An interesting contribution to the immigration debate from the archbishop of Denver: The moral theologian Johannes Messner wrote in 1958 that “the family is prior to the state. It holds natural rights which the state is bound to recognize.” In fact, Messner says that the “prominent task of the state” is “to make it possible for families to fulfill their natural function.” Libertarians will likely object to some of the details of these assertions, but the central message (albeit marred by much statism in the article overall) is that the state exists to provide peace and then get out of … Continue reading ‘The Family is Prior to the State’