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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | April 27-May 10, 2018 | Volume 79, Number 12 Demonizing immigrants hardens American heart RHINA GUIDOS idolatrous force that they become so sacred Catholic News Service that you would close your eyes to the needs of people who come across the border seek- WASHINGTON | Newark Cardinal ing a better life or help or when they reduce Joseph W. Tobin said he worries re- human dignity to a caricature or when they break the fundamental solidarity that we ducing the number of immigrants, owe even across national or cultural borders, particularly refugees to the U.S., and then I think as believers, we have to question demonizing them represents a “hard- that.” People should never forget where their ening of the American heart,” and that family came from, he said, or the challenges should be of concern to the country. they and other immigrants of the past faced The country’s iconic Statue of Liberty “is — whether they did or did not enter the U.S. welcoming people because of who they are legally. and not seeing them simply as objects of “They were all lumped into the same of- charity, but as potential contributors to this fensive group,” he said. “I think that remem- experiment that is the United States of Amer- bering that and remembering that out of ica,” Cardinal Tobin said in the CMSOnAir those immigrant communities came peo- podcast aired April 23 by New York’s Center ple like Marconi, who gave the radio to the for Migration Studies. “We should be con- Central American migrants move along a street in Hermosillo, Mexico, April 23. world, and Enrico Caruso, and all of these cerned about the success that some voices Newark’s Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin said in April 23 podcast by New York’s Center people who enriched our nation’s lives in so in the public square have had in demonizing for Migration Studies that he’s worried that reducing the number of immigrants, many ways, that’s one thing, is to remember. the other.” particularly refugees to the U.S., and demonizing them represents a “hardening of Secondly, is to listen to your faith before you In the interview with Donald Kerwin, the the American heart.” (EDGARD GARRIDO, REUTERS | CNS) listen to a particular ideology. God is pretty center’s executive director, Cardinal Tobin clear. He doesn’t favor one nation over an- expressed worries about sentiments popu- so ethnocentric. I don’t think the word xeno- of prudential judgment, not doctrinal issues, other.” lar around the country at the moment, in- phobic is too strong to describe some of the Cardinal Tobin said that, “if prudential judg- The world’s main religions counsel cluding some that paint certain groups of caricatures that are proposed to Americans. ment simply means or reduces the question strongly against persecuting the stranger, he immigrants as rapists, drug smugglers or as I want to believe that Americans are smarter of the help to undocumented peoples or im- said, and that’s “because God himself iden- people intent on taking jobs away. than that and that their hearts are bigger,” migrants as matters of secondary concern, I tifies in a very real way with those who are “All of which aren’t true,” he said. “And he said. think that that’s wrong.” foreigners among you.” people forget that they’re part of families. While many Christian immigrants are be- “I think that is a misrepresentation of Even if immigrants are facing a particu- They love their children. Many of them are ing affected by some of these events, other some of the fundamental principles of the larly difficult time, Cardinal Tobin said he here at great sacrifice leaving behind their Christians shouldn’t exclusively help them church’s social doctrine,” he further ex- reminds them to always remember and re- families, their wider families, so that they but try to help everyone who is suffering plained. “Certainly, the capricious nature of peat that Christ is risen. can provide for their children. I think what even though it’s true that “the people who the laws and the enforcement of laws around “And his resurrection wasn’t simply a far- religious leaders can do is help people un- are being deported include great numbers immigration is an offense of human dignity. off historical fact, it is the judgment of God derstand, because if you can put a face on of Christians.” It is a wound to the common good. So, yes, I on death and suffering, that it doesn’t have someone, it’s much more difficult to do re- “My hometown of Detroit, Michigan, has don’t have a whole lot of time for people who the final word,” he said. “And so I would say ally inhuman things to them.” a large Chaldean community, which is being reduce things to prudential judgement. I’ll that’s going to be true in the lives of these It’s similar to what happened to the Irish eviscerated by ICE,” he said, referring to the listen to everybody, but I think that there is people as well.” and other communities that arrived in the Department of Homeland Security Immi- more of a self-fulfilling prophecy to justify God is a God of justice, he said, and “will U.S. in the past, he said, when they were gration and Customs Enforcement. the present chaos.” ultimately transform the suffering into a bet- painted in extremely unflattering ways and When asked whether people of good faith He said he’s not opposed to borders or ter world, not only for these immigrants, but yet they contributed to the country. can disagree on immigration and other is- thinks they “are necessarily wrong.” But for the United States of America.” “We should ask why we want to become sues that the church advocates for as matters he said that “when they achieve almost an Raising a cone in the name of Pope Francis CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service who passed on the cones because, he in the tiny Church of San Calisto, said, at his age, 70-something, “I’m where they join in singing evening watching my physique.” prayer and prayers for peace twice a ROME | Cones raised in the air, “Everything this pope does he month. Then they walk to the soup the crowd gathered for dinner at does for the poor,” Ruggiero said. kitchen nearby for dinner. the Sant’Egidio Community’s soup “And then there’s his smile.” One of the seven gentlemen wrote kitchen toasted Pope Francis on his Alberto, roughly the same age, their names in big letters on the pa- name day, the feast of St. George. was seated next to Ruggiero for the per place mats to save their seats. But The gelato was offered by the dinner, which began with a course there is always room for one more. pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of gnocchi, then moved on to the And they take turns filling each as part of his name day celebration main course of veal and potatoes other’s water glasses, passing out the April 23. He provided 3,000 servings and would normally have finished food and collecting the dirty plates of ice cream, mostly vanilla cones with fruit. before the next course. with chocolate and nuts on top, but “It’s a very charming gesture,” Across the room, Antonino Sira- also a few pistachio cones and a cou- said Alberto as he unwrapped his gusa was eating, but also helping to ple strawberry ones, to soup kitchens cone at the kitchen in Rome’s Traste- serve. He said he has met the pope and homeless shelters around Rome. vere neighborhood. “six times. He’s a good person, very People raise their ice cream cones donated by Pope Francis “It’s not like gelato is the only The two men, along with five oth- lively. He smiles and will meet any- as they toast the pope at a Sant'Egidio soup kitchen in thing he gives away,” said Ruggiero, er friends, had begun their evening one." Rome April 23. (CNS) FLORIDAWWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | April 27-May 10, 2018 Catholic ORNDO DIOCESE Deacon Blake Britton stands with, from left, Lydia, Tim, Victoria and Alexander Deacon Matthew Hawkins stands with family members, from left, mother Judy; sister Britton. He credits a loving family life and the example of his parents as seeds Nicole Shannon; father Paul; brother-in-law Clancy Shannon; Father Stephen Dufrene, leading to his vocation. (PHOTOS BY KATHERINE LAGUNA | FC) whom he met when discerning with the Franciscan order; and two young nephews. Deacons prepare for priesthood GLENDA MEEKINS looking for an ideal by which to daily lives — walking with them of the Florida Catholic staff live.” Although his relationship throughout the journey from Bap- with Catholicism was “not love at tism to marriage to their daily ORLANDO | Bishop John first sight,” he persisted amidst his sustenance in the Eucharist and Noonan will ordain Deacons Mat- confusion with the liturgy and its Confession, and ultimately lay- thew Hawkins and Blake Britton mystifying rituals. ing them to rest in funerals and to the order of priesthood May 26, “Eventually that ideal that I was Anointing of the Sick.” 10 a.m., at St. James Cathedral in searching for began to take form. He looks forward to the first Orlando. Here the two men share He had a face. He had a name. time he elevates the Eucharist and their vocation stories and their It was Christ that I had always to Confession.

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