Keller @ Large: Cardinal O'Malley Speaks About Homelessness, Trump
BOSTON (CBS) -- Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, brought his message of compassion to the homeless people and volunteers gathered today at the state's largest day shelter, St. Francis House.
"Jesus was born in homelessness and in poverty, because our God loves us so much he made himself little, he made himself poor, he made himself vulnerable to be with us," he said.
But this Christmas, there's little room at the inn for the neediest, as homelessness soars in unison with housing costs.
Says St. Francis House Executive Director Karen LaFrazia: "Until we can get on top of that situation and provide more affordable housing for people, the shelters are just gonna continue to explode."
What's the answer here, we asked the Cardinal? "The Holy Father is often talking about the need for economic justice, and we live in a world where the rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer," he said. "I hope that for our country, in this period of elections when people are talking about what our leaders need to do, these economic problems and homelessness should be very high on their list."
But to the Cardinal's dismay, the presidential campaign has taken a different turn, steered by Donald Trump into an at-times ugly display of xenophobia.
"It's very worrisome," he says. "Our country has had a history of receiving immigrants from all over the world. At the same time, there's always been a 'no Irish need apply' that kind of attitude."
And in what may have been a nod to Trump's trademark "make America great" hats, the Cardinal invoked another story - the story of America.
"When America's at our greatest is when we're faithful to that beautiful inscription on the Statue of Liberty that is inviting people who are suffering and oppressed to come to these shores," he said.
