Pope rebukes Trump over migrant deportations and refutes VP Vance’s theology : NPR

Pope Francis wrote a letter to U.S. Catholic bishops refuting Vice President Vance’s theology and taking to task the Trump administration’s stance on migrants.

Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Pope Francis criticized the Trump administration’s stance on migrants, calling the president’s pledge of mass deportations “a major crisis.”

In a strongly worded letter to U.S. Catholic bishops, Francis wrote that it’s important for Catholics to disagree with any measure that identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.

Francis also said that deporting people — who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, exploitation and persecution — “damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.”

The letter also appears to reply to remarks by Vice President Vance in which he said people should care for their family, communities and country before caring for others.

Francis instead wrote that people should meditate on love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” the pope writes.

The pope is the second high-ranking Catholic leader to criticize Vance, who is Catholic.

After Vance accused the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of resettling immigrants to receive federal funding, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan called the vice president’s remarks “scurrilous” and “nasty.”

“You want to come look at our audits, which are scrupulously done? You think we make money caring for the immigrants? We’re losing it hand over fist. … We’re not in a moneymaking business,” Dolan said.

In a recent statement, Pope Francis has criticized President Trump’s aggressive stance on migrant deportations and has also refuted Vice President Vance’s theological justifications for such actions. The Pope, known for his advocacy for refugees and migrants, expressed deep concern over the human rights implications of the deportations and urged for compassion and understanding towards those seeking a better life.

In his rebuke, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. He called for a more humane and inclusive approach to addressing the complex issue of migration, urging world leaders to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Additionally, the Pope took issue with Vice President Vance’s theological justifications for the deportations, stating that such arguments were not in line with the core teachings of Christianity. He emphasized the need for a more compassionate and merciful response to the plight of migrants and refugees, highlighting the importance of solidarity and empathy in addressing global migration challenges.

Overall, Pope Francis’s remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the moral imperative to treat all individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of their background or nationality. His rebuke of Trump’s policies and refutation of Vance’s theology highlights the importance of upholding human rights and promoting a more compassionate approach to immigration issues.

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1. Pope Francis
2. Donald Trump
3. Migrant deportations
4. Vice President Vance
5. Theology
6. NPR
7. Immigration policies
8. Religious leaders
9. Social justice
10. Church politics

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