Over 21,000 people have joined a petition by a progressive Christian group, Faithful America, urging Catholic bishops to withdraw their support for former President Donald Trump. Having reached its original goal of 20,000 signatures, the group raised the target to 25,000.
21000 Voices Against Trump
The group, which promotes social justice and opposes ‘Christian nationalism,’ urges Catholics to denounce bishops who support Trump’s ‘Christofascist campaign.’
A Catholic Dilemma
The petition specifically points out Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and the former Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, for their controversial support of a sermon that falsely claimed Democrats cannot be Catholic.
‘Hate-Based’ Policies
Faithful America asks Catholics to join the petition, citing Pope Francis’s advice for bishops to be more pastoral. The petition condemns ‘Christian-nationalist politicians like Donald Trump and their vile, hate-based policies, stating they do not align with the teachings of Jesus.
A Call for Non-Partisan Faith
“Pro-Trump words and actions like those we saw from Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Strickland, and others in 2020 were partisan, unpastoral, and extremely harmful to immigrants, the poor, and the marginalized,” the petition reads. “They no doubt pushed many people away from the Church and should not be repeated in 2024.”
‘Love, equality, and dignity’
It continues. “The Gospel teaches love, equality, and dignity — all values that the MAGA movement clearly rejects. Please listen to the millions of faithful, loving Catholics and allies who want bishops to stay out of this election.”
Church’s Neutral Stance
A spokesperson from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops clarified that the Catholic Church doesn’t endorse specific candidates or political parties. They highlighted that U.S. bishops provide a ‘teaching document’ to help Catholics form their conscience for election decisions.
Questioning a Bishop’s Views
Meanwhile, Faithful America, after Pope Francis removed Bishop Strickland, stated that “Bishop Strickland is a notoriously election-denying, QAnon-spreading, Francis-bashing, vaccine-rejecting, LGBTQ-hating, division-sowing, fire-breathing darling of right-wing Twitter.”
‘Far-right’ Agenda
Expanding on their criticism, Faithful America wrote about Bishop Strickland, “His agenda went beyond far-right culture wars to full-blown Christian nationalism, even appearing at a ‘Stop the Steal’ MAGA event.”
Reforms Clash With Politics
Strickland, who often clashed with the pope’s reforms and promoted right-wing politics, was removed after a Vatican-led investigation. Pope Francis, addressing a gathering in Portugal, criticized some American Catholics for letting political ideology overshadow church doctrine.
Christian Lens on Political Issues
Faithful America’s campaign against Trump reflects its ongoing efforts to address political issues through a Christian lens, often challenging the religious right and the MAGA movement.
‘Cruel’ Immigration Policies
December saw the launch of a petition denouncing ‘MAGA Republicans’ for advocating ‘cruel policies’ on immigration amid the ongoing debate in Congress over U.S.-Mexico border policies and Ukraine aid.
‘Not Bargaining Chips’
Faithful America launched this petition amidst concerns about certain Democratic lawmakers potentially compromising the welfare of asylum seekers in legislative deals. Their petition, ‘Asylum Seekers Are Not Bargaining Chips,’ has garnered over 8,100 signatures as of late February.
Migrant Family Policies
“Right now in Congress, far-right politicians are turning migrant families into political footballs by demanding permanent, drastic changes to our asylum system in exchange for funding once-bipartisan budget priorities,” the group stated in the petition.
Asylum Seekers at Risk
It continued. “MAGA Republicans are pushing for cruel policies that would be devastating to families seeking safety from disasters, violence, and economic crisis. Alarmingly, some Senate Democrats are actually indicating they might make a deal to hurt asylum seekers before the Christmas break.”
Christians Against Trump
In a February 2023 petition, Faithful America labeled Trump ‘the insurrectionist ex-president,’ encouraging Christians to back another candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
20,000+ Against Trump’s Return
In the petition that has received over 20,000 signatures, they cautioned that Trump plans to “double down on the fascist tactics that led to the deadly January 6 Christian-nationalist attack on our Capitol.”
“We don’t know much yet about how the 2024 election will play out, but one thing is certain: Another Trump presidency would be a disaster for our country.”
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