The Holy Post 699: The Limits of Liberalism & Punishing Immigrants with Matthew Soerens
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Dec 10, 2025 Matthew Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief, joins to shed light on the shifting landscape of U.S. immigration. He discusses the Trump administration's evolving policies, particularly the punitive approach towards immigrants and the chaos of conflicting rhetoric. Soerens passionately argues against collective punishment, citing biblical principles of dignity. He also highlights the need for humane alternatives to detention and the challenges facing various refugee populations. The conversation reveals the complex intersection of policy, morality, and Christian advocacy in today's immigration debate.
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Liberalism Defined And Its Limits
- Liberalism centers individual autonomy and rights, shaping Western democracy and institutions like the Bill of Rights.
- That remit creates strengths in liberty but also leaves cultural questions about the good life unanswered.
Growth Isn't A Complete Answer
- Economic growth alone doesn't solve social fragmentation, meaning, or low birth rates driving migration pressures.
- Ross Douthat argues liberalism lacks tools to manage aging societies, migration, and cultural conflict.
Family And Faith Underpin Liberal Orders
- Liberal societies rely on illiberal institutions like family and religion to sustain civic virtues and social order.
- Removing those binding institutions risks liberalism's self-defeat by eroding obligations and community.
