A Christian theological interpretation of the border reality is a neglected area of immigration study. The foremost contribution of A Promised Land, A Perilous Journey is its focus on the theological dimension of migration, beginning with the humanity of the immigrant, a child of God and a bearer of his image.
The nineteen authors in this collection recognize that one characteristic of globalization is the movement not only of goods and ideas but also of people. The crossing of geographical borders confronts Christians, as well as all citizens, with choices: between national security and human insecurity, between sovereign national rights and human rights, between citizenship and discipleship. Bearing these global dimensions in mind, the essays in this book focus on the particular problems of immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border. The contributors to this volume include scholars as well as pastors and lay people involved in immigration aid work.
Contributors: Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez, Gioacchino Campese, Daniel G. Groody, Jacqueline Hagan, Donald Senior, Peter C. Phan, Alex Nava, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Stephen Bevans, Robert Schreiter, Giovanni Graziano Tassello, Patrick Murphy, Robin Hoover, Graziano Battistella, Donald Kerwin, Raúl Fornet-Betancourt, Olivia Ruiz Marrujo, and Jorge E. Castillo Guerra.
Daniel G. Groody is associate professor of theology and director of the Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. He is the editor of The Option for the Poor in Christian Theology (University of Notre Dame Press, 2007).
Gioacchino Campese is professor of theology at the Scalabrini International Migration Institute.
Table of Contents
Foreword: A Witness to Hope: Migration and Human Solidarity Oscar Andres Cardinal Rodriguez xi Preface xix Foundations of a Theology of Migration Faith for the Journey: Religion as a Resource for Migrants Jacqueline Hagan 3 "Beloved Aliens and Exiles": New Testament Perspectives on Migration Donald Senior 20 Migration in the Patristic Era: History and Theology Peter C. Phan 35 God in the Desert: Searching for the Divine in the Midst of Death Alex Nava 62 Poverty, Migration, and the Option for the Poor Gustavo Gutierrez 76 Mission, Ministry, and Migration Mission among Migrants, Mission of Migrants: Mission of the Church Stephen Bevans 89 Migrants and the Ministry of Reconciliation Robert Schreiter 107 For the Love of Migrants: The Scalabrinian Tradition Giovanni Graziano Tassello 124 The Ninety-Nine Sheep and the Mission of the Church: The Pastoral Care of Hispanic Immigrants Patrick Murphy 141 The Story of Humane Borders Robin Hoover 160 The Politics of Sovereign Rights, Cultural Rights, and Human Rights Migration and Human Dignity: From Policies of Exclusion to Policies Based on Human Rights GrazianoBattistella 177 The Natural Rights of Migrants and Newcomers: A Challenge to U.S. Law and Policy Donald Kerwin 192 Hermeneutics and Politics of Strangers: A Philosophical Contribution on the Challenge of Convivencia in Multicultural Societies Raul Fornet-Betancourt 210 The Gender of Risk: Sexual Violence against Undocumented Women Olivia Ruiz Marrujo 225 Constructive Theologies of Immigration A Theology of Migration: Toward an Intercultural Methodology Jorge E. Castillo Guerra 243 Cuantos Mas? The Crucified Peoples at the U.S.-Mexico Border Gioacchino Campese 271 Fruit of the Vine and Work of Human Hands: Immigration and the Eucharist Daniel G. Groody 299 Contributors 316 General Index 320 Index of Scripture References 330
