Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Wrestling with God

Home
New Visions
Donald Trump and Pope Francis: Two Voices — One Loud, One Powerful

Donald Trump and Pope Francis: Two Voices — One Loud, One Powerful

Last updated on: September 27, 2015 at 12:01 am by Barbara Falconer Newhall

Donald Trump and Pope Francis: Two Voices — One Loud, One Powerful 2015-09-26T15:32:28-08:00 Barbara Falconer Newhall

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When Pope Francis arrived in Washington, D.C., last week, the level of civil discourse in the U.S. was reaching an egregious new low.

At the forefront of today’s bash-your-enemies-and-while-you’re-at-it-dis-your-friends communication style — of course — was the vitriol-spewing presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

Francis and Donald — the two men couldn’t be more different. And I’m not talking about their politics or their theology. I’m talking about the way they talk to (and about) their fellow human beings.

Some examples:

Donald on Sen. John McCain: “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

**Francis: “**We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves as if it were normal we continue to sow destruction, pain, death. Violence and war lead only to death.”

Donald on Lindsey Graham: “A total lightweight. Here’s a guy — in the private sector he couldn’t get a job. Believe me. Couldn’t get a job.”

Francis: “Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs, or anything else—God is in this person’s life. You can, you must try to seek God in every human life.”

Donald on Donald: “I have many millions [of followers] between Twitter and Facebook. It’s great. It’s like owning a newspaper without the losses. It’s incredible.”

Francis: “No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness.”

Donald on Gov. Greg Abbott: “He’s so vicious.”

Francis. “Every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask themselves two questions: ‘Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?’ If you don’t ask those questions, your governance will not be good.”

Donald on immigrants from Mexico: “Tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border. The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico.”

Francis: “There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders.”

Donald on the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Bunch of clowns. Bunch of real clowns.”

Francis: “Among us, who is above must be in service of the others. This doesn’t mean we have to wash each other’s feet every day, but we must help one another.

Donald on Rick Perry: “He’s doing very poorly in the polls. He put on glasses so people will think he’s smart.”

Francis: “Who am I to judge?”

Are Americans forgetting how to have an actual conversation — publicly, privately, on line? If so, I’m hoping the visiting pope’s gentle, powerful style will refresh some memories.

“Living together is an art,” says the pope. “It’s a patient art, it’s a beautiful art, it’s fascinating.”

I confess. Every now and then I’ll cut loose with a rant. It’s not exactly Trump-worthy vitriol, but it’s a rant. Pope Francis — or more precisely the male dominated Catholic church that he has inherited — was the most recent object of my ire at “I Love Pope Francis — Or Do I?”

A version of this post appeared originally on BarbaraFalconerNewhall.com, where Barbara writes about the view from the second half of life. Her book, “Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith,” was published earlier this year by Patheos Press.

Previous Post

September 22, 2015

Want to See Your Creator? Go Look at a Rock

Next Post

October 6, 2015 I'm a Carnivore and I'm OK With That . . . I Think

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book comes last in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Acts Revelation Jude 2 Peter