I am not a goat

Published: December 17, 2014

By Joe Franzetti

December 20, 2011 | Home

Joe Franzetti

Based largely on one’s stance on current immigration issues, according to the Nov. 29 bishop’s column, Bishop Taylor divides people into one of two group; one is either a "sheep" or a "goat." I know immigration is a subject close to his heart. That is well and good and as it should be, however, I feel strongly there is room for a difference of opinion without being damned to the "goat" class.

Let me be quick to acknowledge my strong affirmation of immigration, as well as the need for immigration reform. Indeed immigrants are the lifeblood of our society. As is the case with most of my generation, my grandparents were immigrants. But they, and other millions, entered this country in a legal manner.

Not so today, so called "undocumented" immigrants have broken the law, as it currently written. Thus, I believe the term "illegal" is appropriate. One cannot, through euphemistic terms, change the basic nature of a situation. Just as religions have rules and laws, so do countries, and there are prescribed ways to change them. In the meantime, we should not encourage people to break existing laws. Lawlessness breeds lawlessness. Where will it end?

Contrary to what the bishop says, I believe, unfortunately this is about politics, and made even more so by our president. Needed reform of immigration laws will only take place when all parties in Washington agree to work together, in a constitutional manner, to craft new legislation.

Besides the constitutional legality of the president’s actions in this regard, which is another matter entirely, I consider an "open borders" policy ill-advised for a number of reasons:

Those following the currently prescribed lawful path to citizenship are marginalized.
In many cases, such a policy siphons off some of the best people a country needs to combat its societal problems. Why not encourage motivated folks looking for change to do so in their country? Better use of our tax dollars would be to provide more assistance in developing programs to improve life for people in their native country.
At the same time, such an indiscriminate border policy allow those who seek to harm our country to filter in unchallenged.
The economic impact of massive influxes of people places a huge tax burden on many states already struggling to remain solvent. I believe this will result in a ‘tightening of the belt’, or elimination, of ongoing programs designed to help the poor.
The ability of currently unemployed U.S. citizens to find jobs in an already tight job market is deeply impacted.

I pose a challenge to those who support "open borders." Open the doors of your home and allow unfettered access, 24 hours a day, to anyone and everyone. We don’t even do that with our churches.

While I heartily welcome new immigrants, I am a proponent of measured immigration consistent with the law. I don’t think this belief excludes me from living up to Jesus’ words cited in the gospel proclaimed on Christ the King Sunday, summarized to help the "least of our brothers."

Harking back to a homily at my parish church, it was said one needs to know what is in a person’s heart before judging their actions. Though I can, and will do more, I feel comfortable with the way I have lived my life thus far in trying to help those less fortunate. I have not turned my back on them. Because of this, and believing biblical references to "goats" apply to those who are evil or oppressive, I strongly disagree with the bishop labeling of those who see differently than he on the immigration issue as aligning themselves with the "goats" of his flock.