he Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese is the largest in the United States and its leader, Cardinal Roger Mahony, a longtime immigrant rights advocate has called on his priests to defy any law that would attempt to compel churches to determine whether or not immigrants are here legally, before granting them assistance.
During a mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels he said "I would say to all priests, deacons and members of the church that we are not going to observe this law. He said that he was willing to risk being jailed for supporting immigrants. The mayor of the city, Antonio Villaraigosa, said he supported the Cardinal's stand.
It's ages since this country has contemplated a call to organized lawbreaking of this scale.
The cardinal's concern is H.R.4437, a bill sponsored by James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and New York's Peter King. It was recently passed in the House and now heads for the Senate. The cardinal correctly argues that the government has no place criminalizing the charitable works of private institutions, whose mission is simply to help people in need. As Roger Mahony has said, "As his disciples, we are called to attend to the last, littlest, lowest and least in society and in the church."
If the law passes we could become a nation that prohibits the Catholic Church and many other charities from helping sick and hungry people. Despite what federal regulations claim, religious leaders have a right to take positions on political issues. We know that the Internal Revenue service has threatened the tax-exempt status of many churches that have done so.
Cardinal Mahony has taken a brave stance declaring solidarity with illegal immigrants and, as the New York Times editorialized, the Cardinal's words are a startling call to civil disobedience, as courageous as it is timely.
We hope that it forestalls the day when works of mercy become a federal crime.
It was just a handful of years ago when I attended a small gathering at which the Cardinal consecrated the massive bronze doors of the new cathedral. We were speaking about the beauty of the work of art created by the renowned sculptor Robert Graham. I asked him why the doors were so enormous. His response, true to form, was that it was designed to welcome all people.