Mahony Blasts Political Stance on Immigrants : Religion: Cardinal charges leaders with exploiting racism and prejudice. He calls for change in attitudes and policy.

Warning that suspicion, fear and hatred of immigrants is on the rise, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony has issued a stinging indictment charging political leaders, segments of the media and members of the public with exploiting selfishness and racism.

In a sermon prepared for delivery today at the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese’s annual multiethnic Mass at St. Vincent’s Church, Mahony called for a “change in attitude and a change in policy” toward immigrants that recognizes their contributions to society.

“Attitudes of suspicion, fear and hatred toward newcomers are on the rise. Rather than recognizing the creative potential of new immigrants, some political leaders have chosen to exploit the most defenseless in our society to divert attention from the unwillingness or inability to confront the more complex cause of economic stagnation, poverty, and crime,” Mahony said.

“In choosing to exploit the anti-immigrant sentiment, political leaders have played upon some of the more enduring evils in society: selfishness, racism and deeply ingrained culture prejudices,” Mahony added.

The cardinal’s office said Friday that his references to “newcomers” and “immigrants” were intended to cover legal and illegal immigrants.

Mahony’s remarks, among the strongest criticism he has ever directed at politicians, come as a growing list of elected officials from President Clinton and Gov. Pete Wilson to California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have called for a wide range of steps to halt the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

Although not mentioning Wilson by name, the cardinal singled out the governor’s proposal to deny citizenship and public education to children born of illegal immigrants.

“We . . . know that nothing is gained by denying citizenship and access to education to the children of undocumented workers,” Mahony said. “On the contrary, the human potential of these dynamic, new Americans will be lost. Our society will not be improved by creating an even larger underclass deprived of education.”

Wilson has also signed a series of bills, including a prohibition against issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, and a measure requiring proof of legal residency for state-paid job training. Another bill prohibits local governments from adopting so-called sanctuary laws that prohibit police from sharing information with federal immigration authorities.

In Sacramento, Wilson’s communications director, Dan Schnur, said Mahony was “absolutely correct” if he was speaking about legal immigrants. But Wilson’s office repeated its concern about illegal immigrants.

“There’s a limit to what our taxpayers can afford and if we are going to provide necessary health services to children and others truly in need, reducing the flow of illegal immigrants into our country becomes an absolute necessity,” Schnur said.

In a state buffeted by high unemployment and a sluggish economy, Wilson is not alone in advancing proposals to crack down on illegal immigration.

Boxer has called for reinforcing the Border Patrol with National Guard troops to reduce the number of illegal immigrants. Feinstein has called for a six-point plan that includes a $1 or $2 toll on all people entering the United States.

Although Mahony does not mention any political figure by name in his prepared text, he has closely followed developments in Washington and Sacramento.

“We are witnessing a distressing and growing trend among political leaders, segments of the media, and the public at large, which capitalizes on prevailing fears and insecurity about the growing number of immigrants in our communities,” said Mahony, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles.

At another point, Mahony said: “It is imperative that all people of goodwill clearly understand the danger of this growing negative sentiment and the impact it has on those who are its targets.”

Mahony’s defense of immigrants is expected to draw opposition from Catholics and non-Catholics in the archdiocese who are critical of the cardinal’s position.

Last week, calls to the cardinal’s office were running 10 to 2 against Mahony after he publicly called for the inclusion of illegal immigrants in the Clinton Administration’s proposed national health care proposal, Mahony’s spokesman Bill Rivera said Friday. The Clinton plan excludes illegal immigrants.

“The remarks were highly critical (of Mahony),” Rivera said. “We expected that. Any time he says something that’s pretty active in terms of the social teachings of the church, everybody comes out of the woodwork.”

But Mahony was unbending in his defense of immigrants against what he views as mounting political opposition.

“Catholic social teaching takes what many view to be a countercultural position on this matter and insists that the right to immigrate is more fundamental than that of nations to control their borders,” Mahony said. He acknowledged that in the midst of an economic recession, “these principles are difficult to embrace.”

Mahony said that in today’s social climate, politicians and others have special reason to consider what he said was the Bible’s positive view of strangers.

“Our faith tradition calls us not to follow the lead of those who fan the flames of intolerance. Instead, we must raise our voices against this trend and create a climate of mutual respect and dignity,” he said.

Striking a positive note, the cardinal said that Los Angeles and California have a tremendous opportunity to become a model for the United States. “I am convinced that today, as in the past, immigrants are a blessing for our country, our state and our church.

“Our progress and well being are directly linked to the ongoing contributions of immigrants,” he said, noting that studies have shown that immigration is essential to the state’s work force.

“In Los Angeles, we have a particular self-interest in addressing these concerns. We are a microcosm of the global community’s racial, cultural and ethnic diversity. Most of the world’s languages, cultures and races converge here.”