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Donald Trump v. Pope Francis in the Year of Mercy
Townhall.com ^ | February 20, 2016 | Mary Claire Kendall

Posted on 02/20/2016 8:33:25 AM PST by Kaslin

Donald Trump's unseemly dust-up with His Holiness Pope Francis did not just start yesterday.

Nor were those of us who have seen this movie before in which Trump brilliantly works the media, naïve about what he was doing in engaging the Pope, whose early fall trip to the U.S., including Washington, New York and Philadelphia, garnered days' long wall-to-wall media coverage.

To wit:

On Thursday, February 11, the day before Pope Francis traveled to Mexico, Trump said he was "a very political person" and suggested that, in celebrating Mass Wednesday near the U.S.-Mexican border, he was being used by the Mexican government. 

The Vatican press secretary Rev. Federico Lombardi responded by saying the "Pope's concern for the human dignity of migrants and refugees is universal."

Before the mass in Juarez, Pope Francis walked in the footsteps of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, who risk life and limb, seeking a better life in America, and, during his sermon, called out the "humanitarian crisis" that prompts citizens to flee their homeland.  

Then, came round two on Thursday, February 18. 

On his return flight from Mexico back to Rome, a reporter asked the Pope whether U.S. citizens who are Roman Catholic should vote for someone like Trump. To which he responded:

 "I thank God that he has said I am a politician, as Aristotle defined the human being as an 'animal politicus': at least I am a human being! And that I am a pawn … perhaps, I do not know. I will leave that to your judgment, to the people. A person who thinks only of building walls, wherever that may be, and not bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel. With regard to what I would advise, to vote or not to vote: I would not like to become involved. I would say only that this man is not Christian. It is necessary to see if he has said these things, and for this reason I would give the benefit of the doubt." 

This prompted Trump to call the Pope "disgraceful." 

Let's be clear, the Pope did not say Donald Trump is not "a" Christian, just not "Christian," in his considered opinion, in this particular area, all things being equal. Like his run for the presidency in which, if he says it's so, it's so; by saying he's Christian, he seems to think his every thought, word and deed is, therefore, Christian.

Memo to Trump: 

#1 - Being a Christian, "a bearer of Christ," and acting "Christian" at all times are two different things.

#2 - Helping people discern how close they are to Christ and what separates them from Christ, is what the Pope does for a living. When a penitent confesses his sins, and lack of virtue, i.e., bad habits, to the Pope, as the intermediary of Christ, as to any priest, he has to make a considered judgment. As your second favorite book, quoting Jesus, says: "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." (John 20:23)

#3 - Following in Christ's footsteps is the work of a lifetime and the one who does it perfectly is a "saint."

Nobody, certainly not Pope Francis, who is a near-saint and embodiment of Christ's humility, is suggesting Donald Trump is not "a Christian." Rather, he is suggesting, like all living Christians, he is a work in progress. 

 And, the more of a saint one is, the more obvious it becomes how unlike Christ one is.

 Which means asking for forgiveness.

 And, forgiving.  Not seven times, but seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-35.)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: popefrancis
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To: Kaslin

***Nobody, certainly not Pope Francis, who is a near-saint and embodiment of Christ’s humility ***

As a Roman Catholic, I have been of the opinion the current Pope is a media hog, who is heavily influenced by Marxist liberation theology, and uses his vocal cords, instead of his brain most of the time. I have seen nothing of his alleged saintliness or humility, unless there’s a media op involved.


21 posted on 02/20/2016 10:48:00 AM PST by sockmonkey (Donald Trump will ban auto-correct with an Executive Order. Go Trump!)
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To: stanne

CCC 2241, IIRC..It’s two parts. I am tired of the 2nd part being ignored.


22 posted on 02/20/2016 10:50:48 AM PST by sockmonkey (Donald Trump will ban auto-correct with an Executive Order. Go Trump!)
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To: Kaslin
Let's be clear, the Pope did not say Donald Trump is not "a" Christian, just not "Christian,"

Let's be VERY 'clear'!

Unless we can read EXACTLY what the pope said; in Spanish; we see through a glass darkly.

23 posted on 02/20/2016 10:50:57 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ncalburt

No, Trump attacked Cruz, as usual. Trump picked this fight.


24 posted on 02/20/2016 10:51:00 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Kaslin

It is the Year of the Red Fire Monkey on my calendar.


25 posted on 02/20/2016 10:53:01 AM PST by ShivaFan
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To: rwilson99
Who will never vote for Ttump due to his theological issues with forgiveness and life.

Then I'll get his vote!!

No Honey; I will!

26 posted on 02/20/2016 10:54:22 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Resettozero

Trump backed away from his (correct and proper) criticism of the Pope. He backed away from what he said about GW Bush, claiming he didn’t say it. He backed away from his threat to sue Cruz because Cruz called him on it. (I love that Cruz wants to take Trump’s deposition himself.)

Trump is a gutless, spineless wimp. he cannot and will not stand up for himself. So how can he stand up for us and for America? How can he “make America great again”?

After all, he says he wants to make deals with Pelosi and Reid. (apparently, he doesn’t even know that Reid is retiring.)


27 posted on 02/20/2016 10:54:26 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: sockmonkey
I have seen nothing of his alleged saintliness or humility, unless there's a media op involved.


28 posted on 02/20/2016 10:59:34 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: TBP
Come back to planet earth .
Cruz took the first shot at Trump .
Cruz and his fat cat Sugar daddy Mercer have proceeded to run a 24/7 ugly attack ads that are so over the top that some got pulled .

Cruz is the dirtiest candidate this year by far.
I am in Fl and witnessing Cruz ‘s non stop smears every day.

Cruz had no ideas but he has a huge thirst for power and money just like everyone else .

29 posted on 02/20/2016 11:05:14 AM PST by ncalburt ( Amnesty-media out in full force)
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To: sockmonkey

2241. I’ve written it in letters to my archbishop and priests. Talk about ignoring. I don’t give up

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.


30 posted on 02/20/2016 11:07:06 AM PST by stanne
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To: ncalburt

Cruz is the single most idea driven candidate in this race. That you think he ha none shows how out of touch you are.

Donald Trump is a malleable person, a man of no fixed principles with a checkered personal and financial history. He has taken liberal positions on many issues of importance.

Cruz has been the most consistent candidate in the race.


31 posted on 02/20/2016 11:08:19 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: TBP

Cruz wants to be America’s Pope. He is more of a religious campaign than a political one. Some of the beliefs of his father are totally incompatible with the Constitution of the United States. Glenn Beck is a religious cultist.


32 posted on 02/20/2016 11:10:16 AM PST by ShivaFan
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To: sockmonkey

“... 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.”

It is completely ignored. However it is there.

I hope Trump takes a look at it. It’s simply biblically based and logical. So logical Tgat I hope it will eventually prevail as it used to, as it should.

Our immigration system certainly takes in to account immigrants’ intent to assimilate

I wonder if every time some recording says, ‘press one for English’ another Trump supporter is created


33 posted on 02/20/2016 11:15:08 AM PST by stanne
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To: ShivaFan
Cruz wants to be America’s Pope.

A blatant falsehood. The most constitutionalist candidate is the staunchest defender of religious liberty and the First Amendment prohibition on establishing a religion.

Senator Cruz's religious values inform his views -- but he's certainly not using them in the way you suggest. That suggstion is a lsander designed to hurt his campaign. And designed by liberals.

VERY revealing.

34 posted on 02/20/2016 11:45:20 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: TBP
Trump is a gutless, spineless wimp.

NOW you tell me. Just voted for him.

Let me know these things earlier next election.

R2z
35 posted on 02/20/2016 12:19:46 PM PST by Resettozero
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To: mosesdapoet

This is same excuse Trump makes when he used terrible language to describe Cruz...

The excuse... ‘I didn’t say it, I just repeated what was said’ sounds very similar too... ‘I didn’t say that about Trump, just about what was being attributed to him.’

As the other least honest person in this whole campaign once said... ‘What difference does it make?’


36 posted on 02/20/2016 1:23:47 PM PST by rwilson99 (Please tell me how the words "shall not perish and have everlasting life" would NOT apply to Mary.)
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To: Grampa Dave
Nice try, Your buddy the pope and his Mexican thugs arranged for the massive protest on the border.

Then, your buddy the pope, took a verbal shot at Trump because Trump will stop the illegals of the pope.

Then, your pope buddy meddled in our political process, and he is a prime example why our ancestors wanted a clear separation of church and state.

After Trump did his thing, you want us to relax.

No way, this will probably become an ad on TV until the election.


Huh?

My buddy the pope?

Grandpa Dave, I'm a Constitutional conservative Southern Evangelical (non-denominational) born-from-above Christian.

You meant to address this post of yours to someone else on Free Republic and not to me, right? Perhaps a Roman Catholic FReeper?
37 posted on 02/20/2016 6:38:36 PM PST by Resettozero
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To: Elsie

No idiot.

I will stay home.

A man with no principles on the life issue will not get my vote.

Cruz, Rubio... or none of the above.


38 posted on 02/20/2016 8:36:52 PM PST by rwilson99 (Please tell me how the words "shall not perish and have everlasting life" would NOT apply to Mary.)
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To: Resettozero
You meant to address this post of yours to someone else on Free Republic and not to me, right?

In the heat of battle it is easy to mistakenly get hit by friendly fire.

39 posted on 02/21/2016 2:31:11 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: rwilson99
A man with no principles on the life issue will not get my vote.

This is similar to why MY ballot had the Presidential choice unchosen in 2012.

A man; who is deceived (or deceiving) on the Christianity issue; will not get my vote.

40 posted on 02/21/2016 2:33:42 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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