Pope Leo XIV’s concern over the war in Iran is understandable, but if he is going to insert himself into politics, he needs to take an educated, historical view of the issue.
Iran is an uncontrollable, radical country that spreads terror and mayhem throughout the Middle East and has continually threatened America. The only reason these threats have not materialized is because the Iranian government has lacked the firepower in the form of missiles that could reach America. That could be rectified due to Iran’s recent advancements in missile technology. Past and current threats made by Iran for the destruction of America made it clear that it was a real threat to America and that its development of long-range missiles and nuclear warheads needed to be stopped.
The past three presidents all stated that Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, but only Donald Trump did more than give this issue lip service. In targeting Iran’s nuclear and long-range-missile capability and preempting this imminent danger, Trump prevented the murder of millions of Americans.
Further, if the pope is truly interested in bringing about world peace, why doesn’t he focus on a major, larger threat, that of the Russian invasion of a peaceful country, which to date has caused the death or injury of over 1.5 million people?
— Gregory Johnson, Palos Heights
Not in line with teachings?
In his recent letter (“Catholics need to decide,” April 14), George Recchia says that Catholics who support President Donald Trump are not in line with the church’s teachings, stating that “Catholics need to decide if they support the Catholic God of Jesus and Christianity or Trump.”
Are his feelings similarly strong when organizations such as Catholics for Choice claim on their webpage that the majority of Catholics are pro-abortion rights? To date, all popes have soundly condemned abortion as an affront to God himself. Don’t Catholics need to decide if they support the Catholic God of Jesus and Christianity or, well, in this case, perhaps Satan?
— John Babush, Big Rock, Illinois
The church is like an anvil
Watching President Donald Trump’s clumsy effort to discredit Pope Leo XIV reminds me of an ancient piece of wisdom: “The Church is an anvil that has broken many hammers.”
— F.K. Plous, Chicago
Pope’s call for compassion
Vice President JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, just told the pope to stay out of American politics and “stick to matters of morality” and the internal affairs of the church.
By many people’s definition of morality, the Donald Trump-Benjamin Netanyahu war on Iran is not only illegal but immoral. Meanwhile, the president has threatened genocide on Iran’s entire population. Genocide is immoral.
The Trump Department of Homeland Security’s immigration raids and detentions are likewise immoral. Doesn’t the Bible tell us to welcome the stranger? But perhaps that passage has been deleted from Trump’s Bible.
No, it seems the pope is sticking to questions of morality when he calls for peace and compassion. Besides, last I heard, Pope Leo XIV is a United States citizen and a registered voter, and his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech are still covered by our Constitution.
— Pamela Harrison, Chicago
Donald Trump must go
As a 78-year-old woman who witnessed the desegregation of schools, the civil rights and Vietnam War protests, and the resignation of a president, I am heartened and proud that the citizens of our country sense that our rights and the continuation of democracy are at risk. Letter writer Francesca Kelly (“Republicans doing nothing,” April 7) rightly details the abuses by this administration. I am buoyed that letter writer Thomas M. Forbes (“Kindness, not retribution,”
More Top Picks Best Lap Desk
April 13) uses the word “decency.” This word was used in response to U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the communist witch-hunt hearings: “Have you no decency?” The same could be said of President Donald Trump, about his brash and rude comments, especially when a honorable man, Robert Mueller, died. Horrible. And another writer, Marla Cowan, compares what is happening now to what happened in Nazi Germany (“Parallels to 1930s history,” April 13).But we can go back even further. The same complaint we had 250 years ago we have today. The tariffs are taxation without representation and are reflected in the higher prices for goods that we have to endure.
To profile people and arrest them without warrants, imprison them and deport them without due process is not the democratic way. I also despise the use of our Justice Department for Trump to seek revenge against his perceived enemies. Our Founders and our military sacrificed to preserve our democracy.
The title for protests of “No Kings” is appropriately named because Trump’s behavior and attitude are of a king and not an elected leader. His executive orders are very much akin to royal proclamations. How else did he feel the right to gild the People’s House, tear down the East Wing and have a man not vetted by our Senate direct a department terminating government works? And Trump threatened to murder an entire country.
We have every right to criticize his administration and inept and incompetent Cabinet. The parades and meetings were a waste of money that would be better used by needy citizens.
It is also a shame that the Republicans don’t have a sense of loyalty to the country as Barry Goldwater and Howard Baker did in getting President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974. If the Republicans will not force Trump to resign or enact the 25th Amendment, then we will have to send the message on July 4.
Trump must go and take Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and FBI Director Kash Patel with him.
— Judy Arkes, Chicago
The lesson Hungary offers
Hungarian voters delivered a resounding defeat to the authoritarian Viktor Orbán. For 16 years, his authoritarian rule succeeded in taking over the press, the judiciary and other government institutions. He was able to implement a corrupt system of crony capitalism that enabled him and his family and friends to become very rich while making Hungary among the poorest members of the European Union.
We should care about what happened in Hungary because what Orbán did has been the model Trump has used. He has directed billions of dollars to himself and his family and friends. The tech oligarchs and fossil fuel companies openly court the president with gifts ranging from gold baubles to donations for his garish gilded ballroom. He dispatched his secretary of state and later his vice president to Hungary to offer support to Orbán at American taxpayer expense. He issued a last-minute social media post offering full economic support of the U.S. government if Orbán were to be reelected. Thankfully, the Hungarian people did not take the bait and sent Orbán packing.
The midterm elections in this country are our best opportunity to take back control of our country and end Trumpian corruption and free rein of the oligarchs.
— Douglas Nyhus, Frankfort
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].