Amnesty and Eternal Salvation Have Nothing to Do with Each Other

The US Council of Catholic Bishops released a document ("Forming Consciences For Faithful Citizenship") meant to be a guide for Catholic voters on policy issues. Story from the Chicago Tribune.

Proclaiming a sense of new energy and empowerment, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops on Wednesday issued instructions to Catholic voters that their eternal salvation could be at stake when they cast ballots.

Bishops emphasized that voters must consider the church's teachings on abortion and other moral issues when they select a candidate for the White House or any other office. If they don't, bishops said, it's not clergy who will judge them but God.

"It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also the individual's salvation," the bishops said in the document, titled "Faithful Citizenship." "Similarly, the kinds of laws and policies supported by public officials affect their spiritual well-being."

[...]

Voters are implored not to support abortion-rights political candidates but also advised that views on abortion should not be the sole factor. Catholics should also weigh church teaching on such moral issues as immigration, just war and poverty, bishops said.

The key part of this that I want to look at is the stance on illegal immigration. Here is what the document says about immigration and illegal immigration:

83. The Gospel mandate to “welcome the stranger” requires Catholics to care for and
stand with immigrants, both documented and undocumented, including immigrant children. Comprehensive reform is urgently necessary to fix a broken immigration system and should include a temporary work program with worker protections and a path to permanent residency; family reunification policies; a broad and fair legalization program; access to legal protections, including due process and essential public programs; refuge for those fleeing persecution and exploitation; and policies to address the root causes of migration. The right and responsibility of nations to control their borders and to maintain the rule of law should be recognized.

This is nothing new, the Catholic Church in the US has been pushing for "comprehensive immigration reform" ever since illegal immigration became a major issue a year and a half ago. However, I don't think someone's stance on illegal immigration is a key factor for eternal salvation. I'm sure many Catholics disagree with the church's support of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Does that mean they're bad people? Of course not. I resent the Catholic Church for trying to portray those that oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants as being morally or religiously wrong. Since when did borders become morally wrong?

The last sentence of the paragraph on immigration and illegal immigration seems a bit laughable. "The right and responsibility of nations to control their borders and to maintain the rule of law should be recognized." That statement completely flies in the face of support for illegal immigrant amnesty. Giving legalization to people who illegally entered this country sets a precedent that nations should not be allowed to control their borders, and that it should allow anyone in who wants in. It's ludicrous, but I doubt the Catholic Church really cares.

(Hat tip: Hot Air and Freedom Folks)