Pope Francis Calls on Catholics to Choose Lesser Evil in U.S. Election Both "against life"

Social Media · Saturday at 02:18 AM

Pope Francis has advised Catholic voters in the U.S. to choose the "lesser evil" between the two major presidential candidates, despite both being "against life." His comments were made during a press conference on a flight home from a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia. While he did not mention Donald Trump or Kamala Harris by name, his remarks were seen as addressing the policies of both candidates.

The Pope highlighted two key moral issues: the treatment of migrants and abortion. He described not welcoming migrants, a stance often associated with Trump, as a "grave" sin. On the other hand, he equated Harris's pro-choice stance on abortion to an act of "assassination." He stated, “Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies.” His words reflect a deep concern for life in all forms, whether it pertains to the protection of the unborn or the dignity of immigrants.

During the press conference, Pope Francis acknowledged that as a non-American, he would not be voting in the U.S. election, but he urged Americans to participate in the democratic process. "Not voting is ugly. It is not good. You must vote," he said. He emphasized the need for voters to reflect carefully, saying, "You must choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil? That lady, or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone, in conscience, (has to) think and do this."

Abortion has long been condemned by the Catholic Church, and Pope Francis did not hold back in reiterating his views on the matter. He described abortion as an "assassination," remarking, “Forcing a child from the mother's womb is an assassination because there is life there.” His stance aligns with traditional Catholic teachings, which consider the sanctity of life paramount.

The Pope's criticisms of Trump are not new. During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, he labeled Trump's rhetoric on immigrants as "not Christian." Echoing that sentiment, he said on Friday, "Expelling migrants, not letting them develop, not letting them have a life is an ugly thing, it's mean."

Trump has made illegal immigration a cornerstone of his platform, recently vowing to deport millions of immigrants if re-elected. Meanwhile, Harris has committed to expanding access to abortion rights nationwide, especially following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The timing of Pope Francis’s remarks is notable, as they come shortly after the first presidential debate between Trump and Harris. Though they were expected to face off again, Trump has since stated that he would not participate in another debate with Harris. Pope Francis’s intervention in the political sphere, though rare, underscores the moral challenges that many Catholic voters may face in the upcoming election.

Credit: BBC 2024-09-14

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