U.S. Catholic bishops are considering punishing Catholics who enforce Trump's border polices

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I'm down with that

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops started their biannual meeting Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, and the dominant topic was immigration policy. The current USCCB president, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston, began by condemning "two very troubling recent developments": Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision to severely restrict asylum claims for victims of domestic and gang violence, and splitting apart families. "At its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life," DiNardo said. Pulling young children from their parents can cause "irreparable harm and trauma," he added, and "separating babies from their mothers ... is immoral."

The bishops discussed several ways to address President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, including sending a delegate of bishops to inspect detention facilities "as a sign of our pastoral concern and protest against this hardening of the American heart," as Newark's Cardinal Joseph Tobin said, or directly lobbying conservative lawmakers.

Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Tucson, a canon lawyer, suggested "canonical penalties" for Catholics "who are involved" in the separation of families. Canonical penalties, which can range from denying sacraments to excommunication, "are there in place to heal," Weisenburger said. "And therefore, for the salvation of these people's souls, maybe it's time for us to look at canonical penalties." Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, suggested pastoral outreach for border agents struggling with their consciences.

Of course all the GOP has to do is make the correct noises about abortion and these guys will fold like yesterday's laundry.

[juxtaposed]

1. Not about this type of laundry.

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2. I don't expect much from the church's episcopal leadership

I think it will be up to the laity to remind anyone working for ICE who goes to their church that, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself." 1 Corinthians 11:29.

(There is no way any of us could ever be truly worthy to receive communion, not even Francis. But maybe we should tell this to Catholics spouting off on Romans 13 in support of Trump and see what happens).