Thanks to Trump, the Catholic vote is now up for grabs

After President Trump posted an image on his Truth Social account depicting himself as a modern-day Jesus Christ with images of soldiers and fighter aircraft, the Statute of Liberty and the American flag in the background, the outrage was immediate. Catholic podcaster Isabel Brown said it was “frankly, disgusting and unacceptable.” Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, described the image as “deeply offensive.”

Trump removed the post, lamely telling reporters that he believed the post depicted himself as a doctor healing a bed-ridden patient. But that blasphemous post was not his first. When the papal conclave met last May to select a successor to Pope Francis, Trump posted a picture of himself dressed as a pope, causing the New York State Conference of Catholics to respond: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image. Do not mock us.”

Since then, things have gotten worse. Pope Leo told reporters that Trump’s threat to Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight” was “truly unacceptable.” He also instructed Catholics to contact members of Congress saying, “We don’t want war, we want peace.”

Over time, the pope’s statements have grown increasingly pointed.

In a Palm Sunday sermon, Leo quoted the Book of Isaiah, stating that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” citing the Prophet Isaiah who wrote, “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen—your hands are full of blood.”

Later, Leo posted, “Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

At an April 11 peace vigil, Leo was emphatic: “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

Trump erupted in response, attacking the pope as “WEAK on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” concluding that “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician.”

Leo responded that he had “no fear, neither of the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel. … I don’t think the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. Too many people are being killed, and someone has to stand up.”

Catholic leaders leapt to the pope’s defense. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was “disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” and explained Leo’s true duties.

“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

Even Bishop Robert Barron, a vociferous Trump defender and member of his Religious Liberty Commission, said Trump’s attacks were “entirely inappropriate and disrespectful,” and urged Trump to apologize.

In his lengthy screed against the pope, Trump claimed that he won the 2024 election “IN A LANDSLIDE.” Exit polls showed Trump with a solid 20-point margin of victory among Catholics over Kamala Harris. But Trump seems to believe, mistakenly, that Catholics will stick with him no matter what he says or does.

Catholics are swing voters. In 2020, Joe Biden won the Catholic vote, 52 percent to Trump’s 47 percent. A recent poll found that for the first time this year a plurality of Catholics disapproves of Trump’s job performance. And 60 percent of Catholics reject his handling of the Iran War, with 55 percent believing it is not going well.

Today, the Catholic vote is up for grabs. Catholics are as much affected by high gasoline prices, inflation and the Iran War as everyone else. Compounding Trump’s difficulties is the mass exodus of Hispanics from his coalition, given their alienation due to indiscriminate mass deportations, along with his failure to reduce costs.

With prominent Catholic leaders speaking so strongly against the Iran War and defending the Pope, the level of cognitive dissonance among Catholics is rising. In a sermon at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Robert McElroy said of the Iran War, “we must answer vocally and in unison: No. Not in our name. Not at this moment. Not with our country.”

Trump continues to compound his troubles with Catholic voters. And there is no sign that he is letting up his attacks on the pope or acting to shore up his political support with this vital group.

John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled “Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism.” He is also on Substack.

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