Bishop, monsignor call for immigrant reform at service

Labor Day prayer service recognized contribution

By: Cara Latham
   HIGHTSTOWN — When Jesus Christ proclaimed the gospel, people who were listening to him questioned his authority to tell them what to do because he was simply a carpenter.
   Being a carpenter in his time was an honorable trade, but he was not good enough for them, said Monsignor John Dermond, judicial vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Trenton and rector of St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton, during a Labor Day prayer service homily at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday.
   "Has it changed much since then?" Monsignor Dermond asked the crowd of about 200, adding that most people measure their value by their job titles rather than who they are as persons.
   The special prayer service, attended by Diocese of Trenton Bishop John M. Smith, highlighted the diocese’s 2006 Labor Day statement which calls for immigration reform.
   "If it were not for the immigration of previous generations, our country would hardly be where it is today," said Monsignor Dermond. "Were if it not for the struggles of the immigrants past, we couldn’t see our way through the issues of today. Immigration in the Americas, in our time, whether legal or not, whether documented or not, is most often in pursuit of work."
   Monsignor Dermond told the audience there are four Catholic beliefs that should be considered during the immigration debate: Work is fundamental to human dignity; work is necessary for the stability of the family; work is a duty and a right that is based on our human nature; and work is a participation in the creative activity of God.
   "Work makes it possible to support a family," he said. "Work motivates us to study and achieve our full potential as human beings."
   He later added that "work makes it possible for us to realize the goals and purposes of the family, especially becoming fully human and contributing to the common good of society."
   Monsignor Dermond said that all people have the natural right to support themselves and their families, whether documented or not, and that immigrants struggle to support their families, pay taxes and contribute to their communities.
   "Justice and prudence demand that we treat them with dignity and find a reasonable way for their contribution and presence among us to be recognized within the law," he said.
   He added that it would be a mistake to think that some work, because it is less skilled or underpaid, is not part of the "creative fabric" of the country. The economy and country would "collapse" if it were not for immigrants, he said.
   Monsignor Dermond said health care and benefits should be made available and affordable to all, the United States’ guest-worker program should be closely monitored, the minimum wage should be raised and comprehensive immigration reform must take place.
   After the homily, laypersons presented the symbols of work, including a shovel, representing physical laborers; a firefighter’s helmet, representing public service workers; a textbook, representing those who "explore the mysteries of the universe" and who educate others; and a basin and cloth representing workers who help others, such as those in the health-care industry.
   Bishop Smith spoke at the conclusion of the prayer service, saying that immigrants come to this country to seek work and that we should welcome them.
   "The realities in our inadequate immigration systems have led to a necessary but fairly divisive debate on how our nation should respond to newcomers," he said. "Unfortunately, the debate sometimes has not brought out the best in all of us."
   As a bishop, he said, he has seen the struggles of immigrants in the diocese and throughout the country, and that the nation has become dependent on immigrants in many industries, including agriculture, food and in hotels. This is why he and the diocese have joined the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, a national Catholic movement, he said.
   "Everyone working within the United States should have a safe place to work, a decent wage and employment benefits that support their families and protect our labor laws," he said, adding that reform needs to come quickly.
   For the Catholic church, immigration is not a political issue; but a human rights issue, he added.
   Bishop Smith rhetorically asked the congregation for one person who couldn’t name an ancestor or relative who came to the United States by leaving a place in which they were comfortable to seek a better life where they did not know the language or culture.
   "This was a building block for the United States of America and still is and will be a building block for the future," he said.
   Elizabeth Plumeri, of Hightstown, said she thought the bishop’s message to the people was enlightening.
   "It made you really appreciate workers in the field and all the work they do," she said.
   Fellow borough resident Juan Chuisaca said he was glad to see that the bishop and diocese have joined the Justice for Immigrants Campaign.
   "They agreed to support the idea of having temporary papers for the workers, and I think that’s good," he said. "They will welcome (anyone) that’s here from any other country looking for new opportunity, and they will support them."
   Mr. Chuisaca also said he thought the homily was "great" because "they wanted to do everything they can to see that tomorrow things will be better."
   Browns Mills resident Andres Luna said he is very happy with the bishop’s support of immigrants.
   "We are really blessed about having a bishop that supports immigration," especially with those from Hispanic nations, he said. "He’s very supportive. (The prayer service) is a great opportunity for him to show everybody he’s willing to help us."
   Hamilton resident Yolanda Castro, who participated in the prayer service, said afterward that immigration is one of this country’s most important issues and she was glad to hear the bishop speak.
   "There are a lot of people that wanted to work," she said. "The problem is that they don’t have the legal documentation. So it was very interesting that he talked about it. I hope that our dreams come true."