Just some food for thought for all those “compassionate” conservatives who don’t want to allow Syrian refugees into our country.
Pope Francis made a poignant appeal on behalf of the world’s refugees during his Wednesday general audience, reminding all listening that Jesus, too, encountered times of hardship and danger.
“We believe that Jesus was a refugee, had to flee to save his life, with Saint Joseph and Mary, had to leave for Egypt,” Pope Francis said, according to Zenit. “He was a refugee. Let us pray to Our Lady who knows the pain of refugees.”
The pope made his petition to the Church, which he defined as “all of us,” not limited to “priests, bishops, or the Vatican,” reported Asia News.
Zach, many thanks.
Via Twitter:
@doctorow
“The US government turned down Anne Frank’s visa application”
http://boingboing.net/2015/11/18/the-us-government-turned-down.html
Let us also remember….. Jesus was not just a refugee, but considered a threat to the Roman/Jewish politicians of the time & society’s safety. One of the most celebrated individuals of all times would be refused shelter in a safe country & not be eligible for any government assistance if he were here today. Shame.
Laurie, thank you. The parallel is very strong. Jesus lived in a country occupied by a foreign power.
It is not Jewish refugees that we are worried about. If there is a Christ-like Muslim refugee, he will have more important work to do in the middle east.
Denis, you wrote, “It is not Jewish refugees that we are worried about.”
1. Who is “we?”
2. Do you refuse all Jewish refugees entrance into the U.S.?
You wrote, “If there is a Christ-like Muslim refugee,…”
Islam accepts Jesus Christ as a prophet.
“Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him). They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind. The Quran confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Quran is entitled ‘Maryam’ (Mary). The Quran describes the birth of Jesus as follows:
(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” (Quran, 3:45-47)
Jesus was born miraculously by the command of God, the same command that had brought Adam into being with neither a father nor a mother. God has said:
The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being. (Quran, 3:59)
During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. God tells us that Jesus said:
“I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses….” (Quran, 3:49)”
http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-10.htm
3. Doesn’t that make all Muslim’s “Christ-like?”
You wrote, “he…”
4. So your comment only applies to one gender?
You wrote, “will have more important work to do in the middle east.”
5. What is this “work?” Please be specific.
John, regarding your No. 4; elsewhere on BB I noted that single males of military age are not currently eligible for entry as a refugee.
Talking snake
“Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and First Commandment. And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Matthew 36:40
Over the years, since the Plymouth Rock days in North America, some of our selfish or prejudiced forefathers, even in current times, have failed to apply or follow the “second greatest Commandment” upon the arrival of the Irish, the Italians, Asians, and a variety of ethnic groups even excluding Native Americans. Currently, many struggle to accept Hispanics and African Americans as our “neighbors.”
And now an attempt is being made, mostly by Republican governors and legislators, to not allow entry into the United States of innocent refuge families from Syria despite their following immigration requirements and process.
“…love thy neighbor…” = pro-life! OR pro-life = “…love thy neighbor…”
John, re question # 1, we find your Anglonormative pronoun policing to be disinclusive and intolerant. We need a safe space.
#2. No.
#3. I find it hard to reconcile the respectful words about Christ and the current reality for Christians in the Middle East.
#5: Helping the religion of peace act accordingly.
Denis,
# 1. Are you admitting that (A) you suffer from a multiple-personality disorder or (B) that you share your handle among several people or (C) other? If C, please be specific.
#2. Ok, why aren’t you “worried about Jewish refugees?”
#3. Does this mean that, per Ron Paul, you finally accept that foreign occupations only lead to more terrorism? http://original.antiwar.com/paul/2011/09/12/foreign-occupation-leads-to-more-terror/
#4. Where’s your response?
#5: What is the “religion of peace?” What does it have to do with Syria’s natural gas reserves and the pipeline?
“Competing Gas Pipelines Are Fueling The Syrian War & Migrant Crisis”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-09-10/competing-gas-pipelines-are-fueling-syrian-war-migrant-crisis
Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq-Syria_pipeline
Only have time for 1 and 2. 1: you should stop identity shaming. 2: Because I have at least two functioning brain cells.
Denis,
“Last Jews Of Aleppo Escape Syria And Head For Israel With Help From American Businessman”
http://www.ibtimes.com/last-jews-aleppo-escape-syria-head-israel-help-american-businessman-2174714
You don’t have to be a Bible thumper to know the difference between right and wrong. In Jesus’s name the “Army of God” terrorized this country during the 80’s. Let’s not forget about all the other Americans that have terrorized our own country. The list is long. To deny safe haven to the victims of war because of the possibility of a few rotten apple sneaking through is insanity. I’m glad the Pope is on board. Now if we could get the Pope and Aaron Rodgers together maybe they could talk some sense into our boneheaded governor and the rest of these moronic Republicans.
How many Syrian refugees will be relocating to Vatican City?
Currently the Vatican is hosting a family of 12.
This is in a small community that does not have really any settings of a city, but a church/campus ground.
Denis, how many Syrian refugees is your Christian denomination taking?
Denis,
How many Syrian Jews live in the U.S. already? How many Muslims from the middle east?
To think all humans are not entitled to the freedoms provided by our nation (throughout history) because of the inherent risk associated with accepting “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” is insane. This is the fundamental building block and core value from which we were founded.
Are we to abandon the one thing that seperates and elevates us from the rest of worldly culture? Have we not learned lessons from the sufferings of past refugee camps?
As a tax paying citizen who actively participates i am willing to take some risk to help those unfortunate souls displaced by the horrors of war. It is shameful some in our society are willing to politicize, by way of fear mongering, the desperation and well-being of others.
WB, I agree one doesn’t have to be familiar with common or well known biblical teachings to deduce or reason that it is inhumane, immoral, and/or greedy to refuse a family with no shelter, no food, and no financial resources.
But it is a crime against humanity if one denies his or her conscience simply based upon his or her political ideology.
Pro-life = Conscience based upon religious/moral truths OR sensitive and compassionate reasoning.