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Catholic Social Teaching, The Right to Migrate, and the Rule of Law

Catholic Social Teaching, The Right to Migrate, and the Rule of Law. Andrew Yuengert Cool Talk, Univ. of St. Thomas March 2, 2012. Outline. Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration Economics of immigration Politics of Immigration. Priority of Doctrine over Politics.

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Catholic Social Teaching, The Right to Migrate, and the Rule of Law

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  1. Catholic Social Teaching, The Right to Migrate, and the Rule of Law

    Andrew Yuengert Cool Talk, Univ. of St. Thomas March 2, 2012
  2. Outline Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration Economics of immigration Politics of Immigration
  3. Priority of Doctrine over Politics Since they are citizens of a free society, those who teach Catholic Social Doctrine will as responsible citizens have their own political opinions and they will range across the whole right, left, and centre perspectives within the limits of that doctrine… Rodger Charles, Christian Social Witness and Teaching
  4. Priority of Doctrine over Politics … but they must avoid the temptation to let their own opinions color the way in which they approach the subject. They must make clear that they respect all the political options a Christian in good conscience can take, not only that which they have espoused. Rodger Charles, Christian Social Witness and Teaching
  5. Doctrine First Most of us are not really approaching the subject [Christian social morality] in order to find out what Christianity says: we are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party. We are looking for an ally where we are offered either a Master or – a Judge. I am just the same. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
  6. The Right to Migrate Based on three principles Right of family to a living Priority of family over state Right of economic initiative
  7. Right to Migrate Aware of burdens on host countries Not an open borders policy Not an absolute right
  8. Not absolute? Rights and Justice Justice accounts for tradeoffs Rights stronger where fewer substitutes Right to life absolute: no substitute! Right to migrate strongest for refugees and the poor
  9. Not Absolute Right to migrate may be abridged in the face of severe threats to common good. Not to be abridged lightly A high bar: US immigrants are poor
  10. Pause to Reflect What the principles buy: Cannot ignore benefits and costs to immigrants Be generous, especially to the poor There can be grounds for restrictions
  11. Pause to Reflect Value in these principles, before application Policy based on more than effects on natives All concerns not “anti-immigrant” Bishops do a great service in teaching principles, even if they do nothing else They should affect both right, left, and center Through the laity
  12. Economic Effects of U.S. Immigration Largebenefits to Immigrants - Poor Immigrants: wages 4-5 times higher - Refugees, asylum seekers - Benefits to home countries: - $ remittances - business connections
  13. Economic Effects of U.S. Immigration Small net benefit to: - US business owners - consumers Effect on wages of native unskilled: 2-3% lower growth over 20 years
  14. Economic Effects of U.S. Immigration Effect on state and local budgets: - modest -but concentrated (CA, FL, TX, AZ)
  15. Economic Effects of U.S. Immigration Effects on Natives: small Effects on Immigrants: large Conclusion: Arguments against immigration must rely on non-economic costs (security, culture)
  16. The Politics of US Immigration 1986: three million illegal immigrants The Grand Bargain (IRCA): Amnesty Enforcement (workplace)
  17. The Politics of US Immigration The Outcome of the Bargain 2.7 million amnestied No enforcement By 2000, 10 million illegal immigrants
  18. The Politics of US Immigration The Politics this time Enforcement first Fences at the Border
  19. The Politics of US Immigration Concern about the rule of law Widespread flouting of law corrupts Consciences of illegal immigrants Politics government agencies
  20. The Politics of US Immigration Respect for rule of law Fragile Crucial Hard to re-establish
  21. The Politics of US Immigration The problem is illegal immigration Can be solved by Increasing legal immigration Even this will require real enforcement
  22. Final Thoughts Cautions for all Catholics Conservatives: Goal is a generous policy Catholic Progressives: Rule of law legitimate problem Real enforcement makes generous policy possible
  23. Final Thoughts Charity in all things, even politics
  24. Is US policy Generous? Permanent Legal Immigration, 2009 US: 1.13 million Germany: 606 thousand Switzerland: 132 thousand France: 126 thousand UK: 471 thousand Mexico: 24 thousand
  25. Is US Policy Generous? Foreign born Population, %, 2009 (% not from EU) Australia: 26.5% Canada: 19.6% Finland: 4% (2.8%) France: 12% (8.4%) Germany: 12.9% (7.8%) Israel: 26% Luxembourg: 37% (5.6%) Netherlands: 11% (9.4%) Sweden: 14% (9.1%) Switzerland: 26% (11.7%) UK: 11% (7.7%) US: 12.5%
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