We are still missing the point.
First, a brief background: I am a proud Catholic and an American patriot. I do not agree with everything President Trump does, nor do I agree with the way he communicates. That said, he has been a blessing to practicing Christians by steering the federal government away from policies harmful to our religious freedoms. I support Pope Leo XIV—he is the Pope. I do not agree with every position he takes. Based on my understanding as a novice, the Pope’s statements on specific wars are not infallible teachings but prudential judgments that apply moral principles to real-world situations. Catholics should give these statements respectful consideration while recognizing that they do not carry the weight of binding doctrine.
Like many faithful Catholics, I struggle to understand why some Church leaders appear to “cherry-pick” the issues they address—often focusing disproportionately on President Trump. There are many instances in which Church leadership has remained relatively silent about atrocities around the world, including the tens of thousands of citizens killed by the brutal Iranian regime. Iran has been one of the world’s greatest exporters of terror for decades. My request to Church leaders is simple: give credit where it is due and offer real solutions rather than what can appear to be one-sided condemnations.
President Trump has reversed many policies hostile to core principles of Christianity—such as traditional marriage, the sanctity of life, and concerns about gender ideology—policies that expanded under the Obama and Biden administrations. Yet the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops often seem relatively silent about these actions.
For a future discussion: should we, as a nation, revisit the War Powers Resolution? It was designed to limit a president’s ability to engage in prolonged military action without Congress’s approval—ensuring the President can act quickly in a crisis but not sustain war without authorization. Congress never formally declared war on Vietnam—a conflict that cost roughly 58,000 American lives and wounded more than 150,000. Another reference point is that more American service members were killed (18) and wounded (73) in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 under President Bill Clinton than to date in Operation Epic Fury. Yet today, Congress often seems incapable of resolving even basic issues like the federal budget (and yes, a bit of sarcasm is warranted).
Returning to the central point: how our leaders communicate in public matters! We have seen a deterioration in public discourse since the days of Ronald Reagan, when he said, “Tip O’Neill and I could disagree on issues, but we could still be friends after 6 o’clock.” Reagan showed that leaders can find common ground without making disagreements personal.
We should stop reflexively defending poor behavior. We need a president who achieves greatness through humility and purpose—not pride. As Reagan showed, strong leaders do not need to tear others down; they elevate the conversation while remaining steadfast on principle. There is still time to build that kind of legacy.
The Pope’s position on Iran did not warrant a personal public attack. While I may disagree with his response—particularly what appears to be insufficient acknowledgment of the Iranian regime’s atrocities or the broader threats posed by its actions, including nuclear ambitions and support for global terrorism—I still respect him, pray for him, and remain faithful to the teachings of the Church. As Saint Peter said to Christ in the Gospel of John: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68–69).
Lastly, we are called not to lose faith—whether as Catholics or as patriots. Both of our great institutions—the United States and the Catholic Church—have served as beacons, helping to build the Western world. Yes, both are imperfect because they are led by imperfect people, but they remain vital bulwarks against the darker forces that threaten our families and our future. We need to pray for improved relations between President Trump and Pope Leo because the world needs them working together as a source of good.
As the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen reminded us: “The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision.”
