Sometimes it can be really tough to be a Christian.
Sometimes it calls for a lot of courage.
And sometimes being a follower of Jesus Christ means a lot of honest self-examination is in order.
The difficulty can be compounded if you are a faithful Roman Catholic, committed – at least in principle – to following the teachings of the Church.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the issue of illegal immigration. Because Congress has
Failed miserably in its responsibility to reform immigration laws, a chasm divides the country as to how individual immigrants –men, women and children – are to be treated.
Bishop Tobin long ago stepped to the forefront, proclaiming the Gospel: that our immigrant brothers and sisters, whether legal or illegal, are to be treated with love and respect, welcomed into our midst, aided if distressed. While many of the faithful follow his lead, others have responded angrily, even hatefully, to his words.
This week, Catholics around the state have the opportunity to renounce divisive arguing and turn instead to dialogue. For four days, October 23-26, the Most Rev. Francisco Gonzalez, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C. will be in Rhode Island, speaking at one urban and three suburban churches. As the Church’s primary liaison to the large Hispanic community in the region, Bishop Gonzalez has a unique perspective of the multi-cultural church, as well as of the challenges posed by the immigration issue. It is Bishop Tobin’s hope, and the hope of many others, that Catholics in outlying areas where few immigrants live will come to listen, and learn, about what it really means to BE Church to all of God’s children.
Our Church teaches – Jesus Christ teaches – we are to welcome strangers. Talk show hosts, politicians, activists, neighbors, even some fellow parishioners, say otherwise. Anger permeates the airwaves, rallies, private conversation. Anger corrodes the soul.
Let’s open our hearts and minds to the Bishop’s words. Let the healing begin, and let the blessings of community flow freely once more
Last week, we printed Bishop Gonzalez’ schedule in Rhode Island Catholic. We reprint it here, and invite you to become part of the dialogue.
Bishop Gonzalez’ scheduled presentations on “Immigration and the Multicultural Church”:
• Thursday, October 23, 7 p.m., St. Veronica Chapel, 1035 Boston Neck Road - Rte. 1A , Narragansett
• Friday, October 24, 7 p.m., St. Brendan Church, 60 Turner Avenue, Riverside
• Saturday, October 25, 9 a.m., Mass, 10 a.m., St. Patrick Church, 244 Smith Street, Providence; presentation
• Sunday, October 26, 5 p.m., St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth
For more information, call 401-274-9922.
