--- Los Angeles Region

We alredy have too many of the wrong kind of bishops and priests, i.e., the solomenly consecrated and ordained, not the pedophiles. There are plenty of educated and degreed members of the Catholic community (women and men). Let the parish do as ours does with the commissioning of people to take communion to the sick, i.e, stetch out our hands in blessing and commissioning them to deliver the eucharist.

I once read a book with the subject title. It was one volume of the old Catholic Encyclopedia. I was young and uneducated at the time and thus didn't even understand the question, let alone the text. Now I at least think I understand the question, which I believe goes something like this (vastly simplified):

Does the Catholic Faith compel a specific philosophy in the manner of, "If it is true that Christ died for our sins, it therefore follows that ..." This would include everything from metaphysics to social philosophy. I suppose that another way of framing the question could be, If a skilled philosopher were allowed to interview Christ about philosophical issues, what philosophy would fall out of that interview?

I assert that the Los Angeles Archdiocese, under Cardinal Mahoney, is taking positions on illegal immigration that are destructive to the U.S in general, and to Southern California in particular. To say, among other things, that Christ's admonition that "we must welcome the stranger" (By the way: In what Gospel does He actually say that?) means that we must welcome illegal immigrants is inane twaddle.

NCR Editorial originally published in National Catholic Reporter issue of 04/07/2006

There’s a certain irony in the criticism leveled at Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony regarding his recent statements on the immigration legislation before Congress.

Referring to a provision of the House-passed immigration legislation, Mahony wrote in The New York Times March 22, “Providing humanitarian assistance to those in need should not be made a crime, as the House bill decrees. As written, the proposed law is so broad that it would criminalize even minor acts of mercy like offering a meal or administering first aid.”

Cardinal says Catholic opposition to 'punitive' measures is rooted in Gospels, tradition of the U.S. church

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Los Angeles
Originally published in National Catholic Reporter issue of 04/14/2006

In late February, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony made national headlines, not only by opposing a tough new measure adopted by the House of Representatives aimed at stemming illegal immigration, but by announcing that he would instruct his priests to defy provisions that could require them to check for residency documents before administering certain kinds of assistance.