Should The Pope Be Commenting On Donald Trump's Faith?

[sp1814]

This is spooky...I was thinking the other day how the CofE were being quite sensible in avoiding making a big public statement on the refugee crisis, because it's such a hot button topic that whatever it said, would be pounced on.

And then the Pope says this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-is-not-christian-says-pope-francis-a6881846.html

Do you think it was wise?

Should he become involved?

Is there a schism between true Christianity and support for Trump?

[ToraToraTora]

religion by it's very nature always wants to force itself upon the intelligent.

[Baldric]

Why shouldn't the Pope comment, you've only got to look at Sites like AB to see that everyone else has had a say regardless of their religion?

[jomifl]

/Why shouldn't the Pope comment, you've only got to look at Sites like AB to see that everyone else has had a say regardless of their religion? /

Well for 1 it isn't a religious issue and for 2 he isn't American

[Old_Geezer]

I can see it would be controversial, but the Pope surely has a right, perhaps even a duty, to defend what he understands as the definition of a Christian; and in his (infallible) opinion someone who pushes for division rather than unity is not acting in a Christian fashion. Bully for him, keeping quite on certain things has had repercussions in the past: but he can expect flak.

[Old_Geezer]

keeping QUIET !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like I £^"$£&£*& typed !

[Khandro]

As reported, and in isolation, it sounds wrong, It sounds like bricklayers cannot be Christians, but structural engineers are OK. The sooner he clarifies the point the better.
'The Donald's' riposte was quick and incisive, particularly as it is the (wet) dream of the bearded ones to overrun Rome. It has done Trump him no harm at all, probably has even perversely, strengthened his position.

[sandyRoe]

Perhaps he's giving a papal endorsement, in a roundabout way, to Senator Cruz.

[mikey4444]

I am not a Christian.

But from everything that I have heard emerging from Trumps mouth, if I were, there is a question that I would be asking...........what would Jesus have said ? Would Jesus have been racist ?

[Jackdaw33]

Extremely foolish of HH in my opinion. I bet it went down like a lead balloon in the Bible Belt and can only strengthen Trump's support. Expect to hear more on this.

[Clanad]

In response to DTCwordfan's query, there's never been an Independent (Third Party) President here in the U.S. Closest to it is described here: "...Republican Theodore Roosevelt ran as the "Bull Moose Party" (Progressive Party) nominee in the 1912 election. Roosevelt won 27.4% of the popular vote and carried six states totaling 88 electoral votes. Overall, Roosevelt's effort was the most successful third-party candidacy in American history. It was also the only third-party effort to finish higher than third in the popular votes and only the second to do so in electoral votes…"

[youngmafbog]

Who cares what a man in a stupid suit thinks?
He is a bit of a fool to take on Trump though. It would clearly never end as the pope would want.

[naomi24]

Mikey, //Would Jesus have been racist ?//

Jesus was racist.

The Pope is an idealist and like all idealists, acknowledging harsh and often unpalatable reality is not his forte. Nevertheless, he wields enormous influence in the world and is hero—worshipped by millions, many of whom cling to his every word, steadfastly believing that he is beyond criticism. Privately he can think what he likes, but he has no business attempting to influence the American electorate. Personal attacks – and that’s solely what this is - upon a foreign politician with whom he disagrees is not within his remit and is an abuse of his office.

[TWR]

Pope>>Religion.

Trump>>Politics.

[CrapAtCryptics]

i agree with TWR - Trump doesnt get involved in religion so the Pope should keep his nose out of politics

[anotheoldgit]

It was noticeable that the Pope did not criticise the Mexicans for their stance on migrants from Central America.

/// The pontiff, however, never directly mentioned the U.S. or Mexican governments, which in recent years have worked together to create an international network of border checkpoints that exposed migrants to perilous routes and brutal organized crime groups. As thousands of children flooded the U.S. southern border, Mexico rolled out its “Programa Frontera Sur” border security plan in June 2014, sending 5,000 federal police to the border with Guatemala and opening more checkpoints on highways and roads. Mexican immigration officials deported nearly 108,000 Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans that year, a 35 percent jump from 2013 and more than double the number of deportations in 2010. Of those, 18,169 were children, a 117 percent increase from 2013, the latest figures from Mexico’s secretary of the interior show. ///

http://www.ibtimes.com/pope-francis-illegal-immigration-border-security-how-mexico-became-tougher-united-2298462

[steg]

If you think you are entitled to freedom of speech, then so should anybody else be, that includes the pope

[Svejk]

^But not Scottish people, steg.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/16/man-arrested-facebook-posts-syrian-refugees-scotland

[jno]

agree with Baldric and others. The idea that anonymous ABers should be allowed to comment on Trump and the Pope should not is all rather peculiar, though of course it is readily acknowledged (by ABers) that ABers are wiser and more profound thinkers than just about anyone on the planet.

[mikey4444]

I can't see any reason whatsoever with the Pope should comment on this.....why can't he express an opinion ? He has considerably more followers than Trump will ever have.