When Trump shared a video showing the Obamas as apes, outraged Catholic bishops denounced it as “viciously racist” and urged the former president to take responsibility — and apologize immediately.
Unfortunately, this is true. One of Roy Cohn’s lessons to Trump was to never apologize for anything, and Trump seems to have mastered the art of blaming others, pointing fingers, and never apologizing or admitting to any error.
Thanks to this Substack and to Pope Leo and Pope Francis, my opinion of the Roman Catholic Church is rising. Once upon a time, when I was in high school, I attended folk masses in Catholic churches with Catholic friends. Lapsed Episcopalian though I was by that time, I loved them. The energy! The music! The politics! Shortly thereafter I started college at Jesuit-run Georgetown University. Talk about total immersion. Around 80% of my classmates had been raised Catholic. Many had gone to Catholic schools. Many of them had turned away from the religion they were raised with -- and watching the "Jebbies" in action, I totally got it.
At the same time, I was much inspired in those days by some people who were moved to activism by their Catholicism: the brothers Berrigan for starters, and Dorothy Day, but several who were known only locally or not at all. So I'm much inspired by the response of Catholic bishops in the U.S. to the administration abuses in Minneapolis and elsewhere, and like others I choke on the fact that the U.S. vice president identifies as Catholic.
I think reposting the video clip is unnecessary and counterproductive. As for Trump, don't hold your breath. He's never apologized for anything. He's not going to start now.
There will never be an apology nor any corrective actions taken on this and all future hate speech from this administration.
Unfortunately, this is true. One of Roy Cohn’s lessons to Trump was to never apologize for anything, and Trump seems to have mastered the art of blaming others, pointing fingers, and never apologizing or admitting to any error.
Thanks to this Substack and to Pope Leo and Pope Francis, my opinion of the Roman Catholic Church is rising. Once upon a time, when I was in high school, I attended folk masses in Catholic churches with Catholic friends. Lapsed Episcopalian though I was by that time, I loved them. The energy! The music! The politics! Shortly thereafter I started college at Jesuit-run Georgetown University. Talk about total immersion. Around 80% of my classmates had been raised Catholic. Many had gone to Catholic schools. Many of them had turned away from the religion they were raised with -- and watching the "Jebbies" in action, I totally got it.
At the same time, I was much inspired in those days by some people who were moved to activism by their Catholicism: the brothers Berrigan for starters, and Dorothy Day, but several who were known only locally or not at all. So I'm much inspired by the response of Catholic bishops in the U.S. to the administration abuses in Minneapolis and elsewhere, and like others I choke on the fact that the U.S. vice president identifies as Catholic.
I think reposting the video clip is unnecessary and counterproductive. As for Trump, don't hold your breath. He's never apologized for anything. He's not going to start now.
Leadership, not just hand wringing. Call it loudly for what it is! RACISM.
The day that this abomination apologizes will be the day that he’s close to dying.
Thanks to Catholic leadership for speaking up. Pope Francis and Pope Leo have changed my attitude towards the Catholic Church. Peace.