Stephanie
Diamond Member
- Jul 11, 2004
- 70,230
- 10,864
- 2,040
BS! Just enforce the laws we already have... Close off the border. And why is the church involved in this?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Capps/Melissa Wagoner (202) 224-2633
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Richard Durbin, and Cardinals Roger Mahony and Theodore McCarrick to push Congress to act by passing comprehensive immigration reform instead of criminalizing the 12 million immigrants living and working in the United States.
Senator Kennedy said, "Our history teaches us that doing the right thing for people is also the right policy for our country. When we bring immigrants out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America, we improve their lives and make them less vulnerable to abuse. And in so doing, we also protect Americans because immigrants can no longer be abused to lower American wages and displace them from their jobs." Kennedy continued by saying, "These cardinals understand that the undocumented are not criminals. They are people who work hard. They are people who love their families. They are people who love this country."
Leaders in the labor, business and religious community have come together in an unprecedented way to meet the challenge of immigration reform and Senator Kennedy has vowed to continue his fight for tough, fair legislation that deals with our national security and economic challenges in a way that is consistent with our values and the American Dream. Below are Senator Kennedy's remarks as prepared for delivery:
IMMIGRATION PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CARDINALS (As Prepared for Delivery)
We're immensely grateful for the leadership of the Church on the important issue of immigration, and the visit by the Cardinals today is important inspiration for our cause. I'm especially honored to have Cardinal O'Malley here from Boston.
Immigration reform should be about our security, but also our humanity. There are few issues more basic to our faith than how we treat others -- not just our friends and our countrymen, but also those from other countries and traditions.
We remember the words of our Lord from St. Matthew's Gospel that we are not only to feed the hungry and care for the sick, but to welcome the stranger. And Thomas Merton took that further when he reminded us that we are wiser as people when we not only welcome - but we listen -- to the voice of the stranger.
That's what this debate should be about -- about welcoming and learning from those who are willing to contribute to the strength of America. And across this county, people are making their voices heard, loud and clear.
Our history teaches us that doing the right thing for people is also the right policy for our country. When we bring immigrants out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America, we improve their lives and make them less vulnerable to abuse. And in so doing, we also protect Americans because immigrants can no longer be abused to lower American wages and displace them from their jobs. These cardinals understand that the undocumented are not criminals. They are people who work hard. They are people who love their families. They are people who love this country.
We're at a moment in our history not unlike what this country was faced with in 1964, when the country and the Congress were in a stalemate over civil rights. We have a responsibility to move our nation forward and correct these historic wrongs. We still have a long way to go to enact reform that is tough and fair. We need the Church's voice now as much as ever to urge Congress and the President to get the job done -- and to do it in a way that upholds our best values and traditions as a nation of immigrants.
Thank you, Eminences, for taking the time to speak to us today.
http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/06/04/2006428421.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Capps/Melissa Wagoner (202) 224-2633
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Richard Durbin, and Cardinals Roger Mahony and Theodore McCarrick to push Congress to act by passing comprehensive immigration reform instead of criminalizing the 12 million immigrants living and working in the United States.
Senator Kennedy said, "Our history teaches us that doing the right thing for people is also the right policy for our country. When we bring immigrants out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America, we improve their lives and make them less vulnerable to abuse. And in so doing, we also protect Americans because immigrants can no longer be abused to lower American wages and displace them from their jobs." Kennedy continued by saying, "These cardinals understand that the undocumented are not criminals. They are people who work hard. They are people who love their families. They are people who love this country."
Leaders in the labor, business and religious community have come together in an unprecedented way to meet the challenge of immigration reform and Senator Kennedy has vowed to continue his fight for tough, fair legislation that deals with our national security and economic challenges in a way that is consistent with our values and the American Dream. Below are Senator Kennedy's remarks as prepared for delivery:
IMMIGRATION PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CARDINALS (As Prepared for Delivery)
We're immensely grateful for the leadership of the Church on the important issue of immigration, and the visit by the Cardinals today is important inspiration for our cause. I'm especially honored to have Cardinal O'Malley here from Boston.
Immigration reform should be about our security, but also our humanity. There are few issues more basic to our faith than how we treat others -- not just our friends and our countrymen, but also those from other countries and traditions.
We remember the words of our Lord from St. Matthew's Gospel that we are not only to feed the hungry and care for the sick, but to welcome the stranger. And Thomas Merton took that further when he reminded us that we are wiser as people when we not only welcome - but we listen -- to the voice of the stranger.
That's what this debate should be about -- about welcoming and learning from those who are willing to contribute to the strength of America. And across this county, people are making their voices heard, loud and clear.
Our history teaches us that doing the right thing for people is also the right policy for our country. When we bring immigrants out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America, we improve their lives and make them less vulnerable to abuse. And in so doing, we also protect Americans because immigrants can no longer be abused to lower American wages and displace them from their jobs. These cardinals understand that the undocumented are not criminals. They are people who work hard. They are people who love their families. They are people who love this country.
We're at a moment in our history not unlike what this country was faced with in 1964, when the country and the Congress were in a stalemate over civil rights. We have a responsibility to move our nation forward and correct these historic wrongs. We still have a long way to go to enact reform that is tough and fair. We need the Church's voice now as much as ever to urge Congress and the President to get the job done -- and to do it in a way that upholds our best values and traditions as a nation of immigrants.
Thank you, Eminences, for taking the time to speak to us today.
http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/06/04/2006428421.html
