Posted on 04/13/2026 3:36:59 PM PDT by ebb tide
Before President Donald Trump publicly criticized American-born Pope Leo XIV, three U.S. cardinals – all appointed by Pope Francis – joined CBS’ 60 Minutes TV show to deliver leftist talking points and denounce Trump.
During their conversation with correspondent Nora O’Donnell, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, and Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., seemed to give credit for the resurgence of Catholicism within the U.S., especially young people, to Pope Leo.
The interview focused on issues that are favored by leftists, including allowing mass immigration into the U.S. and the condemning of military operations, while steering clear of abortion, euthanasia, and the impact of unbridled immigration on tens of millions of economically vulnerable American families.
The three were not asked about the scandal of clergy homosexual predation, which still casts a dark shadow over the U.S. Church, previously a favorite topic of corporate media.
READ: Cardinal Cupich to close six Catholic schools despite parent protest, petition
“Will 60 minutes question these three cardinals about their relationship with Uncle Ted McCarrick and what they knew about his predatory and financially corrupt practices?” wondered Damian Thompson, associate editor at The Spectator, in advance of the interview.
Anti-Catholic agenda
“Talk to the young people who are converting to Catholicism, and you’ll quickly learn they’re converting despite Cardinals like these,” wrote the Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts on X.
“Their influence among the laity exists only insofar as outlets like CBS are willing to prop them up. These three Cardinals often pursue anti-Catholic agendas by masquerading their aims with religious language, though it’s not hard to see through it,” said Roberts.
“All three use human dignity as cover for supporting an open-borders agenda, ignoring the Americans whose human dignity is violated by mass migration.”
“Fortunately, the liberal Catholicism they often espouse will be short-lived. Numerous studies, including one from Catholic University in 2025, show that liberal priests are a dying breed,” noted Roberts. “The clergy are becoming conservative again, which is to say, they’re becoming Catholic again.”
Trump in the crosshairs
Throughout the interview, President Trump was clearly in the crosshairs of the three U.S. prelates while they repeatedly propped up the “first American Pope.”
“America kills about 1,000,000 unborn human beings a year through abortion and yet three leading cardinals go on 60 Minutes to promote left-wing talking points on Trump, the illegal immigration invasion, etc.,” wrote Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
Other political and social commentators went further.
“Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C. went on 60 Minutes tonight and confessed his hate for Trump & love of open borders,” said Charles R. Downs.
“Individuals suffering from TDS shouldn’t be running churches in our nation’s capital,” said Downs, adding, “No one likes woke religion.”
Newsmax host Todd Starnes suggested that the appearance of the cardinals was part of a coordinated effort with the Vatican to attack President Trump.
“Last week David Axelrod, Obama’s former senior advisor and a longtime Democrat strategist, met with Pope Leo XIV. Days later, Pope Leo is attacking Trump and three cardinals appeared on 60 Minutes to attack the president,” said Starnes.
“I don’t believe in coincidences. This is nothing more than a coordinated attack on the president of the United States by the Vatican,” he noted. “And quite frankly, it is both distasteful and unChristian.”
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“Last week David Axelrod, Obama’s former senior advisor and a longtime Democrat strategist, met with Pope Leo XIV. Days later, Pope Leo is attacking Trump and three cardinals appeared on 60 Minutes to attack the president,” said Starnes.
Bishops being leftist?
Why is this even news?
Is water wet? Do the Red Sox suck?
These are all self evident.
Ping
Three frankencardinals performing their assigned duties in the sin-nodal “church”.
For decades Marxists have always, albeit quietly, camped out in the Catholic religion (see Jesuits). Now the Marxists have full and unconditional control of the Catholic hierarchy.
These cardinals are who St. John Chrysostom was talking about when he said that “the floor of Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops”.
Marxist/Leftist or Satanic ?
What’s the diff?
The three were not asked about the scandal of clergy homosexual predation, which still casts a dark shadow over the U.S. Church, previously a favorite topic of corporate media.
This "cardinal" should step down, immediately ...
“I hate Trump and I LOVE open borders” -D.C. Cardinal McElroy
This is a FULL TDS meltdown from a man as his Church cashes BILLIONS from trafficking illegals through Catholic Charities.
Shame on him.pic.twitter.com/9HgJEY50Uz— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) April 13, 2026
The Catholic Church was receiving $ millions in NGO funds to aid illegal aliens entering America during Biden’s invasions.
It’s 60 Minutes.
I have cursed the pope soundly several times and have not been struck by lightning even once.
Is this a [catholic caucus] ?
I’m born and raised Catholic! Wife converted to Catholicism, and raised 3 children into the faith.
These 3, and this Pope, and the last one make me ill!
Conservative church members see exactly what is going on and are disgusted by it.
Church shop if you must but leave woke Catholic Churches and attend a conservative one! I all but left the Catholic Church due to Francis.
My local parish saved me. Now I/we have to weather Leo.
POTUS needs to say ZERO WORDS about the Catholic church and the Pope (STFU!). You never beat the catholic church. Instead...talk about protecting children from pedos, stopping human trafficking, securing our borders, bringing safety, protecting our religious groups, including catholics from government discrimination, protecting the unborn, encoiraging adoption, and protecting the ability of many faithful americans including catholics ability to express tgeir deeply held beliefs about the evils of rampant abortion in this country, that euthanasia and assisted suicide is wrong, and that God created mankind in his image, male and female. Trump beats the Pope on Catholic issues with the Catholics. Stick to the issues and dont attack the institution
Doing so drives papists into believing pelosi or biden are good catholics. Dont attack the obvious antichristian
Attack the issue.
So the “Cardinal” publicly proclaims his hatred for another human, huh?
“...having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
-2 Timothy 3:5
Indeed.
A fish rots from the head down.
Many people confuse the Catholic Church with Christianity.
L
If these Catholic bishops want open borders, let them pay stiff taxes on their churches to pay for the upkeep of these illegals.
“NGO” funds?
Are you sure?
I heard it was BINGO!
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