Last week the eyes of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of poor children were brightened by the generosity of those who donated toys to charitable programs across the country. Toys For Tots, Christmas Tree, and many other programs brought happiness and wonder to the the most precious, the little ones among us. But, some little faces were told to stand back, pushed aside and excluded from the holiday cheer.
Denise W., a regular contributor to Christmas toy drives, had three decorated bags, each containing a toy that was sure to light up the face of a boy or girl on Christmas morning. She was doing her charitable work for 2009 and brightening up the holidays at the same time.
As she unloaded the gifts from her car and prepared to deliver them to the collection center set up inside her neighborhood fire station, Denise explained why she chose the fire department toy drive over other programs collecting toys for needy kids.
“Well, it’s in the neighborhood and convenient, but mostly because I want to be sure that I’m giving my donation to a responsible program, and one that supports Christian and American values,” Denise said.
She had read in the paper that many charities this year are screening recipients, filtering illegal immigrants out of their programs. The idea appealed to her.
“Most of the toys the fire department collects are given to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families, and the Salvation Army is a good Christian organization. Did you know that it’s like a church?” Denise went on. “Also, it’s important to me that they make an effort to see that American kids receive the toys, not illegals. They require parents to show proof that they’re not in this country illegally.”
Christian and American values? Ponder that for a moment.
What kind of person denies an innocent little child a toy at Christmas because his parents, in hope of a better life, crossed the U.S. border illegally? Is hardness of the heart now an American value? It certainly isn’t a Christian value.
Consider a few verses of scripture on the topic:
“Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.” Exodus 23:9
“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:34
“And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:19
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35
Is it possible to imagine Jesus Christ handing out gifts to children and passing over those little ones who lack citizenship papers? We are told to feed the hungry, be of service to the poor and to love our fellow man. Christ does not encourage us to be surrogates of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Withholding a Christmas toy from a little one pains the soul, but it is not nearly so troubling as other voices of hatred that are raised in every public forum where immigration reform is discussed. Voices that call for denying even emergency health care to the undocumented. Voices that call for allowing our brothers and sisters to die from neglect and want of care, only because their presence in this country violates an unnecessary and arbitrary rule. Because their very presence constitutes a trespass that involves no malum per se, no moral turpitude, and harms no one. Their crime is in their working and struggling for a better life for their children, children who do not qualify for Christmas toys from our Christian charities!
There is no patriotism in making our country ugly. There is no honor in abusing the defenseless. There is no humanity in extinguishing the hope in the eyes of a child. There is nothing but dishonor, disgrace and a repudiation of our Lord in a heart that turns away the stranger in need. Inasmuch as we do it to the least of them, so do we do it to our Lord.
As we approach a new year, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could also approach a new day in the way our nation treats its neighbors and the strangers among us? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could establish charity, compassion and love as the bedrock foundation upon which America might build values that well serve ourselves and the world?
Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, an action project of Sojourners, is asking Christians to sign a petition committing to:
- the belief that all people, regardless of nationality or citizenship status, are made in the image of God and deserving of respect;
- show compassion for the stranger, and love and mercy for our neighbors;
- balance the rule of law with the call to oppose unjust laws and systems when they violate human dignity.
The petition can be found here.
Christian and American values. We’ve had enough greed, exploitation, bigotry and hate. It’s time for charity, compassion and love.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
We live in a world where a war president is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Now it is a “value” to mistreat children.
There is something very wrong with a Christian organization that would discriminate against immigrant children.
Good writing, Mary Ann, and how true! I stand right there beside you on this issue!
Oh, and thanks to you & Prentice for the sweatshirt! I love it! It was just what I needed as cold winter settles over Nashville & most of the country. I’m wearing it even as I type this. (No, the computer lab where I am isn’t cold – I just want folks to see the name of my church, which has such wonderful, caring, serving, loving folks like you!)
The Catholic Church has been very plain in its position on the treatment of undocumented aliens. I am not a Catholic, but I admire the unhesitating way in which the Catholics have responded to this issue.
Neither am I Catholic, but I too admire the manner that this old & still influential (in some ways & places), still wealthy (in some ways & places), denomination responds to the needy & defenseless. From the unborn in the womb to the undocumented in the USA to the “untouchables” in India, the Church of Rome has heeded to call of the Lord Jesus to reach out in loving service to those who are unable to help themselves. God bless the memory of such Catholic saints as Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Monseñor Oscar Romero of El Salvador! O Spirit divine, strengthen all those living saints, Catholic & otherwise, who act with Jesus & them as examples!
Glen Alan, I would say that the Catholic church certainly is still influential in more than just “some ways & places!” There are more than ONE BILLION Catholics in the world. That’s 100 million more Catholics than Muslims. In the United States there are twice as many Catholics as Southern Baptists. The Catholic Church is the biggest religious body in the world and in the United States. So, yes the Catholic Church continues to be “influential.”