The Pilgrimage Continues... by Mark and Louise Zwick [page 1 of 3]
Since 1980 Casa Juan Diego has received thousands of refugees, Spanish speaking battered women and children. It has been the Inn to many homeless pregnant women. It is Saturday morning. There is much to do. Martha, a battered woman, abruptly interrupts our work with a visiting
volunteer youth group from a local parish to insist that she go to visit
her newborn at LBJ County hospital. Concern is written all over her face.
The hospital had sent her home without the baby because the newborn had
respiratory problems. So we (Louise and Mark) decide we should take her to see her baby--a
mother separated from her newborn suffers pain of birth all over again in
her empty arms. Besides, either Erika, Sue, Mary or Myla could entertain the youth group
with projects as well as we could. And besides, we (Louise and Mark) need some time to talk to each other--a
precious item in the midst of all this. As we are driving to LBJ Hospital, it dawns on us--like a bolt out of
the blue--like Paul being struck off his horse. Is Martha legal? Are we transporting an "illegal alien?" (We received unsigned
letters attacking us for helping "illegals." We don't believe
any person can be "illegal"--they may be undocumented.) Are we breaking the law? What should we do? Should we put Martha out of the car immediately--right
there on 59 North on this overpass and not break the law another second?
And should we rush over to a nearby church and go to confession--and how
do you confess such a sin, since it is no sin in any examination of conscience
books that we know of: Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have harbored and transported an
illegal alien? What would the priest say? He would probably say, "My child, our Holy Bible says that we should
welcome the stranger--so go and sin no more." (Or: "If you have
trouble, bring her to our sanctuary"). Or he might say: "The Pope is going to be very angry at you (the Zwicks) for even doubting that you should help this poor mother. Are you some kind of nut--or even a heretic to challenge Catholic teaching and the Pope? Do you want to be excommunicated for not carrying out Catholic teaching about helping refugees?"
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