RI Bishop Thomas Tobin: give ICE agents conscientious objector option

Posted Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 5:21 pm
From this:
The bishop in the nation's most heavily Roman Catholic state [Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, head of the Diocese of Providence] called on U.S. immigration authorities to stop arresting illegal immigrants in mass sweeps in Rhode Island and allow federal agents not to participate if they feel the raids violate Christian teachings.

..."If their discernment leads them to the conclusion that they cannot participate in such raids in good conscience, we urge them not to do so. If ICE agents refuse to participate in immigration raids in conformity with their faith and conscience, we urge the Federal Government to fully respect the well-founded principles of conscientious objection," the letter [to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Boston that was published on the diocese's Web site] said.
The solution to problems like this is clear: publicly discredit those who support illegal immigration. If you don't want to discredit a Bishop, try a lay official or similar. See this post for some ideas.

Comments

Edward (not verified)

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 02:25

Don't we have to have a war in order to grant exemption to conscientious objectors? Then by all means, proceed. Better late than never. Take the handcuffs off the other 99.99% of our forces who are proud of their jobs, proud of their country and give them permission to slap leather. All attempts at illegal border crossing will cease in about 15 minutes.

D Flinchum (not verified)

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 10:20

And if a teacher or doctor believes that illegal aliens do not belong in the US, may (s)he then refuse to teach or treat them? Be careful what you ask for, Bishop.

John Schueler (not verified)

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 19:19

What part of "illegal immigrants" do you not understand? We have about 8 million illegals from Mexico alone- they come here for protection from their own corrupt government, for the handouts that we stupid Americans give them especially if they have anchor births, better pay for work done, and mostly to stay "Mexican". How many Mexicans do you have living in your residence? You are asking the rest of us who adamantly disagree with your defense of the criminals who defile our laws, to support them and share our land with them. I share your Christian faith- but Jesus wasn't faced with the violent gangs of Mexicans who get off scot-free after murdering our people.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 11:57

John Schueler a people make a government and if that government is a violent evil thing its the people who made it that way and if the people of that nation state will not fight against its own drug dealer government its what that people want. see the world for what it is not what you want it to be.