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Pope Leo's critique of Trump ends honeymoon with conservative Catholics
Reuters.com ^ | October 2, 20256:08 AM CDT | Joshua McElwee

Posted on 10/02/2025 10:21:07 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Summary

VATICAN CITY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church.

But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church's pro-life teachings.

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"Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life," Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday.

Some critics, who had praised the pope for his early reserve, expressed shock that Leo criticized the current champion of global conservatives.

Former Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland, a fierce Francis critic who was relieved from duty by the late pope but has praised Leo, criticized the new pope on social media for causing "much confusion … regarding the sanctity of human life and the moral clarity of the Church's teaching."

"So tired of papal interviews. He should return to his previous silence," opined the Rorate Caeli blog, which had previously criticised Francis and praised Leo.

The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo, also pushed back.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: karencantspell; magacult; magahatingcult; orangebufoon; randpaulbuffoon; rinocult; schismatics
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Pope Frank(enstein) II.
1 posted on 10/02/2025 10:21:07 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Send Leo a black of ice. What an ass clown.


2 posted on 10/02/2025 10:23:18 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

block of ice. Oy!


3 posted on 10/02/2025 10:24:02 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It must be true if it’s from Reuters


4 posted on 10/02/2025 10:24:56 AM PDT by Mr. K (no i think 10%consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Financial aid to the church for illegals may be at risk.


5 posted on 10/02/2025 10:25:38 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Accusations against Prevost (formerly an archdiocesan leader and bishop) include mishandling sexual abuse cases, failing to initiate investigations into abuse claims, and allowing accused priests to remain in positions or residences near vulnerable children. Advocates and victims’ groups have accused him of enabling abuse through inadequate responses, lack of transparency, and insufficient victim support during his prior roles in Chicago and Peru. Despite some recognition of efforts to address abuse in Peru, these criticisms form the core of backlash against his leadership in handling child sexual assault allegations .
This controversy centers on Prevost’s role before becoming pope. Allegations highlight that while he supervised religious houses or dioceses, priests with credible abuse accusations were permitted to live near children or were not properly investigated. Victim advocacy groups like SNAP have formally complained about Prevost’s past decisions and lack of accountability, calling for independent investigations and zero tolerance for abuse within the Church hierarchy. The allegations have spurred public and media scrutiny worldwide, coinciding with his elevation to the papacy, raising questions about Church reform and justice for survivors


6 posted on 10/02/2025 10:26:25 AM PDT by oldernittany
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I wonder how much the money to Catholic Charities is part of this.


7 posted on 10/02/2025 10:27:38 AM PDT by xp38
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To: TornadoAlley3
Financial aid to the church for illegals may be at risk.

Good.

Catholic Charities should be explicitly and exclusively CATHOLIC.

Catholic Charities should be explicitly and exclusively CHARITABLE.

Taking Caesar's denarius is antithetical to both of those requirements.

End it ... and the corruption will end as well.

8 posted on 10/02/2025 10:29:48 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Francis was 100% for illegal immigration, with one exception. No illegal immigration into Vatican City, please.

I suppose Leo will be following that exact same path.

And now it’s time for a fun fact.

Awhile back I did a little calculation. Based on its size, Vatican City can easily take in and house 2500 immigrants. And with its vast wealth, the Vatican has the money to feed, clothe, and educate them all.

Your move, Leo.


9 posted on 10/02/2025 10:30:01 AM PDT by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Shut up Bob. You are a man just like any of the rest of us. You have NO say over anyone. We do not want to hear anything you have to say. Supposedly a man who stands up for right, or wrong? Then gets involved in politics? Really? I can NOT believe people stay involved with the catholic church with all of this going on. It is UNBELIEVABLE.


10 posted on 10/02/2025 10:30:55 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Leaning Right

You all missed the point. He was ok with a vehement proabort getting a catholic award. Jesus is punishing us, rightly.

Accept it and pray and fast, become holy. Same job as ever! What was right 2000 years ago is and always will be right. Fear not. Despair not. Anger not. L9ve and convert with relationship. Same job.


11 posted on 10/02/2025 10:33:56 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Proof that the Vatican and Catholic Charities are major contributors to the global immigration invasion.


12 posted on 10/02/2025 10:34:01 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Two words for Roman Catholics: Unam sanctum.


13 posted on 10/02/2025 10:36:01 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: xp38

Catholic Charities is a front for illegals.


14 posted on 10/02/2025 10:37:03 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s not the criticism of President Trump. It’s him embrace of lawlessness (illegal immigration), lack of moral clarity (Durban’s award), and climate activism/cultural relativism.


15 posted on 10/02/2025 10:38:09 AM PDT by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: Zathras

The lady judge who got arrested helping an illegal escape from her courtroom used to be a leader of Catholic Charities.


16 posted on 10/02/2025 10:38:33 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
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To: Leaning Right

Great post!


17 posted on 10/02/2025 10:38:53 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: Leaning Right; pookie18

18 posted on 10/02/2025 10:39:05 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The most inconsequential ‘leaders’ in the world, Popes.

Not even church attending Catholics listen to the pope. Why is a pope necessary?


19 posted on 10/02/2025 10:40:07 AM PDT by adorno ( )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The Catechism on illegal immigration. It states that prosperous nations are to weigh in on whether they can take in people. According to their laws

I would venture to say that the pope, like so many people here, are not aware that the illegal aliens here are not only not law abiding, but they are favored by the democrat party whereas in blue states the illegal aliens have more rights than citizens. Police allow them to batter residents. They take funding for living expenses. That they are the democrat voting base, where they are not legally allowed to vote. That they are by their lawlessness causing harm and death, horrific death, to citizens. Innocent citizens. That is not pro life

Nor is promoting the democrat party which garners power by promoting abortion. Primarily.

Below is the catechism’s position on immigration. The pope has not and will not change it. It is common sense and orderly

It begins by addressing prosperous nations

Sorry, at $37 trillion in debt and a young adult generation able to hope for a life of family and prosperity, we are NOT a prosperous nation

2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him. Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.“


20 posted on 10/02/2025 10:43:20 AM PDT by stanne (Because they were mesmerized by Obama, the man for whom this was named, whose name they left out of )
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