CARDINAL MAHONEY SHOULD SPEND HIS TIME CLEANING HIS OWN HOUSE

George Offerman

It seems many of the American prelates just can’t seem to keep quiet when matters of importance that are real problems are being dealt with appropriately. It is nearly laughable that of all the Cardinals to enter a public discourse, Cardinal Mahoney now wants to accuse the Arizona legislature and sheriff’s department of using ‘German Nazi and Russian Communist Techniques” (If only Cardinal Mahoney would use the same language on Planned Parenthood, and their indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent). The Cardinal’s blog entry on this matter, unfortunately, is filled with distortions and uses shrill and emotionally laden terms in an attempt to make a point, that law breakers should be protected.

The Cardinal goes out of his way to not use the term ‘illegal’ and presents his case as ‘anti immigrant’ which is disingenuous. The Cardinal also attempts to make the case that this country is sending mixed messages concerning the need for labor, while systematically ‘persecuting’ those who have come in magnanimously, to help us in our need. Law breaking is not addressed at all in this posting. The next three paragraphs are from Cardinal Mahoney’s blog site.

http://cardinalrogermahonyblogsla.blogspot.com/


The Arizona legislature just passed the country's most retrogressive, mean-spirited, and useless anti-immigrant law [SB 1070, awaiting the expected signature of Gov. Jan Brewer]. The tragedy of the law is its totally flawed reasoning: that immigrants come to our country to rob, plunder, and consume public resources. That is not only false, the premise is nonsense.

What led the Arizona legislature to pass such a law is so obvious to all of us who have been working for federal comprehensive immigration reform: the present immigration system is completely incapable of balancing our nation's need for labor and the supply of that labor. We have built a huge wall along our southern border, and have posted in effect two signs next to each other. One reads, "No Trespassing," and the other reads "Help Wanted." The ill-conceived Arizona law does nothing to balance our labor needs.

The law is wrongly assuming that Arizona residents, including local law enforcement personnel, will now shift their total attention to guessing which Latino-looking or foreign-looking person may or may not have proper documents. That's also nonsense. American people are fair-minded and respectful. I can't imagine Arizonans now reverting to German Nazi and Russian Communist techniques whereby people are required to turn one another in to the authorities on any suspicion of documentation. Are children supposed to call 911 because one parent does not have proper papers? Are family members and neighbors now supposed to spy on one another, create total distrust across neighborhoods and communities, and report people because of suspicions based upon appearance?



Although it may be true that most of the illegals are here to work, and ultimately try to make life better for their families, it is false to make the assertion that crime has not gone up from those bad elements coming here, and the people of Arizona have a right to protect themselves. As well, the Cardinal dismisses quite readily those who have played by the rules and came here legally, minimizing their efforts and trying to equate law breakers with law abiding immigrants as one and the same. Many of these immigrants (and I have had many encounters with both illegal and legal) are more disgusted with the lawbreakers, as they cheated to get here, and despite Cardinal Mahoney’s claim, do utilize many services paid for by tax payer money.

One who is invited to a house or other property is called a guest, while those who break in and are unwanted are called trespassers or robbers. (Or in Cardinal Mahoney’s words, unwanted guests) Maybe unbeknown to Cardinal Mahoney is the small fact that lawbreakers have a tendency to… break laws. Illegals in this country are not immigrants, they are lawbreakers. If the lawbreakers are of Hispanic origin, it does not make sense to stop blue haired grannies for their ID’s in order to be politically correct. It is very interesting the Cardinal totally overlooks law breaking, and advocates actively for the law breakers, while chastising those who uphold the law, and are law enforcement agents.

There may or may not be many who are anti immigrant, but there are plenty of people who are anti illegal. This country, as well as the Catholic Church was built on the order of law and authority, and those who advocate breaking the laws are seen as guilty as those who are actually breaking the law. To apologize for upholding the law, or to be called names like Nazis is unbecoming to begin with, but from a high ranking prelate such as Cardinal Mahoney, it sows confusion and discord, and needs to be challenged. It is incredible that Rome is staying out of this, and it would seem that some action should result in order to correct this misguided perception.

Unfortunately for this particular Cardinal, not following authority and ‘lawbreaking’ has been his modus operandi for most of his tenure at the helm of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Given the large number of scandals that have not been dealt with (covered up) coupled with the fact that issues such as legalized child killing, and blatant violations of Cannon 915 are going on, the Cardinal would do very well to pay attention to his own back yard, and demonstrate real leadership by upholding the Faith and the traditions of the Catholic Church. It is really a shame when a prelate of the stature of Cardinal Mahoney can come out with statements like this, and vilify those who have a right and an obligation to protect themselves as well as stop illegal activity, uses such brazen statements as he has. An apology is really needed here, but don’t expect one. In fact, the good Cardinal may want the law abiding to apologize to the law breakers for ‘offending’ them and creating ‘needless hostilities’. The insanity continues, but from the unlikely source of the Catholic Church. Sad, indeed.