CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING ON IMMIGRATION AND THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLES

Abstract

This paper interrogates the Catholic social teaching on immigration and the movements
of peoples. The discourse does this, by first of all stating that, the rights of migrants
(refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, migrant workers, and internally displaced
persons-IDPs) begin with the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching, namely, the dignity
and sanctity of the human person. The paper submits that right to life and the conditions
worthy of life, when threatened by poverty, injustice, religious intolerance, armed
conflict, and other root causes, give rise to the right to migrate. It argues that unity in
diversity is firmly grounded in the Church's social teaching and understanding and
appreciating this helps us to put our faith into action. This paper, further evaluates the
principles of Catholic social teaching using specific quotes from Church documents that
address the most common misperceptions about Church teachings. The purpose of this
discussion therefore, is to provide a brief, concise, and useful compilation of information
on authentic Roman Catholic teaching regarding the areas of immigration and the
movements of peoples that currently concern most Christians. The body of this work
consists of quotes from documents and statements originating only from those men who
are authorized to speak for the Catholic Church, namely, the Popes and those Bishops and
theologians in union with them. Thus, following this methodology, these quotes are extracted from encyclicals, pastoral letters, and addresses by these representatives of the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Catholic Church.