As a practicing Catholic, I strongly object to your condoning and encouraging illegal immigration.Your desire for "comprehensive immigration reform" is code for giving 20 million illegal aliens amnesty. This is a reward for law breaking. Your comments that imply thatICE agents, who are enforcing law, are doing something immoral are reprehensible.

Every American citizen that values a lawful society applauds these ICE agents. Every American that wishes to protect the country against this invasion of illegals applauds these ICE agents. Every American that understands the economic, social and political damage illegal immigration is doing to the United States applauds these ICE agents.

Your letter to federal authorities shows that you do not grasp the seriousness of the situation, nor the economic and political ramifications of mass, illegal immgration into the United States. Nor do you seem to understand the Catechism of the Catholic Church as it applies to immigration.

"The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him."

"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various judical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens."

Illegal aliens crossing the border in violation of U.S. law are not "immigrants." Rather they are criminals subject to arrest and imprisonment. They are not respecting the laws of our country by their very presence.

Each job illegals take is a job that belongs to an American citizen. Illegals working in the United States should be considered no better than thieves. There are no "jobs that Americans don't want and are not willing to do." However, illegal immigration forces down the wages of unskilled jobs to the point that Americans cannot do them at a living wage.

The burden of illegal immigration falls most heavily on our least educated and poorest American citizens. The benefits go to the wealthiest Americans who gain a cheap source of domestic labor and low-wage employees.

While any individual illegal alien may be entering the United States for economic reasons, the net effect is to have hundreds of thousands of illegals carrying signs such as "Go Back to Europe" and waving foreign flags. The Mexican government considers there to be no border between the United States and Mexico. It openly encourages illegal immigration rather than engage in meaningful economic and political reform. La Raza (for the race everything), LULAC, MALDEF and other organizations actively promote Reconquista and the occupation of Aztlan (Southwest United States).

Finally, are you and the other Catholic bishops of the United States promoting open borders, mass migration and amnesty because you are altruistic? Or, are you promoting it because you wish to add twenty million Hispanics to the Church?

United States citizens have every right to protect their country from foreign invasion and to protect the economic viability of their homes, families and country. It is morally indefensible for you to ignore your flock and welcome into this country millions who prey on the livelihoods of our most vulnerable.

For these reasons, the ICE agents acting legally, in defense of their country, should be praised and you should be rebuked for your promotion of criminal behavior.

Sincerely,

Paul Streitz

"Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." - Matthew 22:21.

If you would like to forward this letter with your own comments, below are the email addresses of Bishop Tobin and other Catholic Bishops.

If you would like to send it from our email petition address, go to www.ctimmigration.com/ An email will be automatically send to all of those below. If you would like to receive our email newsletter, you can enter your email address at www.ctimmigration.com/.

cc:

• Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Diocese of Providence, tmulvey@dioceseofprovidence.org
• Bishop William E. Lori, Diocese of Bridgeport, bishopsoffice@diobpt.org
• Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, Archdiocese of Hartford, BMF@aohct.org
• Cardinal Edward Egan, Archdiocese of New York, communications@archny.org
• Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, info@la-archdiocese.org
• Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, Archdiocese of Boston, nlataif@rcab.org

Paul Streitz
Director, CT Citizens for Immigration Control
amfirst@optonline.net