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Many expected Pope Leo XIV to reaffirm the Church’s position on abortion when asked about the controversy. Instead, his answer raised even more eyebrows.
A reporter pressed the Pope directly, saying:
Reporter:
“I wanted to ask one thing that has become a bit of a divisive subject in the U.S. right now, with Cardinal Blase Cupich giving an award to Senator Durbin. Some people of faith are having a hard time understanding this because he is pro—or rather, he’s for—legalized abortion. How would you help people of faith right now decipher that, feel about that, and how do you feel about that?”
Rather than address abortion directly, Pope Leo XIV seemed eager to reframe the debate and take aim at American conservatives.
Pope Leo XIV:
“I’m not terribly familiar with the particular case. I think that it’s very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate. I understand the difficulty and the tensions, but I think, as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teaching of the Church.
“Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says, ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life. So someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
For many Catholics, this statement was a slap in the face. Instead of defending the unborn, the Pope equated abortion with immigration policy and even suggested that those who oppose abortion but support Trump’s border policies are not “truly pro-life.”
He went on to say:
Pope Leo XIV:
“These are very complex issues. I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them, but I would ask, first and foremost, that there be greater respect for one another and that we search together—both as human beings, in that case as citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics—to say we need to really look closely at all of these ethical issues and to find the way forward as Church.
“Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear.”
WATCH:
But for Catholics who believe abortion is the greatest moral issue of our time, the Pope’s refusal to condemn Durbin—and his decision to instead scold Trump supporters—comes across as a political move, not a spiritual one.
Critics argue that this moment reveals just how politicized the Vatican has become. The Church once stood firmly against politicians who promoted abortion, but under Pope Leo XIV, it now appears to embrace them while casting judgment on conservatives in America.
The controversy has left many Catholics asking one question: why is the Vatican giving cover to pro-abortion politicians while attacking those who fight to protect life?
I think for the Pope to compare abortion with death row is completely out of touch with the world we live in. Death row is Not the same as abortion! Abortion is the taking of innocent life. Death row is for criminals that Have Taken Life from. Innocent people, in a Most Heinous way! Death row is a matter of Consequence and Accountability. It is for Punishment! He needs to learn the difference!