Not being groggy now from lack of sleep, I think that the Lavender Mafia, if not the Pope, at the Vatican was hoping to set Trump off. Mission accomplished. Last week we had the Avignon Debacle, which blew up quickly, too quickly for the Vatican?, due to bad faith Democrat operatives like Christopher Hale. The Vatican had to deny that there was any truth as to threats made against the Pope by the Trump Administration. This doubtless attracted the attention of the President, especially since the Pope has been continually attacking Trump’s policy on immigration and in regard to Iran.
On Sunday the Three Red Mice, Cardinals Cupich, Tobin and McElroy appeared on, Trump’s old adversary, 60 Minutes, to attack Trump and his works. Trump is always keenly aware as to what Americans, at least Boomer Americans, might be seeing on television. He also doubtless assumed, and here I think he is likely right, that the Red Mice cleared their appearance with the Vatican, if not directly with the Pope.
It would take a man far more Machiavellian than the President from Queens, the Blue Collar Billionaire, to stay silent in the face of this provocation, and he blew up on Truth Social. Regrettable surely, but caused by the type of nasty games that are typically played by factions within the Vatican, especially the Lavender Mafia.
The Trump comments were absolutely despicable. Faithful Catholics should condemn them without hesitation or qualification.
Hey Don,
60 (ahem) Minutes has an interesting Title on this hit piece:
“Pope Leo’s Church”.
Haven’t watched it, but wouldn’t be great if the title agreed with the content. You know, the fact about Jesus Being God and Man, the Church being His, and Not Leo’s or post Francis’.
Very well said, Don. Sure, they cleared with the Pope.
Inspirational?
“Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.” (NPR)
“The Trump comments were absolutely despicable. Faithful Catholics should condemn them without hesitation or qualification.”
Faithful Catholics should also not be blind to the highly malevolent forces working behind the scenes at the Vatican to bring about this confrontation. Trump is Trump and he will be judged as we all will be, but Catholics should have higher standards for those who purport to run the Church. It would help a lot if the Pope would stay more in his lane and pay more attention to the Church and less attention to the Caesars of this world:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/avbsPEVGzfA
Respectfully Don, the Pope has a duty before God to speak out on matters of faith and morals. He is doing so with regards to the war. He is well within the “lane” that Christ our Lord gave him as successor to St. Peter. The comments of the President are scandalous.
As for the Caesars of the world and whether the Church acting through the Pope and our Bishops should pay attention to them; supposing hypothetically that they were thought to be on their way to hell. Shouldn’t we rightfully expect someone with God given authority to warn them? Why else are they here? Or does assuming the role of a “Caesar” give them carte blanche to obey God only when expedient?
Popes would do better I think to emulate the attitude that Christ took to Caesar. There was much that Christ could have said about the brutal Roman occupation and yet he said virtually nothing. His Kingdom was not of this world and His mission was far beyond this world.
Pope Leo is speaking out of a reflexive pacifism that the Popes have adopted since World War II that gives cold comfort to people living under tyrannies and allows bad actors to go about their business unimpeded in the world. His only response is to call for dialogue. How well would dialogue have worked with Hitler and Stalin? About as well as it has worked with 47 years of dialogue with the mullahs running Iran, who want to unleash a nuclear war to bring back their 12th Imam. The Pope’s comments about the Iran War help the mullahs remain in power. When a Pope makes political statements he speaks beyond his office and enters the political realm. Sometimes it can’t be helped, for example the Polish Church under Communism for instance. Where it can be helped, Popes would be better advised to stick to their own business. It is not as if the Church has been well run since Vatican II. There is plenty of work for a Pope to do on the job that is his to perform.