Let's show compassion for immigrants
Catholic Charities in San Antonio is flying migrants to O'Hare Airport using federal funds to leave them at the airport to fend for themselves. The governor of Texas continues to bus migrants to Chicago at a rapid pace. Throughout the surrounding suburbs and unincorporated areas, there are many vacant properties, including abandoned schools, that could be converted to temporary housing for migrants who came here to seek asylum and a better life, much like many of our ancestors did.
Rather than proclaiming “no migrants” we need to step up, take some of the burden off of the city of Chicago, and show Texas and the world what the good people of the state of Illinois are really like.
Let us recall what religion has taught us about “aliens” and “strangers”:
“When a stranger comes to live in your land, do not mistreat him ...Treat the stranger the way you treat your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were strangers in Egypt.” (Lev. 19:33-34.)
“The men who stayed in their own city (Medina) and embraced Islam before them loved those who have sought refuge with them. They do not covet what they are given but rather prefer their brothers and sisters above themselves although they are in need. Those who preserve themselves from their own greed shall surely prosper.” (The Quran 59:9)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' … 'whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left… For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'…what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25/35-46)
Anthony J. Trotto
Wood Dale