Bishop parts with Trump on pope-bashing

ROCHESTER, Minn. ­­— Although southern Minnesota’s Catholic bishop has cultivated a cozy relationship with President Trump, Bishop Robert Barron has drawn the line at Trump’s recent online verbiage against Pope Leo. Trump has been “entirely inappropriate and disrespectful,” the bishop said. Trump had bristled online at Leo’s call for Middle East peace and for tolernce toward displaced people. Trump called the Pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.” Barron, by the way, sits on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. Even so, the bishop said it is the pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine.

Barron. Bishop of 20-county Winona-Rochester Diocese since 2022. Some 120,00 registered Catholics in 100 parishes.

Verbatim

Asked at the White whether President Trump planned to apologize, a spokesperson was monosyllabic: “No.”

Part of renewed Trump bid for Nobel Peace Prize ?  Already has been passed over.

Miscalculated religiosity

As messiah. President Trump, who occasionally attempts Christan metaphors as a political tool, always awkwardly, posted an elaborate image of himself as Jesus in the context of American flags, warplanes and weapon-bearing soldiers. Christians saw the post as blasphemy from a man with no religious background and who  was misjudging the effect on Christians, even religious rightists among his political coalition. Panicked, Trump’s Whuie House staff tried explaining that Trump was being portrayed as a white-ed healing doctor, not as a messiah. An alternative response considered quickly by staff, then abandoned: “Can’t you take a joke.” Within hours, there seemed no alternative but to pull down the offensive image. Trump critics cited the episode as further evidence pf the president’s declining judgment. His 80th birthday is in June. On several past occasionos in receng months Trump also has likened himself to a king, complete with  a photoshopped crown.