Voices of Conscience

Recently, Pope Francis once again took aim at policies that dehumanize and marginalize people on our borders. In a pointed letter to the American Catholic bishops, the Pontiff condemned mass deportations, saying: “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.” This isn’t just rhetoric. Francis has long championed compassion over coercion—reminding us that the migration crisis is not a criminal matter but a human one. He noted that many migrants are fleeing extreme poverty, persecution, and environmental collapse. To lump these people together as “illegal” or “criminal” is not only factually wrong—it destroys the very dignity of human life.

The Pope’s message is clear: policies that rely on force and fear only deepen social divides and create vulnerability among entire families. As we hear his words echoing from newsrooms like Reuters and The Guardian, we are forced to ask ourselves—what kind of nation do we want to be?

Now, let’s shift gears to a proposal that has emerged from some corners of Congress—HR 22, a resolution intended to amend our Constitution’s term limits, in effect to allow a president to serve a third term. This proposal, introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles, is designed explicitly with the idea of extending presidential power. In simple terms, it seeks to undermine the very principles that were hard-won by our forefathers to prevent an overconcentration of power in the executive branch.

Allowing any president—even one as controversial as Trump—to serve a third term isn’t just a political maneuver; it’s a fundamental attack on our system of checks and balances. Our Constitution, through the 22nd Amendment, was established to ensure a regular transfer of power and to keep the presidency from becoming a permanent office.

Yet here we are, witnessing a proposal that would literally “rewrite” our amendments to favor a particular political figure. It’s not only a betrayal of democratic ideals, but it also sends a dangerous message: that the rules of our republic can be bent when it suits political ambitions.

I find this especially galling when contrasted with the Pope’s call for respect for human dignity—whether in how we treat immigrants or in how we govern. We cannot claim to stand for justice and equality if we allow constitutional safeguards to be eroded for short-term political gain.

Closing Thoughts: Today’s discussion lays bare a stark contrast. On one side, a moral leader—the Pope—reminds us that a society built on compassion, inclusivity, and respect for the vulnerable is the only way forward. On the other side, there is an attempt by some to twist our constitutional limits in the name of partisan advantage.

Both issues, though seemingly separate, underscore a common theme: when power is wielded without conscience, whether at the border or in the halls of Congress, our democracy—and our humanity—is at risk.