Posted: Jan. 17, 2024
The 2024 presidential election is officially underway. For the next ten months, conservative Catholic bishops will have plenty of time to boost the Christofascist campaign of Donald Trump -- just as some did in 2020.
While bishops can't legally invoke their official role or the Church to endorse a candidate, more than a few of them have come as close to crossing that line as possible.
In an April 2020 call between Trump and top Catholic leaders, New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan lavishly praised Trump and hailed far-right Cabinet members Betsy DeVos and Ben Carson as "cherished allies." The cardinal continued his disturbing praise of Trump in a cathedral homily and then on Fox News. In response to that alliance, the National Catholic Reporter published a scathing editorial titled, "Dolan delivers the church to Trump and the GOP."
Later that fall, Bishop Joseph Strickland invoked his office to inappropriately endorse a sermon called, "You cannot be Catholic & a Democrat. Period."
Pope Francis has been clear: Bishops should behave in a more pastoral manner than this. The Gospels and our shared beliefs are also clear: Christian-nationalist politicians like Donald Trump and their vile, hate-based policies do not speak for us -- or for Jesus.
With Trump launching another Christofascist campaign amidst multiple criminal indictments and a civil liability for sexual assault, we must do all we can to avoid more partisan behavior from church authorities. Let's show the bishops that a nationwide movement of grassroots Catholics and ecumenical allies want them to stop their partisan activities and stay out of the 2024 election!
Sign the petition:
Love thy neighbor.