Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jurisprudence is defined as “The philosophy of law, or the science which treats of the principles of positive law and legal relations… and to choose that rule which, when so applied, will produce the greatest advantage to the community.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, © 1979, p. 767).
Based upon this principle, one understands that good law, just law can never paint with a broad brush, but must apply the law with due consideration for the common good, while also understanding the circumstances of the individual person, their motives and intent, and avoiding rash or harsh judgments when evaluating a troublesome situation. The fault of some cannot characterize an entire group of people; if it does, whole groups become targets of violence and civil disturbance.
So it is that the subject of immigration must be addressed rationally and with an understanding of the situation of those who, like thousands before them, have literally or figuratively passed the Statue of Liberty and landed on our shores to begin a new life—many coming from impoverished countries, escaping persecution and violence in war-torn places, and still others seeking the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness guaranteed by a democratic society. Yes, some have come with bad and corrupt intentions, causing pain, suffering, and even death. Tragically, even children have been caught up in these inhumane situations and trafficked by the evil actions of some—at a time when these precious children need protection, care, stability, and love. But again, not everyone can be painted with the same broad brush.
Because much-needed immigration reform has yet to be achieved, people who have come to this country to build a new life and who contribute to society in many ways find themselves in uncertainty. Like our ancestors who sought a new beginning in America, many hard-working immigrants desire a legal path to permanent residency and citizenship, yet a broken immigration system has not afforded them this possibility.
The need for secure borders is legitimate and acknowledged; however, we cannot secure our borders by creating unjust insecurity among refugees and migrants who work on our farms, in service industries, in healthcare facilities, and who enhance the religious, cultural, and educational mosaic of the United States. Many gifted and talented people of diverse backgrounds have come to this country and made outstanding contributions. They arrived with so little but have given so much; they came with love for their faith and families; they built schools, hospitals, and churches. How sad it is that a broken immigration system could deprive us of these sisters and brothers. Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The challenge is to combine the welcome due to every human being, especially when in need, with a reckoning of what is necessary for both the local inhabitants and the new arrivals to live a dignified and peaceful life.” (Message for the 2001 World Day of Peace, no. 13). Yes, deport criminals, secure borders, and swiftly reform immigration legislation with this challenge in mind, but do not paint everyone with the same broad brush.
For me, immigration is more than a legal matter; it is deeply personal. I know the harm caused by painting an entire people with a broad brush. Like many of you whose ancestors came from foreign lands, my roots were planted by ancestors who emigrated from Italy and loved this country. Although challenging and difficult at times, they followed an immigration protocol. Many of these ancestors went on to serve in the military, some losing their lives defending this land they loved. Sadly, a group known as the “mafia” deeply scarred our people, and at times, we were painted with the same broad brush, even though many of our families had absolutely no association with this corrupt organization. Movies like The Godfather and shows like The Sopranos further reinforced this harmful characterization of our nationality. How many other ethnic groups have unjustly experienced this same treatment?
It is also personal for me as a Catholic and as a shepherd called to seek out the lost, the forgotten, and the refugee. In September 2024, the Catholic Church worldwide celebrated the 110th annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This long-standing tradition is a testimony to our ongoing prayer for the justice and charity expected of all disciples of Jesus Christ, who calls us to “sincerity of heart [so] we may show true compassion toward strangers and the abandoned…” (Roman Missal, Third Edition, Prayer after Communion from the Mass for Refugees and Exiles). It is this gift of faith that keeps us from painting others with the same broad brush and ruining innocent lives.
Reasonable people, including Catholics, see the need for law and desire a well-ordered society, but these laws must be just. And “justice,” true justice, must be accompanied by faith—the faith that gave us the immortal Ten Commandments, beautifully summed up by Jesus: “Love God, love your neighbor.” (Cf. Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:30-31). Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6), the foundation upon which just laws rest—laws respecting the dignity of every person, laws that call us to accountability, laws that punish crime, but not laws that create crime. Laws must not paint individual persons broadly, neither grouping them as “deplorables” nor “illegals.” Rather, as true jurisprudence dictates, they should “produce the greatest advantage to the community.”
Please, dear Lord, guide those who govern our immigration laws to fix what is broken and make our nation whole again, under God.
Assuring you of a continued remembrance in my prayers, I remain,
Devotedly yours in Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano
Bishop of Rochester
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
1150 Buffalo Road
Rochester, New York 14624
(585) 328-3210
January 30, 2025
Jubilee Year 2025