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Monday, January 30, 2017

U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS DENOUNCES TRUMP'S PLAN TO FAVOR REFUGEES FROM PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS DENOUNCES TRUMP'S PLAN TO FAVOR REFUGEES FROM PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
 "The USCCB may have a monetary interest here. This corrupt and authoritarian fraternity received $79,590,512 in 2014 alone — that’s right, nearly 80 million dollars — from the federal government for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration Fund."

BY ROBERT SPENCER
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
 
“‘We believe in assisting all, regardless of their religious beliefs,’ said Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, the chairman of the committee on migration for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.”
That sounds very high-minded until one realizes that the Trump plan is to favor refugees who are fleeing being persecuted for their religious beliefs. This includes Christians, Yazidis, and other non-Muslims. The USCCB, by opposing this, is essentially calling upon Trump to admit people among whom will be the persecutors as well as the persecuted.
The USCCB may have a monetary interest here. This corrupt and authoritarian fraternity received $79,590,512 in 2014 alone — that’s right, nearly 80 million dollars — from the federal government for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration Fund.
“Leave them; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)

“Christian Leaders Denounce Trump’s Plan to Favor Christian Immigrants,” by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times, January 29, 2017:
…Now Mr. Trump has followed through on his campaign promise to rescue Christians who are suffering. The executive order he signed on Friday gives preference to refugees who belong to a religious minority in their country, and have been persecuted for their religion. The president detailed his intentions during an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on Friday, saying his administration is giving priority to Christians because they had suffered “more so” than others, “so we are going to help them.”
But if Mr. Trump had hoped for Christian leaders to break out in cheers, that is, for the most part, not what he has heard so far. A broad array of clergy members has strongly denounced Mr. Trump’s order as discriminatory, misguided and inhumane. Outrage has also come from some of the evangelical, Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant leaders who represent the churches most active in trying to aid persecuted Christians.
By giving preference to Christians over Muslims, religious leaders have said the executive order pits one faith against another. By barring any refugees from entering the United States for nearly four months, it leaves people to suffer longer in camps, and prevents families from reuniting. Also, many religious leaders have said that putting an indefinite freeze on refugees from Syria, and cutting the total number of refugees admitted this year by 60,000, shuts the door to those most in need.
“We believe in assisting all, regardless of their religious beliefs,” said Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, the chairman of the committee on migration for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Jen Smyers, the director of policy and advocacy for the immigration and refugee program of Church World Service, a ministry affiliated with dozens of Christian denominations, called Friday a “shameful day” in America’s history….