In my own (prejudiced ?) opinion, I consider the Pope's reckless words and actions to be an embarrassment to his church, as are Donald Trumps words an equal embarrassment to his religion and peers.
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| Pope spokesperson clarifies Trump comment |
| 2016-02-20 |
| [THEHILL] A spokesperson for Pope Francis clarified the pontiff's criticism of Donald Trump's plan to build a border wall, saying that the remark wasn't "a personal attack." On Thursday, the pope told news hounds on his plane that building walls "is not Christian." But the pontiff's spokesperson said it's a comment he's made before, adding that the pope wants to avoid weighing in on American politics. "The Pope said what we already know, if we followed his teaching and positions: we shouldn't build walls, but bridges," the spokesperson said in a statement, according to CNBC. "It's his generic view, coherent with the nature of solidarity from the gospel." "This wasn't, in any way, a personal attack or an indication on who to vote for," the spokesperson continued. "The Pope has clearly said he didn't want to get involved in the electoral campaign in the US and also said that he said what he said on the basis of what he was told [about Trump], hence giving him the benefit of the doubt." During a Thursday rally in South Carolina, Trump needled the pontiff for his criticism and said that he publicly questioned his faith. "For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. I'm proud to be a Christian and as president, I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now with our current president," he said. But at a CNN town hall later that night, the real estate mogul said he respects Pope Francis, adding that "he has a lot of personality." "I think he said something much softer than was originally reported by the media," he said. Donald Trump tones down fight with Pope Francis [CNN] Nobody wants to tangle with the Pope -- not even Donald Trump. One of the more unlikely battles to jolt a presidential campaign emerged Thursday when Pope Francis said Trump is "not Christian" if he wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump, true to form, shot back that the pontiff's comments were "disgraceful." But by Thursday evening, the GOP front-runner was doing something unusual: de-escalating a fight. "I don't like fighting with the Pope," Trump said at a GOP town hall in South Carolina hosted by CNN. "I like his personality; I like what he represents." Trump called the Pope a "wonderful guy" and blamed the day's drama on the press. "I don't think this is a fight," Trump said. "I think he said something much softer than was originally reported by the media." Trump added he would meet with the Pope "anytime he wants." On Friday, a Vatican front man said that, although the news hound at the papal presser asked Francis specifically about Trump, the Pope's answer should be interpreted more generally. "It didn't intend to be in any way neither a personal attack nor an indication in how to vote," the Rev. Federico Lombardi told Vatican Radio. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 King Pigeon filled britches with riches From swarms of his miserable midges: He'd save them from eagles And ravens and seagulls And build them invisible bridges! No offense intended to Church, much less Dove. Just fooling around with "vestigial Roman Emperor" and out pops a tale of birds and bugs. |
| Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 2016-02-20 16:46 |
| #8 The pope's an economic ignoramus, he doesn't understand the difference between charity and forced subsidy (to the benefit of the establishment). |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2016-02-20 16:30 |
| #7 PONTIFF, I think it might mean bridge something...where we get the word "pontoon". |
| Posted by: Omolutle Spawn of the Gepids4508 2016-02-20 12:49 |
| #6 Frank------that sounds more catchy than building tunnels. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2016-02-20 11:15 |
| #5 Build bridges! It's fun and Christian! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2016-02-20 09:43 |
| #4 Something, something about an attempted assassination of a Pope years ago comes to mind. Open top vehicle, minimal protection. Some people learn. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2016-02-20 09:42 |
| #3 A popemobile covered with bullet proof glass, a fifty man armed security team, and a money grubbing racket that is the envy of even El Chapo ~ does not portray a lot of faith in the entity the Pope himself often refers to as his "Savior". In my own (prejudiced ?) opinion, I consider the Pope's reckless words and actions to be an embarrassment to his church, as are Donald Trumps words an equal embarrassment to his religion and peers. |
| Posted by: junkiron 2016-02-20 09:06 |
| #2 Also, Trump being a Presbyterian means he's not in the Pope's Catholic flock. The pope is crossing a line between churches just like he crossed national lines. That said everybody in and involved this terms race is quickly approaching the calmness and sanity levels of another candidate for Prez - Libertarian John McAfee of anti-virus, possible murder and drug fame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfee |
| Posted by: 3dc 2016-02-20 01:38 |
| #1 This article leaves out the best rejoinder from Trump's campaign: “If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS’s ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been President because this would not have happened,” |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2016-02-20 00:22 |