- Feb 5, 2002
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Catholics were in near unanimity in opposition to President Trump’s social media attack on Pope Leo a few weeks ago. Even Catholics like me, who are otherwise often on Trump’s side. It was different for Evangelicals. Except for those who were already critical of Trump, not a single prominent Evangelical defended the Pope. Many, in fact, cheered Trump on.
There are many reasons why. Some reasons are specific to the moment. Some reasons date back centuries. Neither Evangelicals nor Catholics are entirely blameless for those reasons. But for the sake of the causes we share, Evangelicals should know how their recent cheering for attacks on the Holy Father looks to their Catholic allies.
First, a throwdown between President Trump and Pope Leo is sort of like the Protestant Pope vs. the Catholic Pope. Appearing in New Haven in 2008 shortly before his death, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus was asked why Evangelicals felt such consternation about the possibility of a Mormon (Mitt Romney) becoming President that year. It’s because Evangelicals with a low church theology don’t have the same ecclesiastical structure that we do, Neuhaus said. As a result, they see the nation itself as the church and, well, “You don’t want a heretic to be the head of your church.” So in backing Trump against Leo, Evangelicals are in some sense backing their pope against our Pope.
Second, there is a new tension between Evangelicals and Catholics regarding Israel. Evangelicals and Catholics have always had theological differences, of course, but in recent decades our differences had no public policy consequences. With Israel, they do. Christian Zionism is incompatible with Catholicism and many Catholics believe it to have a disproportionate influence over U.S. foreign policy. Even pro-Israel Catholics like me share these concerns. This seems to infuriate some Evangelicals, and they have lashed out in bizarre ways.
Continued below.
www.catholicculture.org
There are many reasons why. Some reasons are specific to the moment. Some reasons date back centuries. Neither Evangelicals nor Catholics are entirely blameless for those reasons. But for the sake of the causes we share, Evangelicals should know how their recent cheering for attacks on the Holy Father looks to their Catholic allies.
First, a throwdown between President Trump and Pope Leo is sort of like the Protestant Pope vs. the Catholic Pope. Appearing in New Haven in 2008 shortly before his death, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus was asked why Evangelicals felt such consternation about the possibility of a Mormon (Mitt Romney) becoming President that year. It’s because Evangelicals with a low church theology don’t have the same ecclesiastical structure that we do, Neuhaus said. As a result, they see the nation itself as the church and, well, “You don’t want a heretic to be the head of your church.” So in backing Trump against Leo, Evangelicals are in some sense backing their pope against our Pope.
Second, there is a new tension between Evangelicals and Catholics regarding Israel. Evangelicals and Catholics have always had theological differences, of course, but in recent decades our differences had no public policy consequences. With Israel, they do. Christian Zionism is incompatible with Catholicism and many Catholics believe it to have a disproportionate influence over U.S. foreign policy. Even pro-Israel Catholics like me share these concerns. This seems to infuriate some Evangelicals, and they have lashed out in bizarre ways.
Continued below.
Confronting deep-rooted Evangelical hostility in Trump vs. Leo fallout
Friendship requires honesty.
www.catholicculture.org
