Dolan presses House GOP on immigration

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New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan is telling House Republicans  to “get your act together” in passing comprehensive immigration reform.

{mosads}“This is the best chance we’ve had in fair and just immigration reform, it’s in your lap and we’re not going to let you off the hook,” he said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Dolan also expressed frustration with Democrats and the Obama administration for some of its policy choices during healthcare reform – ones he said exclude protections for “the unborn baby” and the undocumented. However, he says he is equally frustrated with the lack of movement of comprehensive immigration reform.

“We’re saying to the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Republicans, you guys got to get your act together,” Dolan said.

Earlier in the conversation, he said that Pope Francis had reminded Catholics of the “latitude” of the religion’s beliefs and overall principles.

“Those who would try to closet us, maybe, in just what you might call ‘below the belt issues’ – whether be that gay marriage or abortion or contraception or divorce or whatever – that’s important, no doubt about it … but that’s not it,” he said.

“What Pope Francis has said, the way we forgive, the way we help the poor, the way we help the immigrant, the way we reach out to the sick, and the refugee and the forgotten … that is as strong and as cogent a moral imperative as anything else,” Dolan continued.