Vatican condemns the Tortilla Curtain

Cardinal Renato Martino condemned on November 14th the building of walls along the US-Mexico border designed to keep undocumented aliens at bay, saying that it is part of an “inhuman program”. He made these comments at a news conference that presented a papal message in honor of the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

As head of the Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, Cardinal Martino said “Speaking of borders, I must unfortunately say that in a world that greeted the fall of the Berlin Wall with joy, new walls are being built between neighborhood and neighborhood, city and city, nation and nation”.

When asked whether the Tortilla Curtain between Mexico and the US fit within these categories, Cardinal Martino replied “Yes, that’s exactly what it is”. Going further, the cardinal praised both US and Mexican bishops who have condemned the wall, echoing the sentiments of at least one US mayor along the US-Mexico border.

President George Bush signed legislation in the run-up to the November mid-term elections authorizing the 2,000 mile (3.200 KM) barrier, sparking condemnations by the prelates and the Mexican president. Bush explained that the fence is necessary to deter criminals and terrorists.

The cardinal’s statement highlighted similar walls or barriers being built in other parts of the world. Spain has beefed up its barriers around its African colonies of Ceuta and Melilla, Israel is reinforcing a wall against the West Ban