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

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….