8.124. I think the Church should push governments to open their borders to mass immigration to help the poor. Isn’t that the godly thing to do?
No, because true Catholic charity must be governed by justice, prudence, and the common good—not sentimentalism or globalist ideology. The Church’s mission is to save souls, not to act as a political pressure group for borderless humanitarian policies. While helping the poor is a duty, how we help them matters deeply. Opening borders indiscriminately is not merciful—it is often destructive.
The idea that mass immigration is a moral obligation has more in common with secular globalism than with Sacred Tradition. For centuries, the Church has upheld the right and duty of nations to protect their sovereignty, cultural integrity, and social order.
The Catechism of St. Pius X, the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, and popes such as Leo XIII all affirm that immigration must be ordered and limited. The right to migrate is not absolute, and governments must prioritize the good of their own citizens.
Today, many in the post-Vatican II Church promote mass migration as a supposed act of mercy. In reality, this policy often leads to the collapse of national identities, the erosion of Catholic culture, and the importation of hostile ideologies—especially Islam and secular relativism. Entire Catholic nations have been destabilized under the weight of mass migration policies promoted in the name of “solidarity.”
Furthermore, the modern ideology surrounding migration promotes a false guilt. Nations are told that refusing mass migration is selfish. People are shamed into surrendering their national identity in the name of vague notions like “diversity” and “inclusion.” But the Church has always taught that charity begins at home and that it is not unjust for a government to defend its people from harm, disorder, or dilution of culture and faith.
The Church’s role is to teach the Gospel, defend the truth, and sanctify souls—not to act as an NGO for the UN, the EU, or Davos elites. When the hierarchy advocates for unrestricted immigration while ignoring apostasy, heresy, and moral decay, they are abandoning the spiritual mission of the Church in favor of political activism.
Here is a side-by-side comparison to illustrate the difference between traditional Catholic teaching and the modern ideology:
| Category | Traditional Catholic Teaching | Modern Globalist View | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity | Ordered, local, rooted in justice and prudence | Borderless, ideological, emotional | True charity starts with fulfilling duties to one’s own |
| Immigration | Permissible when not harmful to common good | Promoted regardless of consequences | Uncontrolled immigration destabilizes nations and cultures |
| National Sovereignty | A natural right and duty | Viewed as outdated or selfish | Governments must protect their people first |
| Church’s Role | Preach, sanctify, and save souls | Act as an activist humanitarian agency | The Church is not an extension of the UN |
| Catholic Culture | Preserve and promote the Faith | Dissolve into multicultural neutrality | Mass immigration has erased Catholic identity in Europe |
| Fruits | Stability, justice, strong families, conversion | Disorder, relativism, division, loss of faith | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16) |
Summary:
The Church is not commanded to promote mass migration, but to promote truth and the salvation of souls. True charity never demands the destruction of order, sovereignty, or culture. When mass immigration is weaponized—often under false compassion—it becomes a tool of chaos, not mercy.
Let governments govern. Let the Church preach Christ. Let charity be guided by reason, law, and justice, not emotional manipulation.