Bumper Sticker Theology

In a sweeping statement that could possibly effect the lives of literally tens of illegal immigrants, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rhode Island, Thomas Tobin, asked for a blanket moratorium on (illegal) immigrant raids in that state until the nation adopts comprehensive immigration reform.

“We often ask, 'What would Jesus do?' ” Tobin said in an interview yesterday. “I know for sure what Jesus would not do would be to sweep into a community, gather up large numbers of people, separate them from one another and deport them . . . In my own mind . . . that's crystal clear: Jesus would not do that.”

Far be it from us to question what the Bishop is claiming but since we don’t possess the ecumenical chops he does, we won’t presume, either, to know what Jesus would do.

So instead of asking any sort of certainly rhetorical question regarding what someone else who lived some 2,000 years ago would do, we just go to the accounting of that person’s life and what he said on the nature of Christianity with respect to secular authority...

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plants to trap him in his words…. “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Ceasar or not?” But Jesus knowing their evil intent, said… “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:15-22, abbreviated)

Much like the case of the illegal immigrant movement’s “It”-girl, Elvira Arellano, we’re simultaneously amused and troubled when men of the cloth start throwing around Jesus’ name as justification for flouting the laws on the books.