Arizona Church leaders call for legal, congressional responses to law WASHINGTON – Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., one of many religious leaders decrying Arizona’s new immigration law, said he will ask the general counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to become involved in lawsuits expected to challenge its constitutionality. In a posting on the diocesan website April 26, Bishop Kicanas said he believes the law needs to be challenged for reasons beyond the constitutional questions that many opponents of the bill have raised. Among his objections to the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, signed April 23, are that it “does not address the critical need for border security to confront drug smuggling, weapons smuggling and human trafficking.” He also objected to the law on the grounds that it “sends a wrong message about how our state regards the importance of civil rights;” distracts local law enforcement from their primary role in protecting public safety and puts additional pressure on depleted law enforcement resources; discourages people from reporting crimes if they lack legal immigration status; makes criminals out of children who were brought to the United States by their parents; risks splitting families apart; and could cause further damage to an already strained state economy. In a phone interview with Catholic News Service, Bishop Kicanas said he hopes violence will not result from the tension in Arizona that led to the law’s passage by the legislature and has accompanied its signing by Gov. Jan Brewer.
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
“I hope that whatever is done will be civil and not lead to violence,” he said. “Emotions can lead to irrational behavior.” He said religious leaders, in particular, must work with their communities to ensure that people realize violence is not the way to address the situation. Along with Bishops Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix and James S. Wall of Gallup, N.M., whose diocese includes parts of northern Arizona, Bishop Kicanas had called for a veto of the bill and for a more comprehensive approach at the federal level to solve immigration problems. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who strongly opposed the bill, said “the governor made a huge mistake. By signing this bill, she’s nationalized this issue. This opens up a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.” Grijalva called for an economic boycott of his state by those opposed to the law and urged the federal government not to cooperate when local police try to turn over immigrants they detain over their legal status. Thousands of protesters opposed to the law gathered at the state capitol in Phoenix leading up to the signing ceremony and in the days since. Nationwide, rallies in support of federal comprehensive immigration reform long planned for May 1 were expected to have new focus and determination, as supporters of comprehensive reform zeroed in on the Arizona law as a consequence of Congress’ delay in dealing with the dysfunctional immigration system. The Arizona Interfaith Network and the heads of several of the state’s major religious denominations issued a statement ARIZONA CHURCH, page 4
(CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC)
By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service
Catholic san Francisco
A solemn high Mass in the extraordinary form is celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington April 24. It was the first time in 50 years that a Mass was held at the shrine in the traditional Latin rite according to the 1962 missal. Sponsored by the Paulus Institute, the Mass honored Pope Benedict XVI on the fifth anniversary of his election as pope.
A conversation with Guadalajara Bishop José Leopoldo González (PHOTO BY JOSE LUIS AGUIRRE/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)
By José Luis Aguirre
Bishop José Leopoldo González talks with young people April 18 after presiding at Confirmation at St. Matthew Parish in San Mateo.
José Leopoldo González, is the auxiliary bishop of Guadalajara and the current secretary general of the Latin American Council of Bishops (CELAM). The 55-year-old prelate visited the Bay Area this past April 18 to preside over the confirmation of more than 80 youngsters at St. Matthew Parish in San Mateo. Catholic San Francisco talked to him about the Church in Latin America, immigration and the priest sex abuse scandal, among other topics. Bishop González lives in Bogotá, Colombia, where CELAM is headquartered. CELAM is the episcopal body that gathers bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean for reflection, communion and dialogue. What is your vision for the Church in Latin America?
Many are under the impression that Catholics are abandoning the Church, but this is not so. Since the fifth CELAM conference in May of 2007 there has been a great thrust for evangelization in Latin America and the Caribbean and we are witnessing a new Pentecost. If we fail to evangelize the baptized we will not have good disciples and it is possible that they can leave the Church. But if we evangelize them, we will have great witnesses. What is your reaction to the scandal of sexual misconduct by priests – specifically the case of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ? In the first place we must know the truth and face it as it is. The person is dead and it is not our role but God’s to judge him. It is painful for us as Church BISHOP GONZÁLEZ, page 9
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Marijuana initiative . . . . . . . 3 News in brief. . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Clergy renewal . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Commentary & letters . 12-13
Blessed Sacrament’s exquisite home in SF Picture story on www.catholic-sf.org April 30, 2010
Scripture & reflection. . 14-15
First Communion at Peninsula Parish ~ Page 10-11 ~
‘Oceans’ film review: a visual delight, convincing ~ Page 16 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Datebook of events . . . . . . . 17 Services, classified ads . 18--19
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 12
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No. 15