Let's talk about the Pope staying out of politics, Vance, and the Book of Donald.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about the Pope staying out of politics, Vance, and the Book of Donald.

Trump's supporters have been unable to actually defend his bizarre and weird feud with the Pope, and they know his claims are false, so they've decided to take a unique route. "The Pope should stay out of politics. Period."

Okay, we're just going to skip over history and how for hundreds of years the Pope in many ways shaped politics throughout the Western world. We're just going to examine the idea that the Pope should stay out of politics. Period.

Cool, Susan. Why?

Why should an American have to stay out of politics? I'm dying to know why a US citizen should lose his freedom of speech because an over-emotional president got his feelings hurt.

Unless, of course, what you mean is that the Pope should stay out of politics because he's the pope. Maybe what you mean is that because of his position as a religious leader, he should stay out of politics.
When did that start? Because from what I remember, the Trump administration has heavily relied on religious talking points on everything from family planning to wars to posters in classrooms.

There was no issue when religious beliefs were used to justify wars. There was no issue when Hegseth prayed for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

But now that somebody who won't just interpret the Bible to support whatever Dear Leader wants is speaking, all of the sudden it's time for a separation of church and state?

The reason some Republicans are going this route is because they don't want a light held up to how much they've given up on core beliefs to support a man who said he loved the poorly educated.

When the administration invokes God to gain support for an elective war, it's going to invite commentary from religious leaders.

When the religious leader's commentary aligns with the gospel and the politicians doesn't and you support the politician and tell the religious leader to butt out, it seems pretty clear where the loyalty really lies, right? The Book of Donald.

Let's see how the Book of aligns with the rest of the Bible.

The Book of Donald says, "Part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich." That doesn't seem to align very well with, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth."

But surely the Book of Donald at least aligns on basic Christian ideals? The Book of Donald says, "When people wrong you, go after those people because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I always get even."

That's sure different than love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you. I wonder which is more Christlike?

It seems like a lot of people's faith in their Bible is a lot like their support of the Constitution. It only matters when they think it says what they already believe.

And oddities. Vance said, "It would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what's going on in the Catholic Church and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy."

The vice president seems unaware that elective wars are matters of morality. Again, it's okay to use religion as a prop to get voters or to use a religious justification to convince people to do your bidding. But when the teachings of that religion interferes with the dictated policy goals, well, the religious leaders should shut up and let Trump do whatever he wants. I feel like maybe picking a fight with the Pope was a bad idea.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

[Wild blueberry]

1. Love when Belle calmly and drolly eviscerates Dump and Pants

Thank you.

[Walleye]

2. The pope should tell Trump he will stay out of politics if politicians stay out of religion.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. MaddowBlog-Vance escalates White House offensive against Pope Leo

If the White House sees a political upside to its increasingly outlandish papal rebukes, it’s mistaken.

As JD Vance presses the pope to be “careful when he talks about matters of theology” — no, seriously, that’s what he said — a simple question hands overhead:

What exactly is the White House’s strategy here? Do Trump and Vance think the pope will be bullied into silence?
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-04-15T12:59:00.596Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/vance-trump-pope-catholic-church

Not to be outdone, his vice president — the first Catholic Republican to ever hold the office — has joined the rhetorical offensive.

On Monday night, JD Vance appeared on Fox News and insisted that “it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality … and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.” Putting aside the fact that the president isn’t supposed to be “dictating” anything, the Ohio Republican’s advice didn’t make a lot of sense: The pope drew Trump’s ire by speaking out on matters such as a deadly and destabilizing war in the Middle East and the plight of immigrants seeking a better life, both of which are, by any reasonable measure, “matters of morality.”

A day later, he upped the ante in an unexpected way. NBC News reported:

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV should ‘be careful’ when he talks about theology, rebuking the pontiff over his criticisms of U.S. foreign policy.

Vance argued that the pope, who has said Jesus ‘is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs,’ was failing to take into account conflicts such as World War II.

....Do Trump and Vance believe Leo will be intimidated into silence? Are they trying to send a signal to other religious leaders opposed to the war? Do they believe they can discredit the pontiff, who enjoys stronger public support than they do? Do the Republicans think they’ll appear “tough” by picking a fight with the Vatican? Is this all some sort of elaborate distraction campaign?

I won’t pretend to know their motivation, but if Trump and Vance see a political upside to their increasingly outlandish papal scoldings, they’re mistaken.