Pope Francis and His Critics on Justice Issues

James J. Bacik

July 20, 2017

Introduction

  1. Francis has high favorability ratings in the U.S.: about 70% among all U.S. citizens and 87% among U.S. Catholics but he receives more public criticism than any other modern pope.
  2. Critics include: Traditionalists like RorataeCoeli who reject Vatican II liturgical reforms; economic conservatives like Action Institute who think Francis does not understand the free market; Doctrinal Conservatives like Cardinal Burke who opposes communion for divorced and remarried (cf Ross Douthat NYT columnist convert to Catholicism).
  3. Justice issues: income and wealth disparity; caring for the earth and the poor.
  4. Pope Francis and President Trump with polar opposite positions on refugee and immigration policies (the focus for this lecture).
  1. The Situation
  1. Worldwide Refugees (those forced to leave their homes by conflict or persecution).
  1. U.N. reports 65 million people have been forced to flee homes.
  2. About 13.5 million Syrians are displaced, over 4.8 million outside Syria.
  3. Over half of refugees are under age 18.
  4. Nearly 20 persons are forcibly displaced every minute by conflict or persecution.
  1. Worldwide immigrants (moved voluntarily)
  1. Reached 244 million in 2015 – a 17% increase since 2000 (this includes 20 million refugees) this is 3.3 % of world’s population.
  2. Migration is fostered by globalization and can benefit countries of origin and destination; the general trend is to more affluent countries.
  3. Nearly half of all migrants worldwide were born in Asia; about 97% of world population has not moved.
  1. U.S. Refugee Policy
  1. About 3 million refugees have been resettled since Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980.
  2. The process takes 18-24 months and includes personal interviews and health screenings.
  3. Yearly numbers have fluctuated: as few as 27,000 following 2001 terrorist attack; almost 85,000 in fiscal year ending Sept 2016; most from Congo, Syria, Myanmar, Iraq and Somalia, including 39,000 Muslims (46%) and Christians (44%).
  4. Trump executive order would reduce the number of refugees admitted from 110,000 to 50,000.
  1. U.S. Immigration
  1. The U.S. hosts 19% of all immigrants the most of any country – about 46.6 million.
  2. Only 14% of U.S. is foreign born compared to around 75% Qatar and 28% in Australia and 22 % Canadian.
  3. Today about 12 million people born in Mexico live in the U.S. Recently after the Great Recession, more Mexicans are leaving U.S. than entering it. However, more immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have come to the U.S. through Mexico.
  4. Only 1% of people born in the U.S. now live out of the country compared to 9% of Mexicans and 8% of Russians and over 20% of Syrians.
  5. Immigrants comprised about 13% of U.S. population today, less than the 15% in 1890.
  6. In 2015 there were about 11 million unauthorized immigrants in U.S., a slight decline from the 11.3 million in 2009; less than ½ are from Mexico with a growing number from Asia and Central America. The undocumented are about 5% of civilian workforce and are over represented in farming and construction. A rising share of them have lived in the U.S. for at least a decade with the median 13.6 years.
  7. Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as youngsters are protected from deportation not by legislation (Dreamer Act was never passed) but by Obama executive order (arrived before they were 16, been in U.S. for several years and not committed a crime). President Trump said he will not deport Dreamers.
  1. Trump on Immigration
  1. Candidate Trump: will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it; threatened to deport the 11 million undocumented; spoke of large numbers of Mexican and others crossing the southern border; highlighted crimes by illegals.
  2. President Trump’s Action
  1. Has not yet built a wall and has not deported large numbers of undocumented including Dreamers. The pace of deportation is about the same as under Obama. The number of illegal immigrants crossing the southwest border is down significantly by 60% due to U.S. recession, fear of being caught.
  2. First Executive Order signed January 27, 2017 suspended U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days: restricted admission of citizens from 7 Muslim majority countries including Iran and Iraq; suspended Syrian refugees indefinitely; prioritized refugee claims by minority religions based on religious persecution (for example, Christians in Muslim countries). The order was struck down Feb 9, 2017 by Ninth Circuit Appeals Court.
  3. A second revised executive order still limits the total number of refugees for 2017 to 50,000 (down from 110,000 and put a 90 day travel ban from 6 Muslim majority countries (Iraq no longer included). It dropped the indefinite suspension of refugees from Syria. Lower courts have struck down this order but the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case in October. In the meantime, the Court allowed the ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen if they lack a “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.” There is much confusion as to how this will be implemented.
  1. President’s Speeches
  1. In a February 2017 speech President Trump advocated a merit-based immigration system, like Canada and Australia, which would encourage skilled workers to come which would save money, raise wages and help families enter the middle class. Our current system favors family unification and allows people to take advantage of American opportunities. People coming here should be able to support themselves.

Trump’s Feb 28, 2017 speech to Joint Session of Congress: “We have defended the borders of other nations, while leaving our own borders wide open for anyone to cross and for drugs to pour in at a new unprecedented rate.”“We will soon begin construction of a great wall….when finished it will be a very effective weapon against drugs and crime.“ “As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens.”

“The vast majority of individuals convicted for terrorism–related offenses since 9/11 come here from outside of our country.” “It is not compassionate, but reckless, to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur.” “I believe real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation’s security, and to restore respect for our laws.”

  1. Francis on Immigrants

A. Personally

  1. He speaks as a son of parents who emigrated from Italy to Argentina in the 1920s.
  2. He speaks not only as bishop of Rome but also as a Pastor from the South.
  1. Quotes
  1. “A person who thinks only of building walls, wherever it may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel.”
  2. “It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help.”
  3. “Unfortunately, today’s context of economic crisis prompts the emergence of an attitude of closure and not of welcome. In some parts of the world, walls and barriers are appearing. Sometimes it seems that the silent work of many men and women who , in different ways, strive to help and assist refugees and migrants is overshadowed by the noise of others who give voice to an instinctive selfishness. Closure is not a solution, rather it ends up encouraging criminal trafficking. The only path to a solution is solidarity.”
  4. ”Where the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our ‘neighbors’ and everything around us. Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiarity, in a constant effort to do our best. I am confident that we can do this.”
  5. On the refugee crisis: “We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal. We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome. Let us remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
  6. Pope Francis to U.S. bishops on Latin Immigrants: “Perhaps it will not be easy for you to look into their soul: perhaps you will be challenged by their diversity. But know that they also possess resources meant to be shared. So do not be afraid to welcome them. Offer them the warmth of the love of Christ and you will unlock the mystery of their heart. I am certain that, as so often in the past, these people will enrich America and its church.”
  1. Francis – planeinterview Nov 1, 2016 after pastoral visit to Sweden
  1. Some see it as his more sophisticated position.
  2. Distinguished refugees (forced out) and immigrants (leave voluntarily looking for a better life).
  3. Welcoming must be accompanied by integrating which includes finding “a house, school, and employment.” He recognized that Sweden’s welcoming policy could not properly integrate the large numbers.
  4. Francis warns against “ghettoization” when immigrants do not assimilate but continue to speak own language, keep customs. This is a dangerous situation because isolated cultures do not thrive and can become breeding grounds for violence.
  5. Open hearts must be combined with political prudence which serves the common good. Francis recognized that political leaders have a right to restrict immigration for the good of the whole society. Leaders should welcome refugees but should also “calculate how they will be able to settle them because “a refugee must not only be welcomed but also integrated.” Sweden could restrict immigration out of prudence and it would not be selfishness.
  1. Francis’ letter to G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany
  1. He proposes 4 principles for finding just solutions: time is greater than space; unity prevails over conflict; realities are more important than ideas; and the whole is greater than the parts.
  2. The migration crisis, which is closely connected to the problem of poverty and made worse by armed conflict, is so complex, grave and interconnected that there is no immediate and complete solution.
  3. It is important for leaders to set in motion a process that eventually will lead to a solution overtime.
  4. Give priority to the poor refugees and the excluded in looking for solutions.
  1. Analysis
  1. His position is rooted in the example and teaching of Jesus as found in the Gospels.
  2. He advocates the virtue of solidarity which rejects a “mindset of hostility” and a “culture of closure” and affirms “an attitude of welcome” and “a culture of inclusion.”
  3. He appeals to the Golden Rule found in world religions and to the best human instinct to open our hearts to others and to build bridges of understanding.
  1. Exchange between Francis and Trump
  1. Background
  1. Citizen Trump did not like seeing the Pope standing in aline to checkout from his hotel.
  2. Trump said “The new Pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much.”
  1. On immigration
  1. Trump criticized Francis for his visit to U.S.–Mexico borders calling him “a very political person.”
  2. Later said: “I think that he doesn’t understand ……..the danger of the open border that we have with Mexico.”
  3. Flying back to Rome from Mexico, Francis responded to a question by saying “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not a Christian.”
  4. Trump responded “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful” and said when “ISIS attacks Rome, the pope would wish Trump was president because he would not let that happen.”
  5. The same evening Trump said the pope is a good man, “but I think he was very much misinterpreted. And I also think he was given misinformation.”
  6. Before the U.S. election Francis worried about leaders who exploit fears and promise “the false security of walls, physical or social.”
  7. After the election Francis said “I do not give judgments on people or politicians” but warned against “walls that divide.”
  1. Analysis
  1. Francis represents bridge builders approach to refugees and immigrants: compassionate, welcoming.
  2. Trump is an especially powerful representative of building walls: limiting acceptance of refugees, making immigration more difficult.
  3. Polls show 60% of citizens oppose building the wall and 55% oppose travel ban, viewing it as Muslim ban. Opinion divides on partisan lines with 88% of Democrats opposing the travel ban and 88% of Republicans supporting it.

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Mark your calendars for these upcoming Father Bacik Lectures

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24: Pope Francis and His Critics on Gender Issues

An exploration of the charge that Pope Francis holds a theory of gender complementarity that limits the role of women in the church and society, with attention to the problem of unrecognized sexist language and the possibility of women deacons.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: Pope Francis and His Critics on Economic Issues

Looking ahead:

October 19th Catholic Lutheran Dialogue

November 16th Topic TBD

December 14th Advent Reflection (no Mass)

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