Catholic charities back lower tuition for immigrants

Last updated on: March 6, 2013 at 7:02 am by CNA Daily News

Catholic charities back lower tuition for immigrants 2013-03-06T07:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Denver, Colo., Mar 6, 2013 / 12:02 am (CNA).- Colorado's three Catholic Charities agencies have stated their support for a bill which would allow some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at the state's universities.

“These brothers and sisters are human beings worthy of treatment in keeping with their inherent human dignity,” the directors of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, of Central Colorado, and of the Diocese of Pueblo, wrote Feb. 26.

“Obtaining a college degree will not only empower these aspiring students, but will also help to form and improve the lives of countless future generations.”

Senate Bill 33, known as “ASSET,” would allow undocumented students at Colorado's institutions of higher education who either graduated from a Colorado high school after three years of attendance or who received a General Equivalency Diploma in Colorado to pay the in-state tuition rate.

The bill passed the Colorado Senate Feb. 25. It was voted for by three Republicans, the first time such a bill has had bi-partisan support in the state. Democrats currently control both chambers of the Colorado legislature. The bill is now passing through House committees, and will become law when signed by Democratic governor John Hickenlooper.

“There’s some pretty great kids out there who can benefit from the passage of a bill like this,” said Greg Brophy, one of the Republican state senators who voted in favor of the bill.

Catholic Charities noted that there is a tie between wealth and education and that the bill is an opportunity to help break the “crippling bonds” of “cycles of poverty.”

Not only would the bill help those individuals who avail themselves of in-state tuition, they would in turn be “encouraged to become more productive, well-educated professionals” who “provide their families and our state with lasting benefits for years to come,” Catholic Charities said.

While acknowledging that the undocumented students entered the U.S. illegally, Catholic Charities noted that this was not their act, but generally an act of their parents done while they were “at a very young age.”

Moreover, Catholic Charities said, culturally, the students are “strongly American,” having “little to no attachment” to their native countries. They are already provided with a public school education by the state.

“They long to contribute in meaningful ways – including working and paying taxes – to the economic prosperity of the only nation they have really known.”

Angela Giron, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that “We are now going to be able to reward young people who have played by the rules. They are now going to be able to give back.”

Kevin Lundberg, one of the legislators who voted against the bill in the Senate, denied that his opposition was borne of a “xenophobic, irrational fear” and suggested that the bill is a “step of amnesty.”

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of the Denver archdiocese responded to such suggestions by saying that “the beneficiaries of ASSET are young people, most of whom did not choose to come to Colorado.”

“I commend the bill’s sponsors…for promoting a bill that respects the dignity of young, hard-working Coloradans, who, through no fault of their own, live in Colorado illegally,” he wrote in a Jan. 30 column in the Denver Catholic Register.

“ASSET ensures that Coloradans are equipped to contribute meaningfully to their families, to their communities, and to the civic life of our state,” he concluded.

Previous Post

March 6, 2013

Lawmakers, medical workers speak up on conscience bill

Next Post

March 6, 2013 Catholics speak out against Colo. civil unions bill

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible has the longest chapter?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Genesis Psalms Jeremiah