I must say that as a lifelong practicing Catholic, I am really disappointed and disgusted at what Pope Francis said about Donald Trump, claiming that he's not Christian for wanting to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. That is outrageous and dishonest, especially given the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops own official document on this matter, as well as the official teaching on immigration outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church! In addition, I've been to the Vatican and to churches throughout the world. Most every Catholic church property has a fence or wall around it, and every single one has locks on their doors. Many Catholic churches even have 'tow-away' signs in their parking lot for unauthorized vehicles! I've even seen 24-hour Catholic chapels that have signs posted to not give money to beggars and to call the police on them. To claim that securing your God-given right to your country's sovereignty makes one somehow un- Christian is an outrageous fraud and scandal.
[By the way, be sure to check out my confrontation with Donald Trump on 12/21/15 over the Jews (not Muslims) arrested for cheering on 9/11. Trump replied by saying I'm "very committed, have a lot of energy, am a Trump Guy and am on his side." (Wow!) Those videos are embedded below.]
First, here is a short one minute video with some of the Pope's remarks and Trump's response, and an article on the matter:
The Daily Sheeple: Pope, Who Lives in a Walled Citadel, Just Called Trump ‘Unchristian’ for Wanting to Build a Wall on the U.S.-Mexico Border
PBS gave the full question and answer aboard the papal plane:
Q: Good evening Your Holiness. Today you spoke eloquently about the problems of migrants. On the other side of the frontier there’s a very tough electoral campaign going on. One of the Republican candidates for the White House, Donald Trump, in a recent interview, said you are a “political man” and that maybe you are a pawn of the Mexican government as far as immigration policy is concerned. He has said that if elected, he would build a 2,500-kilometer long wall along the border. He wants to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, thus separating families, etc. I would like to ask you first off what do you think of these accusations against you, and if an American Catholic can vote for someone like this. A: Thank God he said I was a politician because Aristotle defined the human person as “animal politicus.” So at least I am a human person. As to whether I am a pawn, well, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll leave that up to your judgment and that of the people. And then, a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the gospel. As far as what you said about whether I would advise to vote or not to vote, I am not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in an August 2013 document, stated that the DUTY of the U.S. government is to secure the border, enforce the laws, and intercept unauthorized migrants!
The Catholic Catechism states that immigrants are obliged to respect the country that receives them and "to obey its laws." Excerpts directly from the Catechism and link to the Vatican website are below.
How these pesky facts slipped by the corporate and independent media I have no idea, other than the fact that not too many news outlets cover the Catholic church in depth. I am proud to say that is what makes LibertyFight.com unique. You can read more about that, and our Catholicism Section, and our extensive Catholic archive, below. I will also include some enlightening statements from Saint Thomas on immigration that everyone will like.
The U.S. Bishops stated, in part, that "The Catholic Catechism instructs the faithful that good government has two duties, both of which must be carried out and neither of which can be ignored... The second duty is to secure one's border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good. Sovereign nations have the right to enforce their laws and all persons must respect the legitimate exercise of this right... Enforcement: The U.S. Catholic Bishops accept the legitimate role of the U.S. government in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States..."
Here is more from the Bishop's document.
Catholic Church's Position on Immigration Reform
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/churchteachingonimmigrationreform.cfm
Catholic Social Teaching
The Catholic Catechism instructs the faithful that good government has two duties, both of which must be carried out and neither of which can be ignored. The first duty is to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person. Persons have the right to immigrate and thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations: "The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him." Catholic Catechism, 2241.
The second duty is to secure one's border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good. Sovereign nations have the right to enforce their laws and all persons must respect the legitimate exercise of this right: "Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens." Catholic Catechism, 2241.
... Enforcement: The U.S. Catholic Bishops accept the legitimate role of the U.S. government in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States. The Bishops also believe that by increasing lawful means for migrants to enter, live, and work in the United States, law enforcement will be better able to focus upon those who truly threaten public safety: drug and human traffickers, smugglers, and would-be terrorists. Any enforcement measures must be targeted, proportional, and humane.
[FULL TEXT OF BISHOP'S STATEMENT IS BELOW IN THE BOX.]
A more extensive excerpt and link to their document is below. The LibertyFight.com Catholic archives are at the very bottom of this page. But first, here are some excerpts from the official Catechism of the Catholic Church on respect for government, the rights of government to enact immigration laws, and the duties of immigrants to OBEY A COUNTRY'S LAWS. [Emphasis in bold added.]
The duties of citizens
2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . . . Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.
2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country:
Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.45 [Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . . . They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . . . So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.46
The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way."47
2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
2242 The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."48 "We must obey God rather than men":49
When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.50
2243 Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.
LINK: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a4.htm
Here are more excerpts from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's document on immigration, from 2013:
Catholic Church's Position on Immigration Reform
Migration and Refugee Services/Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops August 2013