Letter to the editor: Trump mocks Catholics, disgraces America

Brunswick Beacon, 05.22.25

The world has 1.4 billion Catholics. America has 62 million. Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity, which is the largest religion on Earth. Catholics are grieving the loss of the first pope from the Americas, and waiting to see who the College of Cardinals elects to succeed him. Donald Trump mocked Catholics and deepened their grief by posting a shockingly tasteless image of himself as Pope. Catholic revulsion was swift and furious.

“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” said the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents NY bishops. “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter,” the post continued. “Do not mock us.”

Trump posted the image on his personal account as well as the official White House account, after telling reporters “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.”

Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined in Trump’s tasteless joke: "I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope," he wrote. Watching for white smoke.”

Illinois Bishop Thomas Paprocki said, "Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy," adding, "President Trump owes an apology to Catholics and all people of good will." 

Father James Martin, editor-at-large for the Jesuit publication America Magazine, called it, “deeply offensive…imagine the incandescent outrage, the swift condemnation, if this had been done by Joe Biden or Barack Obama." 

Father Martin correctly identified the problem. By defending behavior they would condemn in Democrats, from committing 34 felonies to boasting about sexual assault to deporting 4-year-old Americans with cancer to claiming he runs the world to insulting a great religion, Trump’s supporters enable him to disgrace and beclown America. Trump is a malignant narcissist who, with Republicans’ help, is making America the pariah and laughingstock of the world.

Linda McConnell Baker 

Leland