enclosed find a pastoral letter on the immigration policy of President Trump that was issued to my church, and in which I stand 100% behind in solidarity with my bishops as well as with immigrants.
It is shared here in the hopes some will endorse and embrace what is shared here and may want to consider similar letter and adopt something like what my church has done. Many will probably take exception to what is shared here and that’s fine we will simply agree to disagree. Comments welcomed.
Brother Lawrence Damien Cos (aka John Brown)
SynodalCatholics.org
3265 State Road 580,
Safety Harbor, FL 34695-4929
27 February 2017
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” ~ Leviticus 19: 33-34
Pastoral Letter on Immigration Policy
Dear Sisters and Brothers of Our Communion and all People of good will,
This letter is limited to one topic: the violation of the will of God by the treatment of aliens in our national life. God’s will as expressed in the Hebrew Bible as well as the New
Testament is clear and unequivocal. Therefore we, as Synodal Catholic bishops must be equally clear and straightforward.
1. The attitudes as well as the rules, concerning the treatment of aliens recently promulgated by President Trump are contrary to the will of God and therefore immoral. We are a people who have been called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We cannot be said to truly love our neighbor when we demand rights for ourselves that we do not equally demand for our neighbors.
2. We, your bishops, will no longer demand privilege because of the accident of our birth that we do not equally demand for our brothers and sister who may have been born in a foreign land.
3. We fully understand that following the will of God often involves personal and communal risk. Like Jesus, we are willing to accept that risk. We will not cooperate with any government agent or agency that seeks to deport or bar our brothers and sisters who flee to our country to avoid persecution or economic deprivation.
4. We further pledge ourselves to resist said government policy even at the risk of our freedom and material comfort. We urge the people of our Catholic communities and indeed, all people of good will to do the same.
5. We are especially mindful of members of various police agencies and of the National Guard who may be called upon to enforce immoral rules against aliens. We urge them to seek the guidance of the Scripture, their clergy as well as their own conscience.
6. For those who refuse to enforce discrimination against the alien we offer our unambiguous and full support.
In Christ, our hope and refuge,
Most Rev. Steven M. Rosczewski,
Presiding Bishop and Ordinary of Diocese of Florida
Most Rev. Martin de Porres Griffin
Presiding Bishop and Ordinary, Diocese of California
Most Rev. Joseph A. Menna, aihm
Ordinary, Diocese of St. Thomas of Villanova
Most Rev. David C. Strong
Ordinary, Diocese of Washington
Most Rev. Charles R. Grande
Bishop emeritus, Diocese of California
Most Rev. Charles M. Leigh
Bishop emeritus, Diocese of Florida
Scriptures On Taking Care of Strangers
1. Matthew 25:34-46
2. Exodus 22:21-24
3. Exodus 23:9
4. Leviticus 19:33-34
5. Deuteronomy 10:18-19
6. Deuteronomy 24:14-18
7. 2 Chronicles 6:32-33
8. I Kings 8:41-43
9. Isaiah 56:1-8
10. Jeremiah 7:6-7
11. Zechariah 7:9-10
12. Exodus 12:49
13. Leviticus 24:22
14. Galatians 3:28
15. Jeremiah 22:3
16. Psalm 94:1-12, 20-23
17. Ezekiel 22:7
18. Ezekiel 22:29-31
19. Malachi 3:5