Wonderful column! Theology wise I am out of my Catholicism. But it is very very refreshing to follow and cheer Leo’s embrace and advancement of its universalist themes of empathy and human kindness.
And, they are themes I can espouse as a Secular Humanist. They are Human themes - we and they are up against a regime composed of a lot of powerful Christian Nationalists thumbing their noses at these very Human values. Good for them the compassionate ones among us!
Fully agree. I was raised as a catholic myself, but catechism class led me to ask a bunch of questions our priest didn't like, so I was constantly punished with a ruler to the head.
That, and all the Sunday church-running people I saw doing bad things the rest of the week, turned me off for good at 14. I have never seen a church from the inside (except funerals and weddings) since then and have become an atheist. All of the truly good people I know are also atheists.
Also, he is cleaning house, so to speak. He replaced the "Charlie Kirk is a modern-day St. Paul" with a humanitarian like him in NY. I grew out of Catholicism too 54 years ago but still can appreciate a good man.
Just when one might conclude that religion is a more harmful and malignant than helpful or beneficial influence and force for humanity, these leaders can be a reminder that religion can sometimes uplift and point toward a better way.
Starting with members of the ICE. Turning the other cheek, and forgiveness and imploring in prayer yes, those are appropriate things for religious leaders to do.
But.
In these current times, those with the authority to say “your actions are in no way consistent with the teachings of the religion that you and I profess to follow; therefore, if you continue, you will be cast out “ should do so.
Imagine that we had a magic wand and could “eliminate hatred from our hearts.” MAGA would fall apart. Trump’s support is built on a foundation of hate. Without hate, Trump’s presidency is over.
Exactly! The core teachings of most religions have a deep spiritual base that are very similar to identical. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is an example.
This column is a great idea. However, I'm truly surprised that the Bishop William Barber was not included as a man of great faith who is leading an important moral movement. Repairers of the Breach, Poor People's Campaign.
Let's not forget that the late Pope Francis, shortly before he died. appointed the wonderful Robert McIlroy as archbishop of the Washington, DC archdiocese. Not only does Cardinal McIlroy have a PhD in political science, from Stanford, he preached the only homily I ever heard that got a standing ovation, after a religious procession, attended by thousands of people, to speak out for treating immigrants like human beings.
It’s all very good to be empathetic and cheer for human kindness. I do wish the Pope would do some public excommunicating. He could start with JD Vance.
… and Christie Noem, pretty much all the senior ICE leadership and a great many ICE members. I don’t know what religion Trump professes to follow, but whoever is in charge of that religion should most certainly be looking at him with an eye towards that.
Leo can't excommunicate Kristi Noem; she isn't a Catholic. He can't kick somebody out of the church he leads when they aren't in it to begin with.
Like most of MAGA, she's an "evangelical" of the type inflamed into fanaticism by media-savvy grifting "pastors." Revanchist Catholics like JD Vance are a signicant slice of MAGA, both leadership and rank and file, but they're way outnumbered by the evangelicals.
A lot of what has made American evangelicalism so pernicious is that nobody is "in charge of that religion." It is a free-market competitive marketplace in which the loudest, shrillest, flashiest, most media-savvy, and best financed are the ones who get ahead.
They start out as entrepreneurs, founding their own congregations and then doing everything they can to prevail in the marketplace in terms of numbers, followers, media exposure, and financial backers. For "non-denominational" startup churches, anybody can call themself a "pastor." There are no requirements for education or training, just the ability to draw an audience -- and no accountability or oversight except to their own self-picked congregational boards.
Thank you this wonderful writing! I’m grateful for these three, especially Bishop Budde! She represents what best in the Episcopal Church. We need all religious leaders to stand up to this regime and the corporations who support it.
As the year comes to a close, we have these faith leaders to thank for reminding us that humanity is what is important as we navigate through the remainder of the year and the coming year. There’s a right way and a wrong way like the Pontiff said to handle people who are in this country without the proper documentation. Lawful people can look to their faith leaders for guidance on how to help displaced immigrants in their communities.
Per JR: "In our warped political era, bullies and bigots with the chutzpah to flash their White evangelical Christian credentials get rewarded for vile behavior. The worse they behave, the more attention and power they seem to accumulate"
Not to be snarky (much), but there are those in our nation's Cabinet who flash their White evangelical Christian credentials with tattoos that they don't mind being photographed. Not a great look for the separation of church and state.
Would love to have seen other non-christian faith leaders included, but I guess the goal was to counter the messages from fake christian politicians and cruel enthusiasm of fake christian voters.
Wonderful column! Theology wise I am out of my Catholicism. But it is very very refreshing to follow and cheer Leo’s embrace and advancement of its universalist themes of empathy and human kindness.
And, they are themes I can espouse as a Secular Humanist. They are Human themes - we and they are up against a regime composed of a lot of powerful Christian Nationalists thumbing their noses at these very Human values. Good for them the compassionate ones among us!
Yes, exactly. Values all humans can subscribe to. Humanist.
Now, if only the six "good" catholics on our inferior court would learn to listen to their professed leader.
Keep in mind Sonia Sotomayor is Catholic and has been an outstanding Supreme Court justice.
Well, she is an example of a truly good person. I bet she would be a good person if she was not catholic. The fascist six? Not one of them.
They may be Catholics but they are not good people. I expect nothing but bad from them.
Fully agree. I was raised as a catholic myself, but catechism class led me to ask a bunch of questions our priest didn't like, so I was constantly punished with a ruler to the head.
That, and all the Sunday church-running people I saw doing bad things the rest of the week, turned me off for good at 14. I have never seen a church from the inside (except funerals and weddings) since then and have become an atheist. All of the truly good people I know are also atheists.
"By your fruits shall you know them." So I don't see them as Christians at all--not those six.
Also, he is cleaning house, so to speak. He replaced the "Charlie Kirk is a modern-day St. Paul" with a humanitarian like him in NY. I grew out of Catholicism too 54 years ago but still can appreciate a good man.
This is a wonderfully kind informational column about highly respected and esteemed faith leaders. Thank you Jennifer.
Just when one might conclude that religion is a more harmful and malignant than helpful or beneficial influence and force for humanity, these leaders can be a reminder that religion can sometimes uplift and point toward a better way.
Hypocrisy: Jesus' biggest pet peeve....
Still waiting for mass excommuications of MAGATs.
Starting with members of the ICE. Turning the other cheek, and forgiveness and imploring in prayer yes, those are appropriate things for religious leaders to do.
But.
In these current times, those with the authority to say “your actions are in no way consistent with the teachings of the religion that you and I profess to follow; therefore, if you continue, you will be cast out “ should do so.
I think the cheek has already been turned…several times
Imagine that we had a magic wand and could “eliminate hatred from our hearts.” MAGA would fall apart. Trump’s support is built on a foundation of hate. Without hate, Trump’s presidency is over.
Ghandi was more Christian that any of the White "Christian" Nationalists.
Exactly! The core teachings of most religions have a deep spiritual base that are very similar to identical. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is an example.
It's a shame that those who appropriated the title didn't also borrow the values.
In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.
Mercy? MERCY??!! Don the Con doesn't know the meaning of the word. It's not in his vocabulary at all.
This column is a great idea. However, I'm truly surprised that the Bishop William Barber was not included as a man of great faith who is leading an important moral movement. Repairers of the Breach, Poor People's Campaign.
It was very challenging to just choose three! We have had wonderful interviews with him on "The Tea" with April Ryan, and will no doubt write on him in the future: https://contrarian.substack.com/p/reverend-william-barber-is-taking?utm_source=publication-search
Perhaps Ms. Rubin can write about him in 2026.
ABSOLUTELY. I came here to say the same.
Thank you Jennifer. A wonderful column.
Let's not forget that the late Pope Francis, shortly before he died. appointed the wonderful Robert McIlroy as archbishop of the Washington, DC archdiocese. Not only does Cardinal McIlroy have a PhD in political science, from Stanford, he preached the only homily I ever heard that got a standing ovation, after a religious procession, attended by thousands of people, to speak out for treating immigrants like human beings.
It’s all very good to be empathetic and cheer for human kindness. I do wish the Pope would do some public excommunicating. He could start with JD Vance.
… and Christie Noem, pretty much all the senior ICE leadership and a great many ICE members. I don’t know what religion Trump professes to follow, but whoever is in charge of that religion should most certainly be looking at him with an eye towards that.
Leo can't excommunicate Kristi Noem; she isn't a Catholic. He can't kick somebody out of the church he leads when they aren't in it to begin with.
Like most of MAGA, she's an "evangelical" of the type inflamed into fanaticism by media-savvy grifting "pastors." Revanchist Catholics like JD Vance are a signicant slice of MAGA, both leadership and rank and file, but they're way outnumbered by the evangelicals.
True enough about Noem, but Leo can certainly issue that warning/threat to the Catholics in the ICE whose actions prove them to be not of the faith.
A lot of what has made American evangelicalism so pernicious is that nobody is "in charge of that religion." It is a free-market competitive marketplace in which the loudest, shrillest, flashiest, most media-savvy, and best financed are the ones who get ahead.
They start out as entrepreneurs, founding their own congregations and then doing everything they can to prevail in the marketplace in terms of numbers, followers, media exposure, and financial backers. For "non-denominational" startup churches, anybody can call themself a "pastor." There are no requirements for education or training, just the ability to draw an audience -- and no accountability or oversight except to their own self-picked congregational boards.
won't happen, religion and power have always slept together
Jennifer, your thoughts and observations are a bright light at a time of darkness for millions of Americans.
Thank you this wonderful writing! I’m grateful for these three, especially Bishop Budde! She represents what best in the Episcopal Church. We need all religious leaders to stand up to this regime and the corporations who support it.
As the year comes to a close, we have these faith leaders to thank for reminding us that humanity is what is important as we navigate through the remainder of the year and the coming year. There’s a right way and a wrong way like the Pontiff said to handle people who are in this country without the proper documentation. Lawful people can look to their faith leaders for guidance on how to help displaced immigrants in their communities.
Per JR: "In our warped political era, bullies and bigots with the chutzpah to flash their White evangelical Christian credentials get rewarded for vile behavior. The worse they behave, the more attention and power they seem to accumulate"
Not to be snarky (much), but there are those in our nation's Cabinet who flash their White evangelical Christian credentials with tattoos that they don't mind being photographed. Not a great look for the separation of church and state.
They don’t believe in, or want, the separation of church and state.
Would love to have seen other non-christian faith leaders included, but I guess the goal was to counter the messages from fake christian politicians and cruel enthusiasm of fake christian voters.
Undaunted and resilient!