Immigration issues are nothing new to Christians.  The Most Rev.
Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of Scranton, on Sunday traced
humanity's struggles in dealing with immigrants and refugees
back to the plight of the Jews in the Bible.  In a service at
the Parish of St. John Neumann in South Scranton, he said Mary,
Joseph and Jesus even once fled Egypt as refugees.  Now, U.S.
citizens struggle with how to handle the latest waves of
immigrants from South America and Asia.  The bishop urged
congregants as both a society and individuals to welcome
immigrants to the United States, adopt a charitable mindset and
purge feelings of both prejudice and indifference.  From a
public policy standpoint, he said that means recasting "our
immigration system in a way that secures the safety of our
nation but also welcomes and respects the strangers among us."
Bishop Bambera told about 300 congregants from diverse
backgrounds that some people have concerns about securing the
nation's borders and respecting the country's laws.  "But t