In my last column, I pointed out the divisions within the Catholic Church that are disrupting Pope Francis’ papacy. Today, those lines spill over into our politics. This is not surprising since people of different faiths can also get involved in political disputes.
Adeel Mangi will become the first Muslim-American to serve on a federal appellate court. Recently Rejected Senate vote. Mangi said at the confirmation hearing: Asked Whether he condemned the 9/11 attacks or supported Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Senator Cory Booker (DN.J.) I wondered“Are there any Americans who get asked this question?” “Only Mangi, who happens to be a Muslim American,” replied.
Then Donald Trump denounced Jews. saying“Jews who vote for Democrats hate their religion, hate everything about Israel, and should be ashamed of themselves.” An outraged Donnie Deutsch refuted President Trump’s claim on “Morning Joe”: “Well, Donald Trump, you try to tell me what it takes to be a good Jew.”
Now, with the infusion of Catholicism into our politics, the Catholic Church is embroiled in a political maelstrom. A pro-Trump group with a provocative name Catholics for Catholicsrecently held “catholic prayer for trump” at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion.
opportunity Features Former inmates Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, and James Caviezel, who played Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.”
Flynn, who spoke at the event, said: quoted Psalm 23 By claiming that the United States is in the “valley of the shadow of death.”Flynn Calling all Catholics To be “fearless” in its zeal to restore “Judeo-Christian principles and values.”
This sentiment stems from concerns that the very existence of the Catholic Church could be threatened if Donald Trump does not return to office.as a catholic for catholics Listed on website: “The deafening silence of church leaders who are first tasked with defending the truths of our faith makes it all the more urgent that we stand up now and defend the front lines.”
only joe biden Second Catholic president, followed by John F. Kennedy. Mr. Biden’s Catholic faith is deeply rooted in his personality, forged in the fires of tragedy he has endured over his long life.After the death of his first wife, young daughter and his son, Mr. Biden sought comfort from many Catholic priests. To this day, Biden attend Catholic mass regularly.
St. Patrick’s Day, Biden celebrated his Irish and Catholic heritage at the White House at an event that I was invited to attend. Several Catholic leaders, including Father Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Papal Nuncio; Thomas Rees and James Martin, sisters Simone Campbell and Carol Keehan, and members of the Kennedy family were there.
biden praised the catholic church “For always intervening when people are struggling to meet their needs for food, shelter, health care, education, etc. Fulfilling Jesus’ instruction: “Whatever you do to me, do it to me.” ”
One pro-Trump Catholic writer described the rally as follows:A veritable rogue gallery of leftist subversives masquerading as “Catholic leaders.”Cultural issues, particularly abortion and same-sex marriage, have drawn their ire and called into question Biden’s Catholic faith.
This is a far cry from 1960 under John F. Kennedy. Catholicism was a major voting issue. Anti-Catholic sentiment was strong at the time, and many believed that Kennedy would defer to the Pope as president.
But Kennedy argued that religion and politics should occupy two separate and distinct worlds.Kennedy speaks at the Greater Houston Pastors Association declared His belief in an America where “the separation of church and state is absolute.”
Today, the walls between church and state are crumbling, and Catholics are often asked to prove their authenticity by saying how they intend to vote. At a Catholic prayer rally for Trump, one speaker said Trump was “Catholic’s only option“Who could?”Restore” Catholic faith. As if to emphasize this point, President Trump is currently chose to sell His “God bless America’s Bible” appeals to the United States.please pray again”
Condemning the faith of Catholics who oppose Trump often loses the spiritual sustenance they seek in the “us versus them” mentality that instills today’s partisan divisions. It means that. For too many Americans of various faiths, spiritual comfort often translates into political comfort. There, mingling among like-minded partisans and co-religionists means that listening to different points of view is no longer a virtue but a vice.
in him new autobiography, Pope Francis expressed his desire to “create a Church, a church that listens as only a mother can.” There are people in the church who are obsessed with pride and selfishness and who are falling prey to the temptations of the devil, yet they want to divide as if there were two groups. Synodal Church united and serving God’s people despite the Rival fans. ”
As if to confirm the Pope’s concerns, staff at Catholic Charities are treated as follows: numerous death threats After a small group of House Republicans accused the organization for participating in a “covert, taxpayer-funded, and possibly illegal operation to transport unidentified immigrants to the United States.”San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy I wrote a reply“Christ weeps, calling on his name to justify such outrages.”
No matter your faith, turning believers into separate groups of rival fans is a recipe for disaster. Religious leaders should add moral clarity to political discussions. But their voices shouldn’t sound like rabid fans screaming at each other.
John Kenneth White is a professor of political science at The Catholic University of America. His upcoming book is “Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism.” You can contact him at: johnkenethwhite.com.
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