✣ Trump picks ‘evangelical Catholic’ as deputy
What happened?
Donald Trump selected Mike Pence as his running mate for the Republican presidential nomination. Raised as a Catholic, Pence considered becoming a priest before meeting his wife in the 1980s. He now attends a megachurch and describes his religious affiliation as “evangelical Catholic”.
Pence is known for strong pro-life views. As governor of Indiana he opposed legislation regarding embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriage.
What the media are saying
Emily McFarlan-Miller of Religion News Service questioned what “evangelical Catholic” actually meant. Pence once said: “I made a commitment to Christ. I’m a born-again, evangelical Catholic.” In 2013 he told journalist Craig Fehrman that he was “kind of looking for a church”.
McFarlan-Miller also reported that Trump and Pence had already had a dispute. Last December, Pence condemned Trump’s call to ban Muslims entering the US, deeming the statement “unconstitutional” and “offensive”.
Steve Eder and Thomas Kaplan of the New York Times argued that Trump and Pence had contrasting world views. Where Trump is seen as an isolationist and has questioned US involvement in Nato, Pence backed the Iraq War.
What Catholics are saying
Ben Johnson of LifeSiteNews reported that pro-life leaders had praised the selection of Pence. Marjorie Dannefelser said: “Mr Trump’s selection of Governor Mike Pence is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he’s made and will rally the pro-life grassroots.”
But Christopher Hale, executive director at Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, said in a piece for Time magazine that the Trump-Pence ticket was the most “anti-Catholic” Republican pairing in history. He cited Trump’s criticism of Pope Francis but also Pence’s attempt to pressurise Archbishop Joseph Tobin into stopping Catholic charities from resettling a Syrian refugee family amid security concerns. Hale quoted Archbishop Tobin saying that welcoming refugees was an “essential part of our identity”.
The most overlooked story of the week
✣ Cardinal ‘delighted’ by new Prime Minister
What happened?
Cardinal Vincent Nichols expressed delight at Theresa May’s appointment as Prime Minister. The pair have previously worked together in the fight against human trafficking. Cardinal Nichols said: “I appreciate the maturity of judgment, the steely resolve, the sense of justice and warmth you have always shown.”
Why was it under-reported?
It is easy to see why, amid the tumult of last week, a glowing tribute from a cardinal to a new Prime Minister may not have drawn much attention. But the statement bodes well for ongoing relations between the Church and the Government. The pair have worked closely together. In 2014 they wrote a joint article for the Daily Telegraph urging businesses to be careful that their suppliers are not involved in exploitation. May also attended the first meeting at the Vatican of the anti-trafficking Santa Marta Group.
What will happen next?
The cardinal’s statement on the day of the referendum result indicated the areas where he is likely to try to exert some influence on the Government – specifically, in protecting the most vulnerable, “especially those who are easy targets for unscrupulous employers and human traffickers”. A key issue for the Church is the 50 per cent cap on the number of pupils that free schools can admit on grounds of faith. This means there are no free schools formally linked to the Church. Cardinal Nichols may hope that under May the cap will go.
✣ The week ahead
World Youth Day begins with Mass on Tuesday at Błonia Park in Kraków. On weekday mornings, pilgrims, who are expected to number two million, will attend catechesis sessions and on Friday evening they will attend a Stations of the Cross led by the Pope. Over the weekend a vigil and Mass will take place at Campus Misericordiae (“The Field of Mercy”).
Today, for the first time, the memorial of St Mary Magdalene, will be celebrated as a feast day. The elevation was intended to recognise the saint’s role as the first witness of Christ’s Resurrection and as a “true and authentic evangeliser”.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis will arrive in Kraków, where he will meet bishops, government authorities and diplomats. The next day he will pray at the chapel of the Black Madonna at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa and celebrate Mass nearby to mark 1,050 years since Poland’s baptism. On Friday he will join pilgrims at Błonia Park.