Aloha Iesu

Let all Christians pray to our Lord to fill anyone’s heart with LOVE & PEACE, who wants to cause damage or disrupt the business at the Capital building. Trust in God’s Leadership! Amen!

@PonderHart @ShaneSchaetzel I do agree, this response was to far for Pope Leo. He needs to instruct on our teaching and challenge Catholics, but would he be willing to go as far as to say someone needs to be replaced?

You’re right that popes have always spoken against war, that’s not new, and Trump’s tone didn’t help. But there’s a line being crossed. When a pope moves from teaching principles into directing citizens to pressure specific outcomes, telling the faithful to contact their congressman, that shifts into the political arena. The Church lays out the moral framework, and as the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309 states, “the evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.” Preach peace, yes, but don’t turn the pulpit into a political action channel.

The feud between President Trump and Pope Leo is about more than just international politics. It is perfectly normal for any pope to preach out against war, and criticize those politicians who are engaging in war. Don’t believe me? Look back in history for 1000 years and see for yourself. The only thing that’s unusual about all of this, is Donald Trump‘s reaction, which was just petty and infantile. All he had to do was the same as George W. Bush when Pope John Paul II criticized him about the Iraq War. All he had to do was say “I disagree“ and move on. Instead, Trump chose to make a personal attack on the pope, and that’s when things started to go sideways. Trump‘s personal attack on the pope ignited something that was simmering beneath the surface in MAGA. That something was and is anti-Catholicism. Now, before you react, hear me out…👇🏻 Catholics are becoming a growing part of both.MAGA and the Republican Party. Catholics make up 21% of MAGA, and 19% of the GOP. So it’s about 20% of Republicanism overall, just to make numbers easy. That’s historical actually. The Republican Party has never had this many Catholics in it before. Traditionally and historically, the Republican Party has always been a staunchly Protestant party. It was President Richard Nixon, who opened the doors, of the Republican Party, to Catholics and invited them in. And it was Ronald Reagan who saw the greatest influx of Catholics into the Republican Party during the 1980s. Still, Catholics remained a small minority in the Republican Party, well under 20%, until just recently. Now, as of about 2020 onward, one in every five Republicans is Catholic. The Republican Party has never seen this before. And while most Republicans are perfectly fine with this, there is a small segment of hard-core Evangelical Protestants who are starting to feel very uncomfortable. A miniature version of this explosion happened a few weeks ago when Senator Ted Cruz retweeted an article posted by an 𝕏 user that goes by the name “Insurrection Barbie.” This anti-Catholic influencer with millions of followers, framed traditional-Catholic teaching on politics as extreme, bigoted and dangerous. As explosive as that event was, it was relatively small and contained compared to what is happening right now. President Trump’s comments, though personal and directed specifically at Pope Leo, have unintentionally tapped into growing tensions within the Republican Party over the influence of Catholics. I can tell you how this will end. It’s very predictable. Catholics are not going to leave the Republican Party. While some Evangelicals within the GOP (not all but some) would prefer Catholics go back to the Democratic Party “where they belong,” the overwhelming vast majority of Evangelicals, particularly the anti-Catholic ones, are going to have to learn how to cope with more Catholic influence. That means the face of the party is going to change, and in time the policies of the party will change as well. This is inevitable. This is going to happen. Most Evangelicals will be able to adapt. A few of them will not. Those who cannot cope will either go to a third-party, like the Constitution Party for example, or else they will go independent. But I imagine, however, by the time this all blows over, that will be a very small number.

@EightCountEddie @ShaneSchaetzel @annerose4444 Ed, do you know that the secret alliance between Pope John Paul II & President Reagan began with a meeting in 1982 and finally revealed in 1992. That meeting was after each had an assassination attempt on them in 1981.

@ShaneSchaetzel @annerose4444 The Vatican had to have known what the optics of this meeting would suggest. Your take seems deliberately obtuse.

@ShaneSchaetzel Shane, I think we may be entering a stage in American Politics, when we will hear a Pope who challenges us, both Democrats & Republicans, to live according to our Catholic Teaching, if they are open, we will see more Catholics move to the center, that center is who elects POTUS .

@Hanz13280 @ShaneSchaetzel On your money concerns, about 65% of Catholic Charities finances is tax payer money, however, most of that goes to support programs that care for Americans & immigrants. I believe that government should be providing that service, but needs outside sources, to fill the gap. 2/2

@Hanz13280 @ShaneSchaetzel Yes, he seems like he’s supporting Dems, for now, wait for a new POTUS change. I think he will be vocal on Dems issues. He is only stating our Catholic teaching, on treating people w/dignity & respect, on being welcoming, & that war should be avoided. Nothing unusual for us. 1/2

@MLJHaynes @Catholic4Choice @UN @LifeSite They only want @Pontifex when he isn’t in their business, such Cafeteria Catholics. However, they will criticize Trump when he ask for the same thing. Both are wrong, Papa, keep sharing & challenging Catholics to practice our faith.

Pro-abortion group Catholics for Choice @Catholic4Choice has called on the UN @UN to ban the Holy See from meetings “We are here to say that the Holy See does not speak for Catholics on gender equality and reproductive rights.” Full @LifeSite details lsn.click/6oy9jn

@Catholic4Choice I wholeheartedly agree, I hope he leaves a mark on both parties to do better without selling your soul to these platforms of death. facebook.com/share/r/18ufpn…

“And while [Pope Leo XIV] follows in a giant’s footsteps, we hope that he will leave his own unique mark as he guides the church forward." catholicsforchoice.org/press-releases…

@ChristopherHale I love Pope Leo! I pray he will continue to challenge all Catholics and others to live according to Jesus’ teachings. facebook.com/share/r/18ufpn…

Most Democrats, said Christopher Hale, a Democratic operative and Catholic who runs “Letters from Leo,” a Substack that focuses on American politics and the first American pope, are eager to embrace this fight. In Hale’s estimation, the Democratic Party has “spoken more about faith and religion in the past week than they have in the past 5 years.”

“The Democrats definitely view this as a moment to engage religious voters and to convert religious voters,” Hale said. “They are tweeting out homilies from the Pope. What I am seeing is a secular party really trying to wrap itself in this moment and tie itself to Catholics in a way that is unprecedented.” 
Hale recalled that Trump got into a fight with Pope Francis in 2016 but failed to drive down the pope’s standing with American Catholics. 
“For Catholics, even if they practice the faith or not, it is in our bones to defend the papacy. So it is a very bad political play to attack the pope. He has very high approval ratings among Republicans and Democrats,” Hale concluded. “I am very skeptical about Trump’s ability to drive down this Pope’s numbers.” washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

@RandomFLDude @ShaneSchaetzel @dlongenecker1 Sure, talk with your Bishop in Florida, I can’t guarantee that it will be behind close doors, unless you have been very active, with your service or your finances.

@IesuAloha @ShaneSchaetzel @dlongenecker1 So am I in Florida, can I have an audience with the Pope?

JD Vance and Marco Rubio were some of the first to have a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Oh my! Does this mean they were collaborating together? What form of conspiracy is afoot here? Why would the pope meet with such highly-charged political figures, if not to conspire something nefarious? 👆🏻This is exactly what the Axelrod conspirators sound like.

@BurdieMitton @JDVance Check: Miami Archdiocese Catholic Charities IRS 990 from 2015 to 2024. Revenue 2015 - $23.6M; 2020 - $29.3M; & 2024 - $53.7M. Expenses for those same years were 2015 - $22.8M, 2020 - $27.3M; & 2024 - $36.7M. We give about $1B to both Catholic Charities & Catholic Relief Services.

I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen–the reality is often much more complicated. Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President–and the entire administration–work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his.

@Butey452265 @ShaneSchaetzel David Axelrod & wife actively support Chicago Archdiocese Catholic Charities, because their daughter is a resident at Misericordia Catholic facility.

@ShaneSchaetzel No, David Axelrod (the prominent Democratic political strategist and former senior advisor to Barack Obama) is not Catholic. Marco Rubio and JD Vance are actually Catholic.

@KindeandTrue @ShaneSchaetzel Or a meeting with @POTUS which I think would be better and @Pontifex could discuss their differences & could offer praise for the good things that Trump is trying to do.

@ShaneSchaetzel The Pope should call them back for another meeting.

@RandomFLDude @ShaneSchaetzel @dlongenecker1 David and his wife are active supporters of Chicago Archdiocese Catholic Charities.

@ShaneSchaetzel @dlongenecker1 JD Vance and Marco Rubio are currently part of the U.S. administration and hold diplomatic positions. What position does David Axelrod have? Stop gaslighting the people.

@ShaneSchaetzel @dlongenecker1 David and his wife are actively involved in Chicago’ Catholic Charities, even though they are not Catholic. His daughter iso a resident at Misericordia a Catholic facility. He was concerned about the reduction of government support for Catholic Charities.

@daves2481 @ShaneSchaetzel I’m looking forward and faithfully to see how Pope Leo reacts to a Democrat president, with all their platform issues. I believe he will be as he is with Trump, tote the Catholic line or face my call to live better.

I’ll take President Trump over either Bush. I do find St. Pope JPII to be a good and powerful saint. He was Pope for 20 years before the Bushes came along. He was greatly experienced in dealing with world leaders. America is hugely divided, including American Catholics. Pope Leo came into it the divide and picked sides. That served to widen our disunity. I wish he would have somehow brought unity instead. I still pray for him and for our President. 🙏🏻

When Pope St. John Paul II publicly chastised President G.W. Bush for the Iraq War, for weeks! Bush responded by saying he simply did not agree and moved on. This is what President Trump should have done with Pope Leo XIV. Instead he decided to make it personal and insulting.

@ShaneSchaetzel Yes! I agree wholeheartedly. I know Pope Leo has forgiven him for his hurtful words, but Trump still should apologize as Bishop Barron stated in his post. I’m hoping & praying that he at least tells God, he’s sorry.

@ShaneSchaetzel Shane, nice, I believe Bishop Barron’s statement was good, because it requested Trump to apologize. I’m sure Pope Leo has already forgiven Trump, but I believe Trump still needs to make it public, no matter how many Americans won’t believe it, even if it was from his heart.

As much as I criticized Pope Francis on issues of doctrine, morality, pettiness and hypocrisy, I never criticized him on his opposition to war. Why? Because popes are free to speak on that. I even agreed with him from time to time. Likewise, I have no plan on criticizing Pope Leo XIV on his opposition to war either, for the same reason. And sometimes I agree with him too, as in the case with the unjust war in Iran. Had President Biden or Obama attacked the pope personally over his opposition to war, I would have launched blistering criticism of them, just as I have against President Donald J. Trump. I'm not backing down from this. Trump must apologize to both Leo and Catholics, especially his Catholic supporters. Until then, Trump will get no online support from me at all, even if the things they say about him and his Administration are lies, I won't stroke a single key to help. I stood by Trump and his Administration through many attacks, especially the one falsely accusing his Administration of physically threatening the pope last week. No more, Mr. President, not until there is an apology. You're on your own.

@jackdoranjr @ShaneSchaetzel David Axelrod stated it was a personal visit and he was impressed with the Pope. I believe it to be true, David and his wife are heavy involved in Chicago’s Catholic community, for personal reasons. Keep them in your prayers. Maybe thinking of becoming a Catholic, nice hope.

@ShaneSchaetzel Why did Pope Leo meet with Axelrod?

@ChristopherHale Christopher, a Catholic? Why did you feel you needed to use detraction (CCC 2477) in this tweet? Your two tweets, without the catechism concern, clearly made your point, without possibly harming your soul, & treated Speaker Mike Johnson with respect.

Johnson, an evangelical Protestant with a business degree from LSU and a law degree he parlayed into running a law school that never enrolled a single student, felt the need to correct the pope on a point of Augustine’s war doctrine. The same week Johnson offered his lesson from a podium in Washington, the Augustinian friar Pope Leo XIV was walking through the archaeological ruins of Augustine’s cathedral in Hippo, Algeria.

NEW: Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters today that Pope Leo XIV doesn't understand “something called the just war doctrine.” Pope Leo is an Augustinian friar who spent twelve years leading Augustine’s religious order. Augustine invented the doctrine. thelettersfromleo.com/p/something-ca…

@ChristopherHale @magataotao sometimes we say things we regret or mistakingly say, remember Jesus is forgiving, I recommend you meet w/your pastor & seek reconciliation. Pope Leo must provide spiritual guidance & calls for moral & social conversion. I pray he continues to do this for all leaders

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