Letter to the Editor

Published: January 3, 2008

To the Editor:

Kudos to The Georgia Bulletin for publishing the letter from Dan O’Hara (Letters to the Editor, Dec. 13) in which he defines the view of illegal immigration held by many Catholics! ... I feel that the practice of condoning and, in some cases advocating, disobedience to civil law is a slippery slope from which we may never return as a united people.

I cannot understand how our church, which demands from its members strict adherence to its own laws, can be so cavalier as to suggest setting aside the civil laws which control our behavior. Where does it end? Who decides what laws we obey and those we can disregard? Once we convince ourselves that there is justification for breaking civil law, it is only a short step to condoning disobedience to criminal law. One thing which binds us together as a church is our universal acceptance of and obedience to church law. How long will the church last if everyone is free to decide which laws he obeys and which he breaks?

How long will our country last if civil law is set aside in favor or personal belief? … Can we be so blind as to think that the Lord God Almighty, the greatest Lawgiver of all time, would condone his people breaking the law? I think we are on a dangerous path and I pray that our leaders will change their course before they do irreparable damage to our church.

Pete Borden, East Cobb