Calling the Pope ‘Liberal’ Trump’s unprecedented attack — and why it collapses under scrutiny.

https://spectator.org/ ^ | Aug 20, 2026 | Paul Kengor, The American Spectator

[NKP_Vet]

Donald Trump’s Truth Social post against Pope Leo is unprecedented in the history of the presidency and papacy. No president has ever made such a statement, even as previous popes urged peace during wartime and opposed specific U.S. interventions. Our Aubrey Harris noted examples going back to Pope Benedict XV and World War I. Others are detailing examples from throughout the 20th century. They’ve continued into this century.

In recent times, President George W. Bush felt no compulsion to publicly denounce Pope John Paul II when the sainted pontiff opposed the U.S. war in Iraq — a war that Donald Trump opposed. The Bush administration insisted that Saddam Hussein was on the cusp of a nuclear weapon. Donald Trump insists that Bush lied. Today, Trump insists Iran is on the cusp of a nuclear weapon.

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TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: antipope; catholic; dividedloyalties; fakenews; jdvance; leftistsource; maga; paulkengor; pope; popeleo; tds; trump; trumpisright; vance; vatican

[af_vet_1981]

Reversion to Catholicism: Born a "cradle Catholic," Kengor became an evangelical during his college years before returning to the Catholic Church around the time of Pope John Paul II's death in 2005.

Faith and Work: He is heavily involved in Catholic media, writing for outlets like National Catholic Register, Crisis Magazine, and TAN Books. He is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Faith and Freedom.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Paul Kengor 👍

[algore]

I am not a catholic or professing christian, but I like the current Poope as much as I like Netanyahu

[Mr Rogers]

Today, IRAN DECLARED THEY WERE WEEKS FROM NUKES!

Corrected the inaccurate (dishonest) statement by the Catholic apologist for the commie TDS pope.

[Quentin Quarantino]

My question would be, has a pope ever inferred that the President of the United States has blood on his hands?

[af_vet_1981]

Calling the Pope ‘Liberal’

Would "Progressive" be more accurate ?
1. Homosexual couples welcomed
2. Transgenders welcomed and receiving baptism and acting as godparents without repentance.

AI Overview

Key Aspects of the Pope's Approach:
Sacramental Inclusion: In late 2023, the Vatican’s doctrinal 
office, with Pope Francis's approval, confirmed that 
transgender people can receive baptism and act as godparents.

Personal Outreach: Pope Francis has held multiple meetings, 
including lunches, with transgender individuals, particularly 
during the COVID-19 pandemic and for the "World Day of the 
Poor".

"Todos" Welcome: Pope Francis has emphasized a "todos, todos, 
todos" (everyone) approach, stating the church should be open 
to all.

Distinction on Doctrine: While fostering a welcoming 
atmosphere, Pope Francis has also expressed strong opposition 
to "gender theory" or "ideology," labeling it one of the 
"ugliest dangers". 

While the Vatican has affirmed the inclusion of transgender 
individuals, it has maintained that gender-affirming care 
presents significant moral issues. The focus has been on 
pastoral, personal outreach rather than structural doctrinal 
changes to church teaching on gender itself.

[mythenjoseph]

The papacy was pointed out years ago by Sinead O’Conner when the false “uproar” over his picture being torn up on SNL. Since then they have grown their BUSINESS while shuffling people around the planet for profit of course. I have complete and total disdain for this group who’s main job over the past 5-7 decades has been shuffling around homosexual predator priests from one state (or country) to another and settling lawsuits to the male youth they sexually used and permanently scarred by their selfish/perverted heretical actions. Oh ya’ throw in a service once in a while and quote a passage you obviously don’t truly support! Satan is definitely within the vatican and is intentionally destroying any semblance of Gods word. That being said I am no longer bothered not being affiliated with any house of worship as I seek Gods grace through reading the KJV bible and praying on my own along with constant praise and thanks to the one and only true loving God and his son my saviour Jesus Christ.

[Steely Tom]

My question would be, has a pope ever inferred that the President of the United States has blood on his hands?

You probably meant "implied," as in "has a pope ever implied that the President of the United States has blood on his hands?"

[Bigg Red]

::National Catholic Register, Crisis Magazine, and TAN Books:::

~~~~~~
Affiliations that show him to be a tool of the left.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Pious XII was the last real pope. John Paul II was somewhat OK. Benedict was deliberately knee capped before he had a chance. I suspect blackmail. Most recent popes have been "liberation theologians", including the guy from Chicago "Da Pope".

[posterchild]

Of all the popes that Ms O’conner could have disparaged JPII was not it.

[Organic Panic]

Sorry, Kengor. You missed the mark on this one. This pope is a marxist who seeks to destroy the western Christian world we have spent thousands of years creating. He is for open borders. He is for replacing white Christians with third world Muslims. He for communist redistribution. He is pro lgbtqwtf. So calling him “liberal” is mild compared to what I call him. Pope Marx II.

[Paladin2]

A pinko Commie....

[jmacusa]

And he does this from behind high stone walls protected by armed security.

[ohioman]

So what. I don’t give a rats arse about Kenger’s rotten opinion.

[Keyser Soze 84]

I noticed that after John Lennon declared the Beatles as “ bigger than Jesus”, the next two popes called themselves “ John-Paul”. .I wonder why the Church continued to perform weddings after unconstitutional easy “ no- fault” divorce laws were written so divorce lawyers could make more money with less work, as there were so many, many more divorces-— as women ran to the Church to get married, but ran to the State to have their marriage contract nullified. .....
...and how could the Church still be party to marriage after the State made same sex marriage a “ right” by illegal Constitutional amendment by judges.? If marriage is everything, then it’s nothing....& why does the State have any interest in licensing serial marriage?
Now of course Trump is not concerned about such things,and it is true that Catholics divorce less than other groups, but who wants to hear the Pope ranting about climate change, see him meeting with Axelrod, then spouting off about Trump as if he were just a left wing influencer?

[Chgogal]

Paul Kengor is an idiot.

Pope Leo is a hardcore Democrat. He is a Chicagoan.

[af_vet_1981]

but who wants to hear the Pope ranting about climate change, see him meeting with Axelrod, then spouting off about Trump as if he were just a left wing influencer?


Here is an example of how the true Apostle to the Gentiles spoke to leaders:

Acts 27:


[1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak 
for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered 
for himself:
[2] I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall 
answer for myself this day before thee touching all the 
things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
[3] Especially because I know thee to be expert in all 
customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I 
beseech thee to hear me patiently.
[4] My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first 
among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
[5] Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, 
that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a 
Pharisee.
[6] And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise 
made of God unto our fathers:
[7] Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving 
God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king 
Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
[8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, 
that God should raise the dead?
[9] I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many 
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[10] Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the 
saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority 
from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I 
gave my voice against them.
[11] And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and 
compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad 
against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
[12] Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and 
commission from the chief priests,
[13] At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, 
above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and 
them which journeyed with me.
[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a 
voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, 
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to 
kick against the pricks.
[15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus 
whom thou persecutest.
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared 
unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a 
witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of 
those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, 
unto whom now I send thee,
[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to 
light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may 
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which 
are sanctified by faith that is in me.
[19] Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto 
the heavenly vision:
[20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at 
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then 
to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and 
do works meet for repentance.
[21] For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and 
went about to kill me.
[22] Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto 
this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none 
other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say 
should come:
[23] That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the 
first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light 
unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
[24] And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a 
loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth 
make thee mad.
[25] But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak 
forth the words of truth and soberness.
[26] For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I 
speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things 
are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
[27] King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that 
thou believest.
[28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me 
to be a Christian.
[29] And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but 
also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and 
altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
[30] And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the 
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
[31] And when they were gone aside, they talked between 
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or 
of bonds.
[32] Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been 
set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

[Flaming Conservative]

Yeah, well, there haven’t been such awful popes in recent memory.