Pope Benedict Says Nations Have the Right to Secure their Borders
Pope Benedict XVI reiterated the Catholic church's position on immigration, saying that nations have the right to regulate the flow of migrants and secure their borders. His comment is consistent with what the church has said in the past, but contradicts the position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In his statement, Pope Benedict XVI said individuals have the right to leave their country, but that doesn't mean that nations have to take them in.
”At the same time, states have the right to regulate migration flows and to defend their own frontiers, always guaranteeing the respect due to the dignity of each and every human person,” Pope Benedict XVI said.
In recent years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have supported mass amnesty plans and have opposed the construction of a border fence and other tools that would help secure the border.
For more information on the Pope's statement, click here, and for more information on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, click here.