The Al Smith Dinner is an annual opportunity, for the benefit of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, for a little good-natured fun on the parts of candidates for public office. Hosted by the Archbishop of New York, the Democratic and Republican contenders usually put aside their differences, have some laughs at the expense of each other and generally allow their “better angels” to shine. This was not the case this year.
President Donald Trump
Here Are the Issues
Now that the first debate between the major presidential candidates is over, we hope that the dialogue will improve beyond whether Donald Trump had the sniffles and whether Hillary Clinton looked smug.
Freedom of Speech Trumps IRS Regs
One plank of the Republican Party’s platform that is not getting a lot of publicity is worth our attention. It could be an important game changer when it comes to the Church and politics. Presidential candidate Donald Trump introduced his vice presidential pick by reviewing a list of the issues the team would be supporting.
Skewed Analysis of Trump
Dear Editor: I was moved to respond after reading two columns in the May 14 edition – one written by Father Anthony Raso, “Unlikely Apostles, Then and Now,” and the other by George Weigel, entitled, “Now What?”
Now What?
What is the thoughtful Catholic voter to do when neither presidential candidate is even minimally committed to human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity, as the social doctrine understands those concepts?
Weigel Unfair to Trump
Dear Editor: George Weigel’s column (March 12) “Resisting the Demagogue” adds to the frenzy of media slander of Donald Trump, largely orchestrated and financed by the internationalist monied elite. They fear Mr. Trump because they haven’t been able to buy him out like the rest of the establishment politicians.
What the Pope Really Said About Trump
The exchange between Pope Francis and Donald Trump was the biggest much-ado-about- nothing political story of the campaign. The headlines blared about the pope denouncing Trump and Trump firing back at the pope. It was all nonsense. A tempest in a fuselage.
Human Civility
The comments of Donald Trump to CNN’s Don Lemon concerning journalist Megyn Kelly after the Republican debate, stating: “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes … Blood coming out of her wherever” in any interpretation, be it he said “nose” – as Trump’s staff clarified – or as in most interpretations, her menstruation, demonstrates once again the necessity for civility in public discourse.
Leave Trump Alone!
Dear Editor: Regarding the July 18th Tablet editorial. Seriously? Donald Trump should be congratulated for making the topic of illegal immigration open for discussion. The word here that so many people choose not to recognize is “illegal.” The media and now The Tablet is making it sound as though he accused all Mexicans of being thieves and rapists. He did not. Trump was making a strong point that when the border is not secure, criminals will also be let into the country.