Men for Some Seasons

Over at First Things, James Kerian offers a not entirely convincing criticism of U.S. bishops for, according to Kerian, being more vocal in challenging immigration laws than abortion laws:

It seems unlikely that the American bishops would conclude that our legal code’s allowance of the unrestricted murder of unborn children is somehow more practical, less antiquated, or more in line with “the fundamental rights of persons” than our immigration policy. There must, therefore, be some reason for their new approach to civil authority.

Two rather implausible reasons have been offered to explain this position of the USCCB. Illegal immigrants are overwhelmingly Catholic; some people speculate that there will be some financial benefit to the Church from their continued presence. Alternatively, after the recent publicity over the denial of Communion to certain high profile pro-abortion liberals, some see the immigration issue as an opportunity for the Church to demonstrate its political neutrality. But both of these explanations seem rather unsatisfactory. Despite the abuse scandal, most of the dioceses in America are not in financial duress. And with the positions each has taken on global warming, the minimum wage, and the war in Iraq, neither Cardinal Mahony nor the USCCB is in any need of further demonstrating independence from the political right.

It seems far more likely that after over three decades of succumbing to cultural pressure, our clergy are simply eager to show their courage in the face of the law on the first safe issue that has presented itself. It is far easier for my local pastor in rural North Dakota to demand open borders in Arizona than to demand the rejection of contraception here at home. And even in border dioceses, it is far easier to take a stand on an issue that will earn plaudits from the media, and immigrants rather than on an issue that will earn only the silent thanks of unborn infants. If one is going to stand up to the law, it may as well be a law that many people already ignore.