Trump — More Catholic Than Many Catholics
Dear Editor: How dare Archbishop Gregory criticize President Trump, who has been more Catholic these past few years than most Catholics in this country and abroad (“Archbishop Rebukes Trump Visit to Shrine,” June 6).
It is more than reprehensible that [Archbishop Gregory] criticizes the president as he holds up the Bible while the protesters are throwing bricks. It is reprehensible to criticize him and his wife as they finish praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the Catholic shrine.
Yet, his critics stand by — people like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Tim Kane, John Kerry, Governor Cuomo, and so many other hypocrite politicians — claiming they’re Catholic to get the Catholic vote while they legislate and implement policies that promote, fund, and glorify abortion.
And then, some bishops and priests will have the audacity to give these and so many falling-away Catholics — who have excommunicated themselves from the Catholic Church — the sacrament of Holy Communion. As St. Paul said, he who eats and drinks of the body and blood of Christ in an unworthy manner eats and drinks condemnation upon themselves.
David A. Vogel
Steubenville, Ohio
Editor’s note: Vogel is a Catholic recording artist and founding member of “Catholics For Trump.”
Trump Has Been a Voice For Religious Freedom
Dear Editor: I am extremely disappointed with Archbishop Gregory’s comments about our president’s visit to the St. John Paul ll National Shrine (“Archbishop Rebukes Trump Visit to Shrine,” June 6).
This President has consistently been a voice for religious freedom. He is standing up to the violent agitators and he is criticized for it. Pope John Paul II showed moral courage against evil and violence in the world. He took a lot of heat for walking the narrow path of Our Savior.
To me, this archbishop is one of the many diffident pastors who lost their passion for the vibrancy of Our Lord’s message and teachings. He is part of the problem in our Church, not the solution.
Anne Balzer
Astoria
Archbishop Gregory Does Not Speak for Us
Dear Editor: I am a Catholic and Archbishop Gregory does not speak for us (“Archbishop Rebukes Trump Visit to Shrine,” June 6).
President Trump signed an executive order that same day protecting religious rights which no Democrat will do. His praying in our churches should be a humbling example, and a gesture of hope for us, that he could be entering our faith and becoming Catholic to join his wife, instead of an occasion to issue a cold political judgment.
Archbishop Gregory is not promoting unity and prayer but accusing the president. It is a horrible example. May you be judged tomorrow as you judged the president’s intentions today.
Brigette Pietro
Sterling Heights, Michigan
The Cancerous Tumor of Racism
Dear Editor: All too often history repeats itself and then life goes on! The tragic death of George Floyd is one example.
An innocent life is lost by racist feelings, there are protests, followed by unacceptable looting, and then it’s forgotten until it happens again!
Sure, looting and burning of offices and commercial businesses is not acceptable, and must be condemned, but is that the only problem? When you hear hatred from the very top echelon of the U.S. government then what do you expect?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away … and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”
Mehdi Amini
Vienna, Virginia
Msgr. John C. Tosi, a Very Kind Priest
Dear Editor: Msgr. Tosi was a very kind priest (“Brooklyn Pastor Remembered For Bringing ‘People to Christ,’ ”Obituaries, May 30).
He was especially comforting when my husband Bob, who had been the Scoutmaster at St. Luke’s for 33 years, died. He allowed the more than 50 Scouts present to say their oath at the end of the funeral Mass. He said he normally did not swerve from the proper order of Mass but allowed it in this extraordinary situation.
God blessed you, Msgr. Tosi, you are home now. You made us better Catholics.
Magaly Lohnes
Whitestone
My heart breaks when Catholics rather condemn an Archbishop than recognize the “evil” that Trump has done to all of us. Would these same people praise Henry VIII for his many marriages and slander St. Thomas More?
Would these same people utlimately prefer Trump over Jesus and His teachings of the Beatitudes?
I would take Jesus any day over Trump..
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Mr. Moss.
Thank God for catholic leaders such as archbishop Gregory for calling out Donald Trump who used held the bible up as a prop.for a publicity photo for himself. Jesus warned us about hypocrites who glorify themselves.
The three letter writers criticizing President Trump seem to have missed the point. Archbishop Gregory was initially invited by President Trump but he graciously declined. But once the President and his wife decided to follow through and keep this commitment Archbishop Gregory thought he would score some political points and turn it against Trump. If anyone is rejecting Jesus and His teachings it was the good Archbishop by judging and being hypocritical himself by caving into the mob.