See my comment above.
Do the objectors think he is illegitimately giving the sacrament of extreme unction? I
Not me. He would be healing him, which is actually what James 5:14,15 is about, yet Caths cite is as support for extreme unction, though it is usually a precursor of death.
Or, does the image depict the unseen spiritual battle that is taking place in a world where Satan continues to devour what is good?
No, that is quite an overreach. Leo is not a solution in that war anyway.
Is the objection because of the fact that Mary is not depicted?
Certainly not me, esp. not the Cath. Mary.
First, I almost took your name off the reply (#132) and my list of rhetorical questions because I didn’t want you to think I was challenging you. But now I am.
Second, this image is full of ambiguities. No one can say for certain what or who is being portrayed. In the absence of this, I do not necessarily consider the picture to be “blasphemous”. And BECAUSE there is so much ambiguity, it would have been better if the picture had never been posted by the President.
Third, your “comment above” post reference does not tell me your opinion of WHO is being anointed by the President. I still don’t know. I don’t think it is Chuck Connors or that Jeffery Epstein.
Fourth, “healing” is your opinion. There’s no evidence that the man (”whoever” it is...) is alive, close to death, or even asleep. No way to tell if it is a depiction of healing, anointing of oil, laying on of hands, last rites, or something else.
Fifth, you ought to remember that I have NO REGARD WHATSOEVER for Catholicism, its minions, its dogmas, its traditions, or its practices.
Sixth, There most certainly IS a spiritual battle taking place (I KNOW you KNOW this - you are engaged in it every day). And (based on “fifth” above) you must know that I firmly believe that the “Pope” is the enemy of God. Never did I consider the “Pope” to be the “solution” to the battle - (except in the same way that Pharaoh was used to accomplish God’s purpose - a very real possibility.)
Finally, I added the “Mary” question just to make the thread longer. Eventually, I want to remind Catholics once again that Mary is not the “mother of God”, that she was not assumed into heaven, that she was a sinner who needed a Savior, that she had other children, and that she in not their intercessory to God. ;^)
Bottom line - I erred by addressing #132 to you. I should have removed your name. I thought the sarcasm and rhetoric would have made my intentions clear.