Posted on February 24, 2005

Acts of Kindness

Marty Lich, MichNews.com, Feb. 22

I operate under the book “Chicken Soup For The Soul” belief mandates. I believe that random acts of kindness are what set us apart from all the other mammals and for that matter, a few other human beings out there in our vast world.

But I learned something else. I discovered I was an unwitting participant in acts of charitable kindness. You are all benefactors, too.

I am speaking of the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. My inadvertent quest of knowledge began in 2003 when I learned my Eagle County tax dollars had funded a portion of our local chapter of Catholic Charities. I read that information when it was published in my local newspaper. “Eagle County (.pdf), which pitched in $25,000 to sponsor the program.” The article continued on with regards to services being provided, in part, due to my ‘pitched in’ local tax money.

I had no idea at the time that non-profit groups receive large sums of our tax money on a regular basis from our government. I did and do know the federal law has written specifics with regards to government and charitable organizations on aiding and abetting illegal aliens residing in America, under INA 274A(a)(1)(A):, Section 274 felonies, which states in part:

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when they:

· assist an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment

· knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Catholic Charities had just written that they offered assistance to various people residing in Colorado even if “Some are legal and some aren’t,” per our Eagle County immigrant community advocate Darlene Montano. A felony is a serious criminal offense, even if it is committed by a non-profit group or government entity.

Catholic Charities does not beat around the bush with their agenda. From their 2004-2005 ‘Legislative Priority’ is the following:

Level 1

Highest priority issues that require Catholic Charities USA to take a leading role. Involves proactive, intensive advocacy through testimony, active lobbying, and research.

Immigration-Legalization

· Support immigration reforms to help undocumented workers to adjust to legal status

· Support restoration of 245(i) toward family reunification

· Support due process for legal and undocumented immigrants

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