Migrants and Refugees in the Social Doctrine of the Church
An irregular legal status cannot allow the migrant to lose his dignity, since he is endowed with inalienable rights, which can neither be violated nor ignored. Saint John Paul II.[1]
As part of the aforementioned set of fundamental human rights willed by the divine fiat, the Church has long recognized as part of her social doctrine that the human person has the right to migrate, to sustain his or her own life and that of the family (US Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB], 2017).
Pope Pius XII on migration. For example, Pope Pius XII (1952) spoke with great clarity on this inherent right of the human person as a right that is “founded in the very nature of land.” He stated in an earlier letter to the American bishops that:
“You know indeed how preoccupied we have been and…
View original post 2,931 more words
Advertisements