by Deacon Bill Scholl
As federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents aggressively enforce federal immigration regulations, we Catholics are angry.
Some of us are angry because many of the people being rounded up are neighbors, co-workers, parishioners, friends and family to us. Other than being in violation of immigration statutes, these are good people.
Others are angry because laws must have consequences when they are violated. While it is sad for the family and friends of those convicted of other crimes, to not enforce the law is unfair to those who follow the law.
So, when the U.S. bishops call for mercy to be applied to the immigration issue, Catholics get angry or indifferent. Catholics are either angry at the bishops for not making stronger condemnations of deportations, or they are angry at the bishops for somehow supporting criminality.
The rest of us respond with indifference because we don’t want anyone to get angry at us. Let’s look at anger and ask why are you so angry, and if you are not angry, why not?
Scripture cautions us about anger, “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (Ps 37:8). However, anger itself is not a sin. Our prophetic call compels us to be angry in the face of injustice.
Our Lord models this righteous anger when he drives the money changers from the temple. For the Christian, anger is the sword of love. It is not to be wielded wildly. No. Righteous anger is a purposeful passion used to fight injustice, protect the innocent, and uphold the truth.
However even for the even-tempered, anger can be misused when it rises up from misunderstandings or low-resolution understanding of the other. What is tragic for our current immigration conversation, within and without the American church, is how much anger is distorting and damaging our ability as Americans to come together and fix this broken system.
Like many in the church today, I am trying to be more synodal. We as Catholics need to be slower to anger and quicker with the kind word that turns away wrath (Pv 15:1). This starts with listening and so I want to hear from you.
If you are angry about the immigration issue, for what purpose have you drawn this sword? Is this purpose true? Are you able to articulate the other side’s position? Do you have an accurate comprehensive picture of the situation? How are you loving your enemy with this anger?
Anyway, you can let me know your thoughts by emailing me at: socialjustice@archkck.org.
