immigration

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: Is a Fake Marriage OK in Order to Ease Immigration?”

Q: What is the Catholic Church’s position on marriage for a green card, then after a few years a divorce? As a single male I have been asked to do this multiple times, sometimes for money and sometimes because a woman wanted to escape poverty or a totalitarian regime. I assume that if one were to marry for the sake of being paid, it is an obvious sin as it is defrauding the U.S. immigration system. But what about the cases for sincere individuals hoping for a better life in the United States? An example would be a single woman in China who wanted to escape the Communist Party but cannot leave by normal methods of immigration (such as applying for citizenship or being granted asylum in another country) and her last option was marrying someone in the U.S. I am not an expert in canon law, but I would like to assume that this isn’t necessarily sinning (or, as I like to call it, “trampling” on the sanctity of marriage) if the marriage wasn’t consummated and no monetary payment was received and both persons would live together as brother and sister. I know I will be asked this question again in the future. As an individual who suffers from same-sex attraction, I do not believe the vocation of marriage will happen in my case. However, if I am able to help an individual escape poverty (or a similar situation) while refraining from sexual contact, then divorce after a few years later, would this constitute a sin or not? – M.G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: This is a complex question, in part because, as you say, it involves defrauding the government.

As Catholics we are called to be good citizens and to obey just laws. Immigration laws might not be perfect, but that doesn’t automatically give anyone the right to cheat in order to get around them.

Aside from the fraud, there are a few practical problems that come to mind.

First, someone who knows you to be a Catholic might be scandalized that you are entering a civil marriage — and a number of them, at that. People would assume that you and your “bride” are living as husband and wife. A Catholic going through a series of civil marriages and divorces wouldn’t be giving bold witness to the faith.

Second, and this follows on the first point, the incidence of civil divorce itself can weaken public respect for the institution of marriage in general. Marriage was traditionally seen as a lifelong commitment which helped stabilize families and communities. Your example of multiple marriages and divorces wouldn’t do much to build up respect for the institution of marriage.

Third, your deception could impact others financially. For instance, if you work for a company whose medical insurance covers spouses, the company could end paying for your “wife’s” expenses which could strain the firm’s finances. This in turn could affect other employees and their insurance rates.

Fourth, if someday you move beyond the same-sex attraction and want to marry in the Church, those civil marriages could cause a bit of embarrassment.

Those first three points could involve sinful behavior. So you might want to take some of this to prayer.

This short answer in no way is meant to downplay the tragic plight of poor would-be immigrants who have been stuck in a kind of limbo on the U.S. border.

The immigration crisis is real, and one that aches for political solutions as well as for displays of basic Christian charity.

Let’s pray that it is a problem that finds a proper and just solution, one that includes charity and respect for the rule of law.

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: What If I Don’t Want Foreigners in My Homeland?”

Q: I am in my late 20s, Irish, but live in New York City. I deeply love my homeland, I am a nationalist and a patriot. I am also a renewed Catholic – I was raised Catholic back home, then lost the faith in college but regained it when I left to work in London for three years. That is where my love of Ireland turned into an anti-English mindset (in my defense, I was on the receiving end of anti-Irish racism a few times). Since moving to America, my anti-English mindset became an anti-foreigners-in-Ireland one. I know this is ridiculous as I am a foreigner here in America, and the world took millions of Irish in when we had to leave. Firstly, I ask you to pray to God to guide me into a better direction, and secondly, how can I love my country but not be in violation of God’s teachings? – K.M.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: As Catholics we are called to build a better world, which in practice often means being good citizens.

The Catechism in No. 2239 says, “It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity.”

In practice this means we can have a special love for our homeland. But that shouldn’t interfere with our Christian duty to help others in the world. This should include immigrants, especially refugees. We are, after all, all sons and daughters of the same heavenly Father. And Jesus’ own words point up our obligation toward expatriates and refugees: “I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).

Given the tendency of many immigrants to enrich their adopted countries, you could try to see the immigrants in Ireland as people who will benefit the old sod – just as the Irish helped enrich North America and Australia and other places that became their new home.

It might help to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for all God’s gifts in your own life, not least of which was the grace of regaining your faith.

This might be a moment to take all this to prayer and see where the Holy Spirit is leading you. This could a moment to see immigrants of all backgrounds as people for whom Christ suffered and died. And if they were worth the blood of Our Lord, that speaks volumes of their value in his eyes.

Finally, it might be useful for you to spend some time reflecting on what St. Paul describes as a kind of “dual citizenship” enjoyed by every Christian. We are citizens of this world, but only temporarily. Our true and everlasting “citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

For more reading see the U.S. bishops’ conference posting on immigration. I hope some of this helps.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to [email protected] and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

“Ask a Priest: What If I Don’t Want Foreigners in My Homeland?” Read More »

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!