Steve Bannon, former aide to President Trump and Breitbart asshole, but I repeat myself, today attacked the Catholic Church over immigration. This won’t go over well with many Catholics.
Former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon in a new interview slammed the Catholic Church for its stance on immigration, saying leaders “need illegal aliens to to fill the churches."
Bannon told "60 Minutes" that the Catholic Church has been “terrible about” immigration when Charlie Rose noted that Cardinal Timothy Dolan in New York opposed President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“You know why? Because [they have been] unable to really, to come to grips with the problems in the church, they need illegal aliens. They need illegal aliens to fill the churches. It’s obvious on the face of it,” Bannon said.
snip
Bannon in the interview also argued that the Catholic Church has an “economic interest” in "unlimited illegal immigration."
The Hill: Bannon: Catholic churches ‘need illegal aliens’
The Roman Catholic Church is right on this issue. The President, Vice President, and Chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement denouncing the Administration's termination of DACA. Here’s the key part:
"The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. These youth entered the U.S. as minors and often know America as their only home. The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans.
The Church has recognized and proclaimed the need to welcome young people: 'Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me' (Mark 9:37). Today, our nation has done the opposite of how Scripture calls us to respond.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Denounce Trump Admin's DACA Decision as "Reprehensible."
As President Obama once famously said, please proceed.
Bannon’s racist hate is no march for decency. On this issue, the American Catholic Bishops stand with decent folks everywhere. Stand with the Dreamers and ask Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017.
Disclaimer Footnote: This does not mean I endorse all aspects of Catholic teachings or positions or actions of the Church over almost 2000 years. The Bishops are right on Dreamers. That’s all this post is about.