I have always set the bar high for religion, insisting at least that pastors and priests among Christian faiths have the courage to take their vows seriously and serve as critics of secular society when needed. Too often churches, to a fault, reflect the social and political mores of their communities instead of standing up for Christian principles in times of crisis.<\/p>\n
The recent statements by the Pope and Catholic bishops, are the first major salvos from the Christian community to take on the inhumane and partisan-driven policies of Trump and his administration: namely his brutal and racist treatment of immigrants as well as his self-centered reluctance to use American power on behalf of the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza. The bishops\u2019 condemned \u201cthe indiscriminate mass deportation of people\u201d and criticized the \u201cdehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.\u201d Earlier in September, Pope Leo XIV had criticized the Trump administration\u2019s treatment of immigrants, saying that \u201cSomeone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s pro-life.\u201d* Increasingly Catholic churches are speaking out from their pulpits against Trump\u2019s harsh and indiscriminate policies toward immigrants , some addressing the president personally.**<\/p>\n
Wouldn\u2019t it be nice if mainstream Protestant churches joined in making common cause with the Catholics to provide a united front in protest? There would be safety in numbers and the protest would gain strength and acceptance in our Protestant majority society. While some have spoken out, most major denominations have remained conspicuously quiet over their concern for the political polarization in their congregations.<\/p>\n
We all recognize the problems that a united ecumenical undertaking faces: many congregations are split politically or owe their well-being to a community dominated by MAGA. And making common cause with Catholics for many would be anathema in many congregations even outside politics. Still I must ask, what do Christians really believe? Is it okay to put your spiritual beliefs on hold to pursue political objectives? Is promoting Christian principles only alright when directed at the parishioners during Sunday sermons, but too radical to suggest for local and national politics? Must we forget that Jesus was a radical, one who addressed his message to the authorities, both local and far beyond the village.<\/p>\n
And let me be clear, I am not talking here about the good works that all churches do such as the feeding of the poor, caring for the less fortunate and their outreach programs for immigrants. I\u2019m talking about taking action in the spirit of the late 19th century Social Gospel movement and serving as a prophet to point out the failures of our societies. I\u2019m talking about seizing the initiative of the Liberation Theology movement of the 1960s that believed that theology has practical implications and is not simply an intellectual exercise.<\/p>\n
*David French, \u201cA Christian Answer to Trump and Trumpism is Finally Here,\u201d New York Times<\/em>, 16 November 2025.<\/p>\n **\u201dIn Pulpits and Pews, Catholic Churches Urge Compassion for Immigrants,\u201d New York Times<\/em>, 17 November 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have always set the bar high for religion, insisting at least that pastors and priests among Christian faiths have the courage to take their vows seriously and serve as critics of secular society when needed. Too often churches, to a fault, reflect the social and political mores of their communities instead of standing up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-by-robert-fischer"],"yoast_head":"\n