There has been another in-flight press conference with Pope Francis. No doubt you’ve already heard about it. At this point it’s beginning to feel like a recurring Saturday Night Live skit: “Oh the Things Pope Francis Says!”
While much was covered, one question of interest for many American Catholics concerned presidential candidate Donald Trump and his policy proposals on illegal immigration. Regardless of one’s thoughts about Trump the candidate (or caricature), the Holy Father’s response is worth analyzing.
Phil Pullella, Reuters: “Today, you spoke very eloquently about the problems of immigration. On the other side of the border, there is a very tough electoral battle. One of the candidates for the White House, Republican Donald Trump, in an interview recently said that you are a political man and he even said that you are a pawn, an instrument of the Mexican government for migration politics. Trump said that if he’s elected, he wants to build 2,500 kilometers of wall along the border. He wants to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, separating families, etcetera. I would like to ask you, what do you think of these accusations against you and if a North American Catholic can vote for a person like this?”
Pope Francis: “Thank God he said I was a politician because Aristotle defined the human person as ‘animal politicus.’ At least I am a human person. As to whether I am a pawn, well, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll leave that up to your judgment and that of the people. And then, a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel. As far as what you said about whether I would advise to vote or not to vote, I am not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt.”
So, to break this down part by part:
“On the other side of the border, there is a very tough electoral battle. One of the candidates for the White House, Republican Donald Trump, in an interview recently said that you are a political man and he even said that you are a pawn, an instrument of the Mexican government for migration politics.”
To this, Pope Francis responded:
“Thank God he said I was a politician because Aristotle defined the human person as ‘animal politicus.’ At least I am a human person. As to whether I am a pawn, well, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll leave that up to your judgment and that of the people.”
Continuing with Reuters question:
“Trump said that if he’s elected, he wants to build 2,500 kilometers of wall along the border. He wants to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, separating families, etcetera.”
How did the Holy Father specifically address this portion of the question which directly relates to national sovereignty, border control, mass illegal immigration and the orderly and lawful right for a nation to deport those who illegally enter?
“And then, a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel…I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that.”
Mind you, I don’t believe a careful review of what was said by Pope Francis has anything really to do with Trump the man, Trump the candidate, or even Trump the Christian (or non-Christian per Francis?). My problem is that the Holy Father says that one holding the position itself is not Christian. Simply “saying things like” building a wall along a countries border and deporting those who illegally entered makes someone “not Christian”. No qualifying needed. Period. A wall and deportation? Not Christian.
Some may point to the word “only”…as Pope Francis said “a person who thinks only about building walls…and not building bridges…” Is this not a straw man? While many speak of the need to secure the border, few leave it at that. Promoting free trade, defeating the drug cartels, addressing political corruption south of the border, etc. are all proposed as further responses to the foundational problems which lead people to illegally enter a neighboring country. Building bridges does not negate the need to build walls or vice versa. They are not mutually exclusive.
Pope Francis concludes by saying, “We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt.”
But, if he did say things in that way…?
The Holy Father clearly states that YOU are not Christian if you:
1. Want to build 2,500 kilometer wall along the border
2. Want to deport 11 million illegal immigrants
Maybe a shorter wall or only 1 million deportations would make a difference? Is there a formula for this?
One last question: Are those who fight for same sex marriage or unrestricted abortion on demand also “not Christian”, or just people who advocate for controlled borders and legal immigration?
“One last question: Are those who fight for same sex marriage or unrestricted abortion on demand also “not Christian”, or just people who advocate for controlled borders and legal immigration?”
Bravo Brian, my thoughts exactly!
The PF response to the first part of your question would be “Who am I to judge”.
Boy, maybe international trips by this Pope should be restricted to those that can be undertaken by train or slow boat. Perhaps then stuff like this won’t come out as he gets to cruising altitude.
Of course, that could just make it worse.
I’m glad I’m ignoring the Pope for Lent.
A sound resolution. I think I’ll join you.
I’ve been ignoring him since about two days after his election!
Yeh…that’s really doing something
I’m also ignoring the fact that people call him the Pope.
Who is he to judge?
He never accused Trump but wisely gave him the benefit. The Pope would naturally be saddened on hearing that Trump wanted to deport 11 million people and to build walls. The Pope used walls and bridges to express a philosophical view which re-emphasized our Lord’s teaching about Love. Love your neighbor as yourself, Jesus told us. In other words, do not build obstacles in your relationships. This was clear Christian teaching, not a political one. So disappointed that a Deacon doesn’t get it.
The Pope should have judged the idea, not the person.
Yeh…he was just saying how he feels like all the rest of us do. I guess being a leader he could say it a different way. I took it to mean he was talking about the idea but there prob’ly would’ve been a better way to say it. Or maybe he should’ve just kept quiet. But he feels he needs to say it as evangelizing so to speak, I guess. I agree….no one can judge another person. But people do it all the time…but if they aren’t a leader or famous they get away with it. It would be nice if the Pope would come back with an apology and then say it in a better way.
Right on, Lauris. Thanks and God bless.
It would not be half as bad if he does not make himself out to be the most un-judgmental person with his “Who Am I to Judge?”
It seems the only one he likes judging are those who don’t agree with him. But gays and those pro-abortion are off limits.
Exactly. It is one thing to condemn an idea as dumb or unChristian, It is quite another to accuse that person of not being a Christian because of that idea. Trump is probably not a Christian, but there are many better reasons for coming to that conclusion than his architectural ambitions.
Thanks, Deacon! God bless you.
You live in a house with walls. How many refugees are you willing to let into your house, clothe and feed?
Would you welcome those who are plotting to trash your house and kill your family?
There is compassion and there is common sense.
The New Testament, and numerous Saints, tell us to ignore and shun heretics.
Was the nascent Church teeming with UnChristians?
He is probably the most judgmental Pope in Christian history.
I’m not a fan of Trump. I think he’s just pretending to be a conservative Christian. Nevertheless, why did the Pope say he’s not a Christian? He didn’t say that of Castro, the Iranian president, pro-abortion Obama, and loads of others with whom he had meetings with. Sounds unmerciful to me, especially in the Year of Mercy.
Trump is what the USA needs. Both illegal and legal immigration is out of control and it hurts every aspect of the nation’s infastructure. Economically and Culturally. Every other issue is of secondary importance.
Moreover, the Cuban government has been building walls and dividing families for decades. Not walls to keep immigrants out, but citizens in–not to mention the prisons. Or the torture of political prisoners.
Head. Exploding.
Bergolio is a hypocrite!
Trump may be more Christian than the many Cardinals who approve of homosexual conduct and misdirect people on other moral issues.
You are absolutely right –
Pope appoints leading opponents of Catholic doctrine to Ordinary Synod
http://voiceofthefamily.com/cardinal-burke-proclaims-controversial-synod-proposals-simply-contrary-to-catholicism/
http://voiceofthefamily.com/is-a-cardinal-open-to-homosexual-unions-to-be-given-top-family-post-at-vatican/
Pope appoints leading opponents of Catholic doctrine to Ordinary Synod
Read more : http://voiceofthefamily.com/pope-appoints-leading-opponents-of-catholic-doctrine-to-ordinary-synod/ –
Tell Pope Francis: Global Warming Is Not a Crisis!
https://www.heartland.org/Vatican-Environment-Workshop
And you GL29, just slammed the homosexual’s. So who are you to cast stones? You did exactly what you say the Pope and Cardinals did. It says in the Bible that Jesus wants us all (including Pope) to love one another. It seems the Pope’s “works” he does with the people shows that more than someone who wants to build a wall and kick out other illegal human beings. Why not instead of building walls..think of a different way to take care of the problem. Or maybe it’s the way Trump says it…always sounds so hateful. Opposite of the Pope. Which one sounds more appealing to Jesus….walls or bridges?
Are you Catholic? Because your post leads me to think you are effete or some 1970s style liberal relativist.
My post did not “slam” homosexuals. It asserted that many Cardinals promote error on the topic of sodomy.
That is not casting stones. That is accurately describing the situation. Now, stop your rash judgement and incoherent reasoning.
I guess I’m not up on what the Cardinals do. Ignorant on that apparently. Beg your pardon. But I still think the Pope is evangelizing which is his job. It’s only his opinion of what Trump said…he’s not judging. He’s merely laying a different point of view out on the table which is what the candidates do.
You are deflecting and minimizing the grave problem. It is wrong to confuse and mislead people.
His job is to proclaim Jesus. Most of the time the Lord is hardly in his talks.
He’s evangelizing alright; he’s evangelizing for the new-age protestant sect to which he belongs.
GL29 did not slam homosexuals. Read the post again: “homosexual conduct.”
Homosexual conduct. Conduct, not people.
See the difference?
Is to affirm someone in their sin, love?
What in earth is wrong with slamming sodomites?
What they do with one another is evil (it is in all the better bibles) , will lead them to hell, but you are more concerned with what men say rather than what they do.
You sure read as though you are a liberal whose “we must love” is an excuse to evade hard truths.
You do know that Jesu condemned sodomites, right?
Can you give me an example of when Jesus advocated breaking a just law?
See my above post on Trump.Numerous speeches by Berrgolio our alleged Pope Francis in Philly, DC and Cuba and Not One mention of Jesus Christ in ANY of those speeches. ….. . .. Odd that ommition from the alleged Vicar of Christ .Sadly it Seems likely that Francis has the Jesus problem Not Mr. Trump to say the least.
Sounds ludicrous to me. He had to answer the question the way he did? There could have been a million ways to answer that question without throwing himself into a campaign in an election year in American politics. I don’t like Trump either, but for him to go on about him the way he did was wrong on SO MANY LEVELS.
We’re going to build a wall… and Mexico’s going to pay for it.
Good article brother!
Every time Humble Frank opens his mouth, I move one step closer to sedevacantism, or returning to Orthodoxy after 33 years as a Catholic! How long, O God, how long, until you send us a CATHOLIC Pope?
It makes Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorium Pontificam even more important today. We have a place inside the church to be the resistance. The Latin Mass of course.
Amen MaskedRacer, amen!
Do not despair. These dark times give us more opportunity to gain merit for ourselves and others. We have the Rosary of Our Lady even if for some, the Sacraments are hard to come by, and we have the Bible. Every time I read such shameful wicked stuff from any Church man, I cry to God in silence and sorrow, then say a Hail Mary for the poor diabolically disoriented soul. Courage, dear Jovan, the darker things get the surer we can be that God is near.
Bad Popes do happen. No reason to leave the Barque of Peter. All things work together for the good of those who love Him.
Again….it’s all only opinions. No one is perfect in the eyes of God, including the Pope and all who have talked harshly against him. I don’t see him as a “bad” Pope…but that is only my opinion. Just as “bad” Pope is only yours or someone elses. It’s all irrelevant what we think and how we feel. But I love what you said…”All things work together for the good of those who love Him”.
Well, I was replying to Jovan, who obviously is persuaded that Francis is a bad Pope. My assessment is irrelevant. Even IF we have a bad Pope, which does happen at times, we still need to remain aboard the Barque of Peter.
I’m with you. 🙂
It is not all subjective. There are real objective and serious problems with this papacy.
This is all news to me.
That may be due to several reasons:
Failure to acknowledge reality
Lying
Psychiatric problems
Ideology
Poor faith formation.
I agree with Dave (below). The Barque of Peter is listing alarmingly to port, but jumping overboard only puts you in danger of drowning. Pray that our captain can be made to understand his actions are endangering the whole crew and that he will either return soon to exhibiting good seamanship or turn the bridge over to someone else (a la Benedict).
Brian, I feel like you got inside my brain today and heard everything I was thinking! Great article!
And the walls within The Church PF? Safe to assume there are no Christians in the Catholic faith?
I’m actually, like, losing my marbles over this. Not even kidding.
Your marbles are too precious to lose over Bergoglio.
Shall we expect that the walls of the Vatican City State will be razed?
Or will we get more of this?
“In other words, Vatican City may have walls, but the front door is always open..”,
Rev. James Martin, a (Jesuit) Catholic priest and editor at large at America magazine.
DELIVER. US. O. LORD!!!
To build a wall or deport all the illegal immigrants makes you an idiot more than anything else.
Viva El Papa!
Wow! You drank a lot of Koolaid didn”t you. Pray the Rosary, Mary will help you.
I wish that made sense.
And your little statement here makes you a purblind partisan. Not a very articulate one, but still a purblind partisan.
Mindlessly hero worshiping a man who has brought nothing but confusion and discord to the Church makes you an idiot more than anything else.
A leader of a nation has a moral obligation to protect and defend the people God has put in his care.
Very good. Taking the question at face value revealed that Francis was indeed a pawn. Why couldn’t it be phrased, “In trying to defend the well-being of a nation, are there limits to how one views immigration?” We may dispute the “good” as defined by Trump, but his premise is self-defense, not hatred. It’s the same when a burglar’s head meets up with a baseball bat in the foyer: the man wielding it wasn’t unChristian, but dedicated to the safety of his family. As Martha Stewart would say, “That’s a good thing!”
That presupposes a Catholic State. There aren’t any. Therefore there is no ‘moral’ obligation.
That was the whole point behind the ‘separation of church and state’ idea — liberte’, egalite’, fraternite’ — humanism –man is supreme — the Kingship of Christ denied.
It would seem, that the pope has done some research on Mr. Trump? I feel the reporters were sorta taunting the pope, maybe setting him up for the answer. Bait and switch? I can’t think what I want to say. Asking provocative questions? The pope thinks he is the president of the church! He should worry about his own country, and the scandals!
Trump tweeted something negative about or possibly to the Pope the other day (when Francis was on his way to do his show at the border) and that is what has set off this war between the two biggest egos on the planet.
Isabel, you bring up a very important point when you refer to the pope’s “show at the border.” Am I the only one offended by his using the Mass as a prop in what was essentially a political statement? To make this crystal clear, what would we say if, say, some American archbishop decided to say an open air Mass near the launching site of a new USAF anti-missile project the morning of its inauguration? You know, just happened to do it?
Then the Pope just anathematized himself, since he lives behind one of the largest WALLS on earth. But that is superfluous, since he already more or less anathematized himself when he condemned those who make weapons of war while himself is protected by them.
WHEN, repeat, WHEN, will the Bishops rise up and stuff a sock in it?
PS: I do not support Trump at ALL, but when a Pope makes TRUMP look like a gracious man of integrity, we have a real problem…
As for those who do support Trump, well, let’s just wait and see how Christian-friendly and Catholic-friendly he is after a year or two of his Presidency, if he wins.
As for the wall, well, heck, yeah, we need one, but they don’t usually work very well. Witness Hadrian’s and the Great Wall of China. They serve their purpose for a time, and then they are reduced to tourist traps.
And one more question…will we need illegal immigrants to build it? LOL
RodH with all due respect, Mr. Trump is a gracious man of integrity. If you took the time to watch his interviews on YouTube and rallies you would see what the media is not showing. He is certainly more Christian-friendly and Catholic-friendly than the current occupant of the White House.
I would agree with you about Trump being more Christian-friendly except we really have nothing to base that statement on. I cannot say one way or another.
TV appearances are called marketing. I never said Trump was a bad salesman.
As for “man of integrity”, well, we have a guy that by his own admission is/was a casino owner, has used the bankruptcy laws to advance himself at the cost of others and is married to wife number 3.
Possibly your definition of “man of integrity” is different than mine.
Well being a sinner myself, I will not judge him. I cannot answer as to why he used the legal laws of bankruptcy as I am not familiar with the business issues at that time and won’t waste the time on the research because it is not important to me. But he does make things right if he does something that is wrong so I would say that shows integrity. He does a lot of good works which are not published which is a good thing. All I’m saying is that the way he is portrayed by the media is not necessarily who he really is and I suggest further investigation.
Forgot to mention that I saw an interview he did years ago with Steve Forbes. It showed a man that grew up with a Christian background who respected his father and taught his children well. Considering his wealth, I would say he has done remarkably well in not living a life of debauchery like so many others.
“… [W]e really have nothing to base that statement on.” Hmmm. I notice that thought doesn’t seem to stop you from pontificating to the contrary about his integrity. As for his being “Christian-friendly,” we have his own words asserting that he is and will be if elected. Beyond that, I think the notion aired by a Protestant pastor should be uppermost in our mind, viz. we are electing a president, not a Sunday school teacher. The “Simon pure” approach to politics of right-wing zealots in the GOP has gotten us precisely nowhere for almost three decades. Time to try another formula.
This is a ridiculous statement. I point at his admitted and obvious life decisions and actions. You look at a few of his words. A few, since most of his words over the years have placed him distinctly outside the faith of the Catholic Church and even today he is no way a confessing member of the Church.
Talk is cheap, and actions have a price. Actions prove words. I am judging only by the actions of the man and see little there to denote a man of strong Christian values at all.
Christians are rallying behind Trump because Trump is stating in clear common terms his disdain for the political culture that has developed in Washington {and in the states for that matter}. In that I am with him 100%. But to now proclaim this man as to be some hero of the Christian faith is utterly absurd. For some reason many Americans feel the need to hand a religious stamp of approval to their politicians. I believe it is much safer to simply be honest. What we know about Donald Trump’s faith and beliefs is very little indeed. As for the acts of his public life, well, those don’t support much Christian commitment and really can’t be used as a “proof” of that commitment at all.
“But to now proclaim this man as to be some hero of the Christian faith is utterly absurd.” This is a red herring since no one, including me, ever did this.
I assume you aren’t holding your breath waiting on the bishops, yes??
As for Trump, he is just one part of the side-show. The ‘chosen’ one is Hitlery. I’m sure the CFR has already annointed her. Once in, she’ll appoint Slick Willy to the U.N. and he’ll likely be ‘made’ the U.N. secy. general.
Unfortunately, your assumption is correct. I’m not holding my breath. As long as the Church is effectively controlled by a culture of effeminacy, we will see little done to stand for the truth. It will take men of courage and strong values to turn the ship around. I believe that will happen, but this generation of Bishops and Catholics might, like the weak-faith’ed Hebrews of old, have to die in the desert before that turnaround takes place.
Why is it that for most of the so-called Christians on here, it is so much easier to hate and judge than it is to love? Listen to the Pope’s words, he is much wiser than most of you.
Please stop joking, this is too serious.
Is it wise for the Holy Father to make unguarded statements about the Catholic Faith in the back of an airplane? Is it wise for him to speak without a prepared text that can protect him, and us, from inadvertent error?
Wise? I can think of many attributes of the Holy Father, but wise is not one of them.
Next time the Pope gets on an airplane, we should be alerted: Fasten your seatbelts.
I have criticized this Pope quite often in the past but, on this occasion, I stand with him. He never accused Trump but wisely gave him the benefit. The Pope would naturally be saddened on hearing that Trump wanted to deport 11 million people and to build walls. The Pope used walls and bridges to express a philosophical view which re-emphasized our Lord’s teaching about Love. Love your neighbour as yourself, Jesus told us. In other words, do not build obstacles in your relationships. This was clear Christian teaching, not a political one.
The Pope has just spent a few days criticizing corrupt political and other influential leaders and also the greedy, violent drug gangs in Mexico. He prayed for the frightened and deprived men, women and children fleeing these evil people. And then he is told about the plan to deport and build walls. Would not his Lord and Master reacted in the same way? “What you do to these, the least of my brothers, you do to me.”
We must bear in mind that the Pope gave a Catholic answer, not a political one.
“…Trump wanted to deport 11 million people….” Make that, “…Trump wanted to deport 11 million illegal border crossers….” Of course, you may be right since, as Mr. Trump pointed out, Mexican government officials likely filled the pope’s ears with distortions. As for wall-building, read here (https://t.co/J6Lq5JjWfU) what a rabbi had to say about this kind of construction project.
As many others have pointed out, the pope has already done untold damage to the “Catholic brand” with these open-ended interviews both at 30,000 ft and on the ground. Someone he trusts needs to stick his or her neck out and tell him that, for the good of the Church, he needs to bite his tongue, that he is not Marcello Mastroianni, and that the world is growing very weary of these antics.
Hwy Johnny, I began by saying that I have very often criticized the Pope. The Pope did not express a political view but, in this instance, a moral one that is keeping with the teachings of our Lord and Master. This is why I supported it.
Would the Son of God, who asked his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter etc, have criticized the Pope’s response? Or, would he have agreed with it? By the way, Jesus did admit that it is not easy to go along with him without God;s help.
Yes, you, Trump and I see these human beings as illegals and are conscious of the ‘problems’ they cause for us; but these are considered the’least of my brothers’ by the One who is the only entrance into heaven.
In your final paragraph you’re confusing interpersonal reactions between individuals and public policy, It’s a frequent mistake we hear recommended these days, but not one very favorable to social peace.
Not confusing the two but making a clear distinction. When the Pope expressed his philosophical view it was focused on interpersonal relationship. He did not mention American policy or elections. I believe that the Pope should always stick to the teachings of our Lord – which were always about our relationships with our neighbors – and not get involved in issues such as climate change and capitalism. This is why, on this occasion, I agreed with him.
The Pope needs to read St. Thomas Aquinas.
Love it! 🙂
I don’t hate the Pope. I am just disgusted by what he said.
Thank you. That makes me feel better. You’re cool in my book. 🙂
This is my favorite comment of all of these that I have read. 🙂
Because you hate?
hate? 🙂 No I was saying I agree with Redstripe 1229 when he said he was asking why is it that for most of the so-called Christians on here, it is so much easier to hate and judge than it is to love-and to listen to the Pope’s words, he is much wiser than most of us.” That’s what I said was my favorite comment. There’s no hate in that.
So, you are just lying then.
I don’t lie. I don’t hate. I love and live for God and that’s why I get defensive when someone talks so hateful as you do about the Pope. He is closer to being Jesus wants us to be than any of us on this blog are and I have a great deal of respect for him. I do not hate Trump either. I just disagree with his ways. I do not hate you either. But I think I am ready to stop the useless conversation and move on. Been nice talking with you and hearing your viewpoints even though you are a bit accusational. Not okay for a Pope but okay for you, I work at a Catholic church and pray often for the Pope and Trump and all world leaders. And am sincere when I pray. God knows what’s in our hearts. Later….
You are lying again right here
Well, I am surrounded by walls. I live in a house and lock my doors at night to discourage intruders! Does this make me an unbeliever?
I have a working theory that the pope and Donald trump are twins separated at birth. The similarities are startling.
You mis-typed. You mean the pope and Obama are twins separated at birth. Fixed it for you.
Thanks, but I know what I meant. Both Trump and the Pope are addicted to attention and neither knows when to shut up. Both have super-sized egos and messianic complexes.
I guess the big separating difference is that Trump is more Catholic than the pope.
The cardinals who voted for this hot mess should be horse whipped.
Most of the cardinals that voted for him are probably heretics.
Yes. He is who they are
This pope is exhausting. Quite frankly, I believe he is in need of a shoe detail, as he keeps stepping in it.
I started reading the article but Brian Williams’ comment about Donald Trump being a caricature turned me completely off. I found that totally unnecessary and made me not even want to read the article as I feel there will be a bias. Shame on you. I was referred to this site by a Trump supporter but if this is a sample of what is on the site, I will not return.
What is telling about this particular pope is that he chooses to label certain acts as being not Christian; but will not state that one cannot be a follower of The Christ if one denies that God, The Ordered Communion Of Perfect Love, The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity, Is The Author of Love and/or Life, and/or Marriage, and thus those persons who support the act of abortion, and same-sex sexual acts cannot in essence be, disciples of The Christ, The Son Of The Living God. The marital act is Life-affirming and Life-sustaining and can only be consummated between a man and woman, united in marriage as husband and wife. Marriage cannot in essence be, existing in relationship as husband and wife, and not existing in relationship as husband and wife, simultaneously.
It is not Loving nor Merciful to desire that we remain in our sins.
This statement, a chilling monstrosity.
“And, the final thing I would like to say that it’s a monstrosity, because a priest is consecrated to lead a child to God, and he eats him in a diabolical sacrifice. He destroys him.”
Whether Pp Francis’ remarks are “meaningless” or not , the realities of Catholic moral teachings remain unchanged, no matter who says what.
…An individual becomes “Christian” by, and only by, (valid) baptism. Donald Trump was apparently baptized Presbyterian, which faith community has valid baptism. Donald Trump is, therefore, as a matter of canon law (c. 204), Christian….
If one is a Leader of anything, one has a responsibility to reflect that group philosophy and (in this case) that Church’s Doctrine and Teaching at every given opportunity. One also has the responsibility to DEFLECT obvious traps and snares laid by non-believers (or those antagonistic
to one’s Church’s beliefs or those seeking a quickie news buzz) by refusing to play the game.
If the Head of the Roman Catholic Church opens himself up to a constant barrage of secular
questioning wherever he may be, without preserving the dignity and wisdom of his office by
simply stating “The Church teaches this . . .” then he (and/or his media advisors and entourage) must face the relentless flak that will inevitably come his way after a knee-jerk response rather
than a considered one or . . . . . (shock, horror) even a polite but dismissive silence. This is diplomatic. The other behaviour is confusing and can always be misconstrued. I do not admire the Bishop of Rome – neither his style nor those with whom he chooses to surround himself.. That being said, I believe he is abrogating his sacred responsibility and dishonouring his exalted position with careless behaviour and ambiguous responses.
First of all, in the times before and after Christ, many nations built walls to keep out the enemy for fear of being killed. Christ never stated NOT to build walls to keep out another nation. Pope Francis picks & chooses his words not to offend people that have the same beliefs as him. Yet, he has a biting tongue for those who don’t represent his liberal views. Besides, what ever happened to his famous quote; “who am I to judge?” I am a Mexican/American and I don’t approve of Pope Francis liberal views!
Pope should not have gone for the Reuters bait. He could have responded in any a number of ways – he could have said that sovereign states have a right to contro; their borders and if they don’t then extreme measures like walls become inevitable. He could have offered to intervene as an intermediatry between the two governments. He could have even said nothing; however what he did say sounded too geopolitical.
He also could’ve said that he knows that the politicians around the world, like him, know full well that the powers behind the puppet politicians have NO intentions of closing borders. The intention is to CAUSE social upheaval and chaos, because from chaos comes order – the new world order type. ORDO AD CHAO.
http://www.masonicdictionary.com/ordoabchao.html
I don’t think he went for any bait. I think the Pope knows full well what he is doing. It happens too much to be seen as a “mistake”. He cannot change doctrine on paper, but he can utterly change praxis in the lives of those whose faith is weakened, undermined and changed by following his off-the-cuff words.
Does anyone really believe the Pope is simply a bungler?
He is a survivor.
Remember; He was no Liberationist when the Liberationists in Argentina were “being disappeared”. Now? Ha! READ the Pope! Away from that environment, he appears to be a populist Liberationist.
I doubt it.
Peronism is not populism.
Peronism is using the common people to gain support for policy they are led to believe will help them…but doesn’t.
What this Pope is all about is hard to say, but his techniques are not hard to assess.
Pray for the Pope and for a reawakening among Catholics. It is time Catholics dust off the Bible, the Catechism and go sell their cloak and get a copy of Denzinger. This is the only way we will be able to understand what is going on in the Church today…and be fit to combat it.
Pope is infallible on faith and morals sexual and otherwise. Looking at Amoris Latita and liberal clowns he has promoted in Malta bishops , knights of Malta, Chicago& DC ab,s etc., He Francis seems Confused on that to say the least…… . Obviously his views on Immigration ,death penalty , global warming are NO More Christian than Donald Trump period.
How about building walls and bridges? Build a wall along the border, and bridges with official checkpoints to control the flow and minimize illegal activities across the border. I wonder if that is Christian?
I am very GRATEFUL to GOD for appointing PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump at this Evil time in our country…43 yrs of KILLING unborn babies and ill seniors! Only Pres. Trump had the Guts to stand up against the BARBARIC Age we are living in!
Pope Francis has been in agreement to communist Globalist puppet, Mr. Obama, more times than anyone could comprehend! Now it has become obvious the concern for keeping God’s teachings or a human socialist ideology instead!