Trump is right, the Pope is wrong: Like it or not, one of the most loathsome public figures got the better of one of the most beloved
In yet another crazy election election year moment — among many — Thursday witnessed an epic and unexpected clash of the titans: Donald Trump and Pope Francis.
While on board a plane home to the Vatican from Mexico, the Pope told reporters that Trump’s immigration positions are not Christian.
“A person who thinks only about building walls — wherever they may be — and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel. I’d just say that this man is not Christian if he said it this way.”
POPE FRANCIS DECLARES DONALD TRUMP IS 'NOT CHRISTIAN'
He also said he’d give Trump the benefit of the doubt, but qualifiers and caveats aside, it was a pretty cutting dis for the leader of the Catholic Church to question the sincerity of an American presidential candidate’s faith.
Trump predictably fired back, insisting that if ISIS were to attack the Vatican (yeah, he went there), the Pope would fare better under a President Trump, and slamming the pontiff’s skepticism of his Christianity.
“For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President.”
Trump 1, Pope 0
The irony is palpable. Donald Trump has questioned Ben Carson’s faith, Ted Cruz’s faith and President Obama’s faith, to name a few. And His Holiness is not the first to question Trump’s familiarity with Christian doctrine. Trump has proven an awkward parishioner throughout this race, despite glowing endorsements from Jerry Falwell, Jr. and popular black pastors and the support of millions of evangelicals.
I am loathe to defend Trump, a candidate whose rhetoric and positions are largely indefensible. But in this case, he is totally right. And it’s likely the Pope’s unkind words will only serve to give Trump a boost — whether he needs it or not.
EXPERT: TRUMP WILL SURVIVE BACK AND FORTH WITH POPE ON IMMIGRATION
Pope Francis’s penchant for wading into American politics has rubbed many the wrong way. Lecturing Republican lawmakers, for example, on climate change and capitalism, was seen as overly political, and this latest skirmish with the Republican frontrunner probably won’t endear him to conservatives, even those who don’t like Trump. Case in point: When given the opportunity to slam Trump, his rivals Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush abstained. Bush said he doesn’t like to question others’ faith. Cruz said this was between the Pope and Donald.
That’s probably smart. Siding with the Pope to attack Trump has little upside. In a state like South Carolina, where they were campaigning when this story broke, Catholics make up a sliver of the Christian population. In fact, in a list of the most Catholic states, South Carolina ranks 49th. Nationally, Catholics represent only about 20% of the population, and they are increasingly voting Democratic. In 2012, Obama won the Catholic vote 51% to Mitt Romney’s 48%. If anything, defending the Pope would likely bring about charges of liberalism.
But more than being politically prudent to stay agnostic on this fight, the candidates might also think the Pope is wrong on a few levels. I do.
Donald Trump's celebrity supporters
POPE FRANCIS: 'NOT CHRISTIAN' COMMENT NOT ATTACK ON TRUMP
While one could certainly characterize Trump’s immigration policy as “unwelcoming,” there's nothing un-Christian about securing the border and protecting the homeland, even through the use of a wall. It’s why Vatican City originally erected walls. It’s why Jerusalem erected walls. It’s why Rome had walls. Does the Pope believe the only Christian approach is open borders? I doubt it, but if so, he’s pretty naive.
Furthermore, it seems seriously unfair to judge a political figure’s faith by his policies alone. By this standard, no war-time President would be considered Christian. No pro-abortion-rights President would be considered Christian. Is reforming welfare un-Christian? Is cutting entitlements?
Lastly, the Pope’s willingness to dismiss Trump’s (very popular, incidentally) posture on national security undermines the complex and serious problems the nation is facing on our borders — illegal immigration, drug trafficking and terrorism, among them. These problems cannot be wished away with a hackneyed adage about building bridges instead of walls. No one wants to build a bridge to ISIS, to heroin dealers, to human traffickers and criminals.
When the Pope oversimplifies important and complicated issues it serves no one, especially the least among us — the drug addicted, poor migrant workers, victims of terror — who need strong policies to protect them, not Hallmark cards.
Unimaginably, one of the most liked public figures has managed to come out the losing end against one of the least. Trump is wrong a lot. But not this time
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