Op-Ed: Church Leaders Must Stand for Truth and Reject Far-Left Policies – I am a practicing Catholic who strongly supports the papacy but unfortunately, I find myself in a position of deep concern regarding the recent comments made by Pope Leo XIV about Senator Durbin.
When asked about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to present Sen. Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, the Pope noted, “Someone who says that ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
The shot at conservatives is a complete misrepresentation of what conservatives actually believe on the issue of immigration. Conservatives strongly support LEGAL immigration. What we oppose is the open border policies that allow people to come here illegally. Not all of the people in this country illegally are violent criminals, but clearly many of them certainly are, and it is the job of the state to protect our communities. Protecting innocent life is PRO-LIFE.
Conflating individual responsibilities we as Christians owe our neighbors with the responsibilities a government has to its citizens is absurd. The responsibilities of a government differ from individual responsibilities. The primary responsibility of government is to protect its borders and protect its citizens. We as individuals have a right to self-defense, but we do not have the right to administer punishment to criminals – only the state has that authority. There is a distinct difference between individuals and the civil magistrate.
A country that wants to do right by its citizens must protect its borders and protect its laws and customs. An individual who wants to live in accordance with God’s law must love their neighbor and show kindness to strangers. Neither one of these ideas is incongruent with one another. In fact, they go hand in hand. This has always been the view of the Church.
The infusion of leftwing politics into church polity is a disturbing trend that has to stop. Pope Leo XIV said he did not know a lot about Senator Durbin, but yet he seemed to know how long the Senator had been in government. He knew his views on abortion. Instead of standing up for the historic faith, the Pope decided to turn on conservative Catholics. The reason the Pope’s lurch to the left is so disturbing is because leftism is not just a political ideology – it is a religion that is antithetical to the historic Christian faith.
Equating the right to life with the issue of illegal immigration at our southern border, as though they are morally equivalent, is deeply troubling. Where was the outrage when thousands of children were trafficked by cartels into the sex trade, or when illegal immigrants have committed violent crimes like rape and murder against honest citizens?
To offer support- or even passively endorse- an award for Senator Durbin is an insult to pro-life conservatives. To disregard the importance of a secure nation is equally upsetting. In my lifelong commitment to the Catholic Church, I have never been taught to take a moderate stance on abortion or to embrace socialist ideologies. Sadly, that’s the message Cardinal Cupich and Pope Leo are sending.
This trend is becoming increasingly common within the leadership of the Catholic Church. After the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, I attended mass in Washington D.C. There was no mention of Charlie Kirk, but the priest did lead prayers for climate change, which is a hoax and rooted in anti-Christian Marxist ideologies. With the Pope recently blessing a block of ice under the guise of climate change activism, it raises an important question: What message is the Church sending to pro-life conservative Catholics?
I urge the Pope and all of the leaders of our Church to cast aside their leftwing ideology and focus on promoting the historic faith that has stood as a beacon of light and hope in the world for more than 2000 years. Politics and empty political slogans cannot save us. Only Christ, our Redeemer, our Hope, and our Lord can save us. And it is only through Christ that we will find unity in our sharply divided world.
Op-Ed: Church Leaders Must Stand for Truth and Reject Far-Left Policies
