Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members - the last, the least, the littlest.

Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members - the last, the least, the littlest.

It appears fashionable these days, and almost politically correct, to blame hard-working immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, for the social and economic ills of our state and nation.

It's hard to determine where lies culpability.

It is unacceptable that immigrants, including children, are shackled and detained in deplorable conditions. And it is unacceptable that already this year immigrants have died by the dozens in the California desert or in other parts of the Southwest.

The church also does not condone a broken immigration system in the U.S., one that too easily can lead to the exploitation, abuse and even death of immigrants.

We should embrace our immigrant roots and recognize that newcomers to our land are not part of the problem, they are part of the solution.