Christmas is an immigrant story, says the new bishop of Arkansas. There is a comparison to immigration and civil rights in the bishop's letter. DP
By BUD KENNEDY
The new bishop of Arkansas has a strong message for Roman Catholics: Christmas is an immigrant’s story.
"Does Jesus find a warm welcome in our communities?" writes Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, a Fort Worth native, in a pastoral letter read last Sunday in parishes across Arkansas.
"What changes do we need to make here in Arkansas in order to ensure that today’s Marys and Josephs — today’s Marias and Joses — receive a warm welcome truly worthy of the Savior?"
Taylor, 54, was resting this weekend far from the ensuing political firestorm.
Here to see siblings in Fort Worth, he visited the city where his family founded Taylor Dressed Beef Co. and where he spent kindergarten in St. Andrew’s Catholic School.
"I’ve had a few negative letters," he said.
So I see in the Arkansas newspapers and on the Web, where activists from Americans for Legal Immigration are openly publishing Catholic-bashing comments accusing Arkansas church leaders as "pedifiles" and the church of "looking for more alter boys."
Priests across Arkansas will follow Taylor’s letter with sermons today, beginning a three-week series of Advent messages linking the Christmas story to civil rights and immigration.
The title of Taylor’s message is from Jesus’ words in Matthew 25: "I Was a Stranger, and You Welcomed Me . . ."
Read his entire letter. It’s on the diocese Web site at www.dolr.org.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment