On Wednesday, Cardinal Roger Mahony, the archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, addressed students at Bishop McGuinness High School. He spoke to them about eternal damnation and burning in the deepest caverns of hell.
Actually, that's not true at all. Cardinal Mohony talked about the plight of illegal immigrants and undocumented workers in our country. And to the surprise of many students in attendance, he didn't spew out the typical hate-filled vitriol usually heard in Oklahoma and other red states. He simply implored the students, as Christians, to be more compassionate and understanding when forming opinions on the subject.
I'm sure that worked out well.
From The Oklahoman:
Mahony’s presentation included a historical perspective and theological viewpoint about immigration. He said aiding immigrants and refugees is part of Catholic social teaching and noted that when Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape King Herod, their flight is perhaps the perfect archetype for today’s immigrants seeking shelter and a new way of life in America.
The cardinal recommended that the students ask their relatives about their own family history at Thanksgiving so they could so that someone in the family tree was probably an immigrant to America at one time.
He also urged them to write their elected officials about the need for a more effective immigration policies so that undocumented immigrants can be afforded work permits, pay payroll taxes, get an education and thus “remove fear from this large shadow community.”
Wow, talk about having some big virgin balls. He got on a microphone and said things like that to a group of people in Oklahoma. I'm surprised someone didn't try to get him deported. Obviously, his comments didn't set too well with some of the little Rush Limbaughs and Lou Dobbs in attendance:
Students Skeptical
One student asked what he could do to advocate for the rights of immigrant workers.
However, several other students seemed skeptical.
One young woman asked the cardinal what good would come from immigrants coming to America for employment if college graduates are having trouble finding jobs these days.
Another student asked why people would want immigrants to take “our jobs” with the nation’s unemployment still high.
Mahony told them that many immigrants take low-skill, low-paying jobs that American citizens won’t typically do such as digging ditches for construction projects or cleaning hotel rooms.
Another student said immigrants performing low paying jobs would most likely qualify for entitlement programs. He asked Mahony how immigrants in these circumstances would add value to the American way of life. His comments were met with applause from many students in the audience.
Mahony said undocumented immigrants cannot obtain a social security card and are paid in cash so they can’t pay payroll taxes. He said they do pay other taxes such as sales taxes in the communities where they live.
Okay, that story was filed by Oklahoman Religion Editor Carla Hinton. She may be the kindest, gentlest, least controversial writer at the Joke. She paints a picture of a respectful, civilized discussion at the Oklahoma City Catholic school. But according to our first ever High School Ogle Mole, things weren't that hunky dory.
Check out this email written to us by a Bishop McGuinness High School student who was at the assembly and embarrassed by the actions of his/her classmates. I'm keeping the student's identity a secret to protect him or her from being bullied by the asshole McGuinness kid who drives a new car and has a dad who's a rich dentist, which by the way, I think accounts for 45% of the school's enrollment.
First off I'd just like to tell you that I'm a student at Bishop McGuinness (I know, you are so relieved to know high school students read The Lost Ogle). So this happened this Wednesday:
http://newsok.com/cardinal-focus-on-immigration-issues-at-oklahoma-city-school-presentation/article/3726571
Having a Cardinal come and speak is a huge honor because there are barely any in the US and they're next in line to the pope. I mean, we're even told to address them as "Your Eminence".
That being said, this article does not accurately depict the student body's reaction to his presentation- because they were so incredibly rude. I have never been more embarrassed to associate myself with this school.
The Cardinal's whole speech was purely theological, stating that as Catholics we should take care of immigrants no matter their legal status. Instead, my fellow student's took this as an attack on their conservative political views and because they're 16 years old, have a brand new driver's license, down a couple of Keystone Lights every weekend, and watch Fox News every night with their parents they felt the need to prove that this guy was wrong and didn't know what he was talking about.
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but Cardinal Mahony, a man who has devoted his whole life to Migration and Refugee work, probably knows a little more about what he's talking about than a few 16 and 17 year olds. So instead of confronting Cardinal Mahony with the applause and cheers of the whole school behind you, you should've just bit your tongue and go talk to your parents when you got home. Also, that would be a better time to complain about how the government is taking "more than half of your dad's hard earned salary and giving it to people who are just too lazy to get jobs :(" because I'm tired of hearing about that at school.
People at my school need to wake up and realize that not everyone gets the same opportunities that we do.
I honestly don't know why I'm sending this e-mail to you- as if you care about a presentation at a Catholic school. I just want people to know that there are some students at McGuinness who genuinely want to help people and not just do it because it's required for us to graduate.
Wow. Who would have thought that our High School Moles were more intelligent and articulate than our average site commenter or website editor.
Anyway, this kid has some good points. Although I don't entirely agree with the notion that the students who disagreed with the Cardinal should keep there mouths shut, I am happy to know that there are some young Oklahoman's who practice common sense, logic and compassion, and don't hate an entire group of people based upon where they were born. Just like a Junior Mint, it's very refreshing.
