
<p>Politicians of all faiths – but especially Catholics – love to meet the Pope. They think photos with the Holy Father provide a mantel of morality to their public services. Of course, that is blatantly political BS. </p>



<p>It is all about optics – not issues or policies. They are not there to negotiate with His Holiness over the Pope’s anti-American immigration statements &#8230; homelessness &#8230; wars &#8230; or (Heaven forbid) abortion. Nope! They are there for the photos and papal endorsements &#8212; something they can use in their campaign advertising.</p>



<p>Remember how President Biden traveled to Rome to meet Pope Francis? According to Biden, the Pope said the President was a “good Catholic.” Personally, I think that is malarky. True, Francis is more than a little weak on imposing the Church’s official opposition to abortion, but to actually call Biden a “good Catholic” would require his Holiness to &#8230; well &#8230; lie.</p>



<p>Now it is the Catholic governor of California Gavin Newsom who traveled to Rome to appear at a climate change confab and to kiss Francis’ &#8230; ah &#8230; ring. The outspoken advocate of abortion on demand was invited by Francis to speak at a Vatican conference. The takeaway for Newsom is papal praise for suspending the death penalty in the Golden State &#8230; mishandling a homeless crisis &#8230; supporting open borders &#8230; and embracing the radical left’s policies on climate change. Newsom also used the occasion to take political campaign shots at Trump.</p>



<p>As with Biden, there was no reported discussion between Newsom and ; Francis on one of the hottest issues this American campaign season &#8212; abortion. ; Nothing. ; It appears Francis again avoided the troublesome topic altogether. ; But that is how the Peronist Pope deals with issues. ; They are informed more by his left-wing politics than his Catholic morality and his duty as the “keeper of the faith.” ;</p>



<p>It is no wonder that Francis is the darling of the radical left – which usually despises the Vicar of Rome. But that was when the Pope actually stood up for Catholic doctrine and morality – and was a friend of democratic institutions and an opponent of the godless authoritarians. But this Pope, however, is the left’s go-to guy.</p>



<p>While the Pope does not uphold the Church’s position on abortion, he is not hesitant to inject himself into American domestic politics if it comports with his radical left-wing views. ; In a recent and rare sit-down interview with CNN, Francis condemned efforts to secure the American border. ; He is one of the world’s leading advocates of open borders.</p>



<p>Francis is at odds with much of the Catholic hierarchy on abortion – cardinals and theologians. ; They have called out Catholic politicians who support abortion-on-demand – and demanded that Biden be barred from the sacrament of Communion. ; No President has fought for unfettered abortions more than Biden – but he is a “good Catholic” in the words of the Pope &#8212; alleged words. ;</p>



<p>Several cardinals recently blasted Biden for making “the sign of the cross” at an abortion rally – describing it as “blasphemy.” Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield, Illinois diocese says Biden’s sign-of-the-cross at the pro-abortion campaign event made “a mockery of our Catholic faith.”</p>



<p>I do not expect American Catholic politicians to take orders from the Pope. ; I personally disagree with a lot of Catholic theology – and did so even when I was a Catholic. ; After disagreeing on all-male clergy, gay rights, contraception, and a bunch of other activities judged sinful by the Church, I politely withdrew.</p>



<p>My issue with Biden and Newsom &#8212; atop my disagreement on abortion &#8212; is their hypocrisy. ; Playing up their Catholicism as a badge of morality while violating one of the core moralities of that Church is &#8230; hypocrisy. ; My issue with Pope Francis is that he engages in his own hypocrisy by offering his blessing and imprimatur to left-wing politicians like Biden and Newsom even as they reject the Church’s moral requirements. ; Francis proves himself to be more of a member of a global political establishment than a defender of the faith over which he presides.</p>



<p>And as far as those photos are concerned, they should be viewed as nothing more than celebrity tourism pics for the family album. ; That should not be seen as political canonization.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>



<p></p>

Pope Francis offers his political “blessing” to Gavin Newsom
