It’s long been one of the most enigmatic things about this political era we’re in here in the United States. Well, since 2016 at least. How can someone who has such an immoral and sinful record get the votes of people who claim to vote based on Christian religious values support? On a policy level, the agenda has been focused on not helping those in need — not helping refugees and immigrants, not helping the poor, not helping the sick, not helping the downtrodden. From cutting USAID and thus causing countless people to die, to cutting support for the poor in the US, to pushing a pro-pollution agenda that hurts everyone but especially the less wealthy, the administration constantly works to hurt the less advantaged — while giving more government support and money to billionaire friends. Once again, as well, the US has gone and bombed people who have no actual connection to the American people, and who are no threat to American people. Rather than help bring peace, it has engaged in repeated violence and is surely stimulating more. Pope Leo XIV has gone and done something other religious leaders have more subtly and less effectively tiptoed around. He is calling out this behavior as a shameful, immoral assault on humanity. In a statement this week, he said: “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.” Last month, he also commented that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them,” referencing the following verse: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.” Using the term “ravaged” was interesting. Clearly, Pope Leo XIV is speaking out against wars and more aggressive, violent interference from the US government into other countries’ affairs, but he and the previous Pope have also spoken up about our ravaging of the natural environment. It seems clear that he understands the vast harm we are doing to the Earth’s climate, air, and water and does not support the attacks on cleantech and constant pushing of the fossil fuel agenda. Overall, the point is that we should be focused on helping people and the planet, not hurting them. “I do not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician and I do not want to enter a debate with him,” Pope Leo XIV told reporters this week. “I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.” Nonetheless, Trump and his team have decided to respond in ways that again just reveal how much he actually cares about those in need of help. In retaliation against the Pope’s comments, the White House has cancelled $11 million in funding for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami to help immigrant children in shelters. “The US government has abruptly decided to end more than 60 years of relationship … and [the services] will be forced to shut down within three months,” Thomas Wenski, the archbishop of Miami, said in a statement. Through harsh treatment of those most in need of support, canceled funding for the hungry and the desperate, and bombing of people posing no threat to Americans, the Trump administration is not following the teachings and values Jesus Christ promoted. Quite the opposite. Let’s also remember these simple but clear lines: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (Timothy 6:10) “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.” (Proverbs 28:25) “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” (Proverbs 28:25) Donald Trump has repeatedly been convicted of fraud and has been convicted of rape. He cheated on all of his wives, repeatedly, and numerous women have alleged that he physically and sexually assaulted them, as minors and as grown women. He has spent his life focused on building his reputation as one of the richest men in the world, and scamming people over and over to get more money. He constantly bullies and slanders others, rather than bringing peace and spreading love. People who want to prioritize the teachings of Jesus Christ and want to vote based on their religious beliefs should take note of the Pope’s words and actions.
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