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Occasional Papers

Between 1972 and 2004, CMS published “occasional papers” on immigration research and policy issues and on the pastoral care of immigrants. Research and policy topics covered in this collection include the integration of Italian American families; low-wage and skilled immigrant workers; legalization programs; employer sanctions; housing issues related to new immigrants; migration and development; civil liberties and national security. The pastoral series includes papers on the theology of migration; the pastoral care of migrants; Vatican II;  and the Catholic Church’s response to refugees and immigrants. The collection includes eminent authors like: Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini (founder of the Missionaries of St. Charles); Graziano Battistella, C.S.; Austin Fragomen, Jr.; Anne Marie and Jacques Gaillard; Andrew Greely; Charles Keely; Donald Kerwin; Mark Miller; Demetrios Papademetriou; Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, C.S.; Charles Wheeler; and Diana Zimmerman.

For years, these papers were only available for purchase, but CMS is now pleased to provide these papers online for free.

Occasional Papers: Documentation Series
Date of Publication:1967Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi Migration in Light of Vatican II
The aim of the study is to assess the teaching of the Second Vatican Council with regard to internal and external migration, and to understand the economic, psychological and spiritual needs of migrants in order to assist them through pastoral............
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Date of Publication:1972Authors: Lydio F. Tomasi The Italian American Family: The Southern Italian Family’s Process of Adjustment to an Urban America
The study examines the social world of southern Italians, the intergenerational process from familism to individualism, and the interplay between the individual, family and society. While many social scientists argue that migration, urbanization, and acculturation weaken or destroy kinship bonds............
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Date of Publication:1973Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi Ethnic Heritage and Cultural Pluralism in the USA
The paper discusses two forms of ethnic identification in American society: the cultural world to which immigrants and socially and economically marginal racial groups cling and the “new ethnics” who utilized ethnic awareness to fulfill emotional or pragmatic goals. The............
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Date of Publication:1973Authors: Austin T. Fragomen, Jr. The Illegal Alien - A Criminal or Economic Refugee?
Despite their contributions to American society, immigrants have been the targets of irrational and discriminatory attacks in times of national crisis and economic downturn. The paper explores nativist movements in the United States and the threat to the human rights............
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Date of Publication:1973Authors: Lydio F. Tomasi The Ethnic Factor in the Future of Inequality
The paper explores inequality, elitist vs. minority perspectives, and a pluralistic theory of ethnicity. It discusses the issues of culture and ethnicity within the framework of the relative positioning of different groups in society and the interactions among and between............
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Date of Publication:1974Authors: Bishop Alfred Ancel Theology of the Local Church in Relation to Migration
This paper concerns the responsibility of local churches regarding the care of migrants and includes an opening message by Pope Paul VI on the subject. The ideal of treatment of migrants and attitudes toward foreigners is compared to the lived............
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Date of Publication:1976Authors: Charles B. Keely and Silvano M. Tomasi The Disposable Worker: Historical and Comparative Perspectives on Clandestine Migration
Clandestine immigration is cyclical in nature as a result of the institutionalized absorption and expulsion of workers as determined by labor needs in the host country. The historical relationship between the US and Mexico (which continues to the present day)............
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Date of Publication:1977Authors: Desmon Storer, Freda Hawkins, and Silvano M. Tomasi Amnesty for Undocumented Migrants: The Experience of Australia, Canada and Argentina
Three papers document the amnesty policies of Australia, Canada and Argentina, respectively. The historical, political and economic contexts are discussed as they relate to the reasons that amnesty was granted. The way in which amnesty policies were carried out is............
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Date of Publication:1978Authors: Ralph Della Cava Resources for the Study of Italian Emigration
A directory of libraries and archives in Rome and Florence that are useful in researching Italian emigration..........
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Date of Publication:1978Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi An Annotated Bibliography of Serials on Migration
The paper lists and annotates publications dedicated to migration studies, organized by country..........
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Date of Publication:1977Authors: Charles B. Keely, Patricia Elwell, Austin Fragomen, Jr., and Silvano M. Tomasi Profiles on Undocumented Aliens in New York City: Haitians and Dominicans
The paper examines the profiles of undocumented Haitians and Dominicans in New York City. Specifically, it looks at the personal and family background characteristics of the migrants, their participation in the labor force, their usage of social services and tax............
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Date of Publication:1982Authors: Sergio Diaz Briquets International Migration within Latin America and the Caribbean: An Overview
The author discusses the direction and magnitude of international migration flows as well as the largely economic determinants of intraregional and international migration within Latin America and the Caribbean. The exploration of determinants includes sections on population growth, social and............
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Date of Publication:1986Authors: Demetrios Papademetriou New Immigrants to Brooklyn and Queens: Policy Implications Especially with Regard to Housing
The article discusses migration patterns in New York City with emphasis on the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It also examines the characteristics of the housing market in New York with regard to the issue of race and ethnicity as............
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Date of Publication:1987Authors: Mark J. Miller Employer Sanctions in Western Europe
The study examines illegal immigration issues in Western Europe, including the employment of illegal aliens and patterns of illegal residency. It is also concerned with the development and enforcement of employer sanctions aimed at curbing illegal immigration. It argues that............
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Date of Publication:Authors: Graziano Battistella The Poverty Status of Italian Americans in the City of New York
The report describes the poverty status of Italian Americans in New York City and compares it to that of the white non-hispanic population in the same area using the 1980 census. The data indicates that the year of the census,............
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Date of Publication:Authors: Gionni Agostinelli Migration-Development Interrelationships: The Case of the Philippines
The paper examines the magnitude and demographics of the Philippine Migration, including its geographical distribution, social and economic characteristics, as well as Filipino participation in the US labor market. It also looks at the impact of migration on development and............
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Date of Publication:1993Authors: Mark J. Miller and Robert A. Denemark Migration and World Politics: A Critical Case for Theory and Policy
The paper argues that because international migration is an interdisciplinary study, theories developed in different branches of the social sciences are applied inconsistently to work on migration; as a result it is difficult to evaluate or further develop theories. The............
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Date of Publication:1994Authors: Anne Marie Gaillard Migration Return: A Bibliographical Overview
The paper seeks to find commonalities in the literature on the voluntary return of economic/labor migrants as well as forced migrants (displaced persons or refugees). It includes anthropological, economic, historical and psychological works, among others. The text is organized into............
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Date of Publication:1997Authors: Mark J. Miller Between Revolution and Stasis: US Immigration and Refugee Policy in 1996
The paper examines the hostility of the domestic political climate in the US with regard to foreign assistance, although US policymakers were aware of the linkages between development and migration. As a result, the US was slow to adapt to............
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Date of Publication:1998Authors: Charles Keely Globalization and Human Resource Management: Nonimmigrant Visa Strategies and Behavior of US Firms
The paper is split into three sections. The first section provides a background on US immigration policy and changes in the economy and employment needs as a result of the growth of knowledge-base activities.The second section outlines the three main............
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Date of Publication:1998Authors: Anne Marie Gaillard and Jacques Gaillard International Migration of the Highly Qualified: A Bibliographic and Conceptual Itinerary
The paper presents a database of works on migration of highly skilled people internationally. The sources were compiled to analyze the interest in the “brain drain” over a 40 year period, using the characteristics of the bibliography (chronology, prolific authors,............
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Date of Publication:2001Authors: Donald Kerwin America’s Second Class Non-Citizens: Why an Amnesty Won’t Suffice
The article argues that the US risks becoming a “dual society” in which recent immigrants are denied the right to participate in government, are separated from their families, barred from receiving public benefits and exploited economically. It uses these indicators............
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Date of Publication:2002Authors: Donald Kerwin Migrants, Borders and National Security: US Immigration Policy since September 11, 2001
The paper discusses US immigration law, policy and practice following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is divided into several chapters detailing refugees and asylum seekers, border and interior enforcement, anti-terror measures and developments in the detention system. It argues that............
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Date of Publication:2003Authors: Donald Kerwin, Harry Brandon, Vincent Cannistraro and Angela Kelley Immigration Policy, Law Enforcement and National Security
The paper argues that immigration policy is increasingly a result of national security concerns, despite the fact that the linkages between the two areas are not simple or well understood. The intersection of immigration law with law enforcement and intelligence............
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Date of Publication:2004Authors: Donald Kerwin and Charles Wheeler The Case for Legalization, Lessons from 1986 and Recommendations for the Future
The article argues that a legalization program will be required in the near future in the United States. It describes the increasing socio-economic gap between the nation’s native- and foreign-born persons (particularly the undocumented) and presents evidence that a program............
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Occasional Papers: Pastoral Series
Date of Publication:Authors: Michael G. Wenk, Rev. Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s., and Dr. Eleanor Rogg A New Parish Every Four Days: U.S. Immigration and its Catholic Component
This paper emphasizes that the United States is a nation of immigrants and  provides a brief history of U.S. immigration laws. Based on this brief history, it seeks to estimate the numbers of Catholic immigrants coming to the United States............
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Date of Publication:Authors: Peter Corbellini, c.s. Approaches to the Theology of Migration
This paper seeks to look at migration from a theological perspective. It seeks to interpret human reality from the view of God. It asks questions such as what God tells those who have citizenship and privileges in their home country,............
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Date of Publication:Authors: Bishop Scalabrini’s Plan for the Pastoral Care of Migrants of All Nationalities
This paper includes many important documents and correspondences by Scalabrini for the first time. The documents included in this paper showcase Scalabrini’s global plan for all migrants. He was prompted to action by his understanding of the episcopal ministry as............
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Date of Publication:1971Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi Pastoral and Canonical Innovations of Pastoralis Migratorum Cura
This paper examines the innovations of the new document, Pastoralis Migratorum Cura. Major areas of change include the shift in trends, volume, and characteristics of the migratory phenomenon; and the appearance of new structures and pastoral methods in the post-conciliar............
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Date of Publication:1972Authors: Michael G. Wenk and Rev. Silvano M. Tomasi Cultural Pluralism and Ethnic Heritage in a Catholic Dimension: Towards the Establishment of a Diocesan Office for Newcomers
This paper outlines several aspects of the establishment of a Diocesan Office for Newcomers. Concepts include the decision process for the office’s name, derived in an attempt to avoid labeling individuals with the word immigrant. The goals and functions (research,............
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Date of Publication:1972Authors: Andrew M. Greeley The Church, National Parish and Immigration: Same Old Mistakes
The author claims that  it frequently seems that we are witnessing a replay of all the mistakes made at the turn of the century with the native American Catholic Church first pretending that the immigrants weren’t there, then dismissing them............
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Date of Publication:1983Authors: Velasio De Paolis, c.s. The Pastoral Care of Migrants in the Teaching and in the Directives of the Church
This paper addresses the Scalabrinian apostolate among the migrants and the history and analysis of church doctrine on the migrants. It views the migratory phenomenon above all, although not exclusively, as it is seen within the Church itself. It emphasizes............
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Date of Publication:1984Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. The Pastoral Action of Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini and His Missionaries Among Immigrants In The Americas 1887-1987
This paper is a preliminary reflection on methods of pastoral service to migrants in the Scalabrinian tradition. It outlines the pastoral method, interventions carried out, proposed interventions left incomplete, as well as ideas about the future. It reviews the history............
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Date of Publication:1984Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. The Response of the Catholic Church in the United States to Immigrants and Refugees
This paper outlines the relationship between immigration in the U.S. and the Catholic Church. It outlines several methods to aid in the pastoral care of immigrants: sensitivity and ability to alter ‘historic’ structures to permit the inclusion and participation of............
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Date of Publication:1985Authors: Velasio De Paolis, c.s. Evolution of the Mission of the Scalabrinian Congregation
This study follows the historical evolution of the Scalabrini Congregation. In particular, it questions whether the foundation of Bishop Scalabrini was to remain tied only to the pastoral care of the Italians and their descendants or was it to opened............
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Date of Publication:1985Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. A Scalabrinian Mission among Polish Immigrants in Boston 1893-1909
This paper describes Scalabrini’s mission among Polish Immigrants. The paper states that the evolution of Scalabrini’s understanding of his Congregation and the peculiar style of group belonging and identity of the first missionaries seem to explain the events and the............
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Date of Publication:1986Authors: Graziano Battistella, c.s. Itinerant Missions: Alternate Experiences in the History of Scalabrinians in North America Author: Graziano Battistella, c.s.
This study defines Bishops Scalabrini’s concept of itinerant missions, how that concept was implemented by the first missionaries, and monitors the resurgence of the idea in the history of the Scalabrinian Congregation in the United States. It also includes considerations............
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Date of Publication:1987Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. A Lesson from History: The Integration of Immigrants in the Pastoral Practice of the Church in the United States
This paper explores the connection between ethnic and social backgrounds, particularly religion, to historical patterns of immigration. It states that ethnicity is a dynamic force that keeps the church in constant flux and that contributes to its constant creativity..........
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Date of Publication:1988Authors: J. J. Smolicz Ethnicity and Multiculturalism in the Australian Catholic Church
This paper states the need for the Church to respond to the cultural diversity among the faithful, by relying on its own tradition of pluralism and universalism. It describes the Catholic faith as a faith which provides a unifying framework............
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Date of Publication:1989Authors: Velasio De Paolis, c.s. The Pastoral Care of Migrants in the Directives of the Church
This paper was presented at the IX Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People held in Rome on October 24-26, 1988. It includes a description of the term “migrant,” the need for............
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Date of Publication:1989Authors: Ezio Marchetto, c.s. The Catholic Church and the Phenomenon of Migration: An Overview
This paper provides a history of migrant care provided by the Catholic Church, important fathers of the church involved with migrants, and a description of relevant pontifical documents on migration. The papal teachings have been interpreted throughout the ages as............
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Date of Publication:1990Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. The Pastoral Challenges of the New Immigration
This paper includes descriptions of the historical link between religion and the immigrants’ culture and mobility, key issues in today’s ministry of immigrants, and practical steps that can be indicated in response to the pastoral needs of newcomers. These steps............
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Date of Publication:1991Authors: Claudio De Dominicis Italian Immigrants in the Archives of the Apostolic Delegation of the United States
This source is an extensive archive of the Apostolic Delegation of the United States. It shows the large Catholic representation of the delegates, which lead them to stand not just for the Holy See, but also for Italian emigrants.  .........
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Date of Publication:1995Authors: Silvano M. Tomasi, c.s. Today’s Refugees and the World of Communications
This paper explores how refugees are represented in today’s media. It states that the news media paint pictures that tell their viewers and readers that we live in a messy world. The Church calls upon the media to promote an............
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  • Research and Policy
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Briefings
    • International Migration Review
    • Journal on Migration and Human Security
  • Latest Insights
    • Migration Update
    • Dispatches and Reflections
    • Multimedia
    • Other Resources and Publications
  • Events
  • About
    • Initiatives
    • Board
    • Team
    • Careers
    • Archive
    • Contact