BISHOPS INFORM US ABOUT MIGRATION

But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.
BISHOPS INFORM US ABOUT MIGRATION
Following is an excerpt from a letter by the Catholic Bishops to inform us about migration issues entitled, “A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States.”
“Both the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States in their episcopal conferences have echoed the rich tradition of church teachings with regard to migration. Five principles emerge from such teachings, which guide the Church's view on migration issues.
I. Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland. All persons have the right to find in their own countries the economic, political, and social opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a full life through the use of their God-given gifts. In this context, work that provides a just, living wage is a basic human need. II. Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families. The Church recognizes that all the goods of the earth belong to all people. When persons cannot find employment in their country of origin to support themselves and their families, they have a right to find work elsewhere in order to survive. Sovereign nations should provide ways to accommodate this right. III. Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders. The Church recognizes the right of sovereign nations to control their territories but rejects such control when it is exerted merely for the purpose of acquiring additional wealth. More powerful economic nations, which have the ability to protect and feed their residents, have a stronger obligation to accommodate migration flows. IV. Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection. Those who flee wars and persecution should be protected by the global community. This requires, at a minimum, that migrants have a right to claim refugee status without incarceration and to have their claims fully considered by a competent authority. V. The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected. Regardless of their legal status, migrants, like all persons, possess inherent human dignity that should be respected. Often they are subject to punitive laws and harsh treatment from enforcement officers from both receiving and transit countries. Government policies that respect the basic human rights of the undocumented are necessary.”

Jesus, Definer of Social Justice

But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.
JESUS, THE DEFINER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
My column is always related to social justice. When I present a subject, there will be differences of opinion. To avoid the shouting and pounding gavel, let’s agree on a definition of social justice which by its nature I think should avoid turmoil.
If you open the Vatican web page to the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, there are twelve chapters which discuss social justice. Set your search engine to social justice and you will find conservative and liberal points of view with pages to justify their viewpoints. Let’s not get that complicated.
Instead, to make up our minds on issues as a Catholic, let us refer to the conclusion of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. They conclude that the answer lies in the person of Jesus:
Jesus teaches us that “the fundamental law of human perfection, and consequently of the transformation of the world, is the new commandment of love” (cf. Mt 22:40, Jn 15:12; Col 3:14; Jas 2:8)[1219]. Personal behavior is fully human when it is born of love, manifests love and is ordered to love. This truth also applies in the social sphere; Christians must be deeply convinced witnesses of this, and they are to show by their lives how love is the only force (cf. 1 Cor 12:31-14:1) that can lead to personal and social perfection, allowing society to make progress towards the good.
Let us refer to the person of Jesus and the ideal of love to determine the correct responses to issues of social justice.