Hear from Protestant and Catholic faith leaders, evaluating President Trump in 2020:

Words by Lou Holtz:

Following are the statements of Lou Holtz in his June 14 2020 article on the website ThyBlackman.com

Mr. Holtz titled his article, "President Trump is a Champion of the Catholic Faith"

When I arrived on the campus of Notre Dame in 1986 to coach the football team, I had a sign placed in a stairwell leading onto the field that read, “Play Like a Champion Today.” Thirty-four years later, I can’t help but think of how President Trump has been a champion for the Catholic community.

s a lifelong Catholic, I’m compelled to speak out. Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington D.C. recently criticized President Donald Trump for visiting to the St. John Paul II National Shrine, claiming that the shrine should have “never been used as a place for a political statement.”

President Trump visited the shrine to honor the legacy of Pope John Paul II -“a pope who understood the importance of advancing religious freedoms across the globe".

The president also understands how religious freedom curtails terrorism and domestic violence, and strengthens democracy, economic development, and opportunities for women. That’s why he recently signed the Executive Order Advancing International Freedom.

It is unfortunate the Archbishop is choosing to engage in political punditry and criticism of the president, rather than helping to unite all of God’s children.

Instead of acknowledging the symbolism behind President Trump’s visit to historic St. John’s Church - which had just been ransacked by violent looters - the Archbishop chose to further divide the country.

The fact is, there has been no president in my lifetime who has done more to protect religious liberty for all than President Trump.

The president understands the importance of being a strong voice for the unborn because we are their only voice. He has shown his unwavering commitment to life.

He has followed through on his promise to appoint conservative, Constitutionalist judges, something that will have a positive impact on issues related to the church for decades to come.

President Trump’s commitment to the religious community reaches far beyond our borders. He moved our embassy to Jerusalem - “The birthplace of Catholicism by the Israelites - “even though the five previous presidents promised to do so yet failed.

The president’s time in office has been promises made, promises kept. This is unusual for a politician, and the Archbishop is flat out wrong to say he does not care about all people.
President Trump has uplifted every American through his America-First agenda.

There are three principles that have guided my life and the choices I make. Whether you are in a good or bad situation, the results are because of the choices you make. The three principals also define who I support politically.

1.Trust - ’President Trump says what he means and means what he says. He is doing his all to fulfill the promises he made to the American people.
2.Commitment to Excellence - ’President Trump is committed to pursuing greatness, no matter the sacrifice. He understands what it takes to keep America great.
3.Care for Others - ’President Trump demonstrates strength and a commitment to serving his fellow Americans. It’s obvious he has a deep love for America and its people.

Now, let’s bring this country together by loving and caring for one another. The Catholic education I received, including my years at Notre Dame, we were taught to love thy Lord our God with all our soul and might and to love your neighbor as you would yourself.

Perhaps the most brilliant person I have ever met was Fr. Hesburgh, President of Notre Dame for 35 years. He hired me. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr., was close friends with Mother Teresa, former presidents, and Popes. He explained to me that you must follow your heart, even if it’s an unpopular thing to do.

President Trump is doing the right thing for American Catholics, and the wider religious community. He will continue to be a voice for the unborn, he will continue to stand with the people of faith, and he will ensure Catholics have a seat at the table in his Administration.

I encourage my fellow Catholics to support a president who, in my mind, has done more to advance the cause of religious freedom and liberty than any other president.
The above content is from the June 14, 2020 article appearing on the website of thyblackman.com.

Here is a link to this article on this site: Thyblackman.com Trump champion of the Catholic Faith

“The president has fought the good fight for the people who elected him. He has done much to instill hope in millions around the country who had none, hope for the future and the future of their children, and he has loved his people, who in turn have loved him. He will fight to the death to allow us Catholics to live out our lives of faith and hope and love in a free society. May God bless Donald John Trump.”

The preceding content is from the book, "A CATHOLIC VOTE FOR TRUMP: the Only Choice in 2020 for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents Alike" -  published by Tan Books. Purchase this book at https://jesseromero.com/blog/catholic-vote-trump

We highly recommend Jesse Romero's website,  Jesse Romero  and the radio show, The Terry and Jesse Show, on  the website of   Virgin Most Powerful Radio :  "Terry Barber and Jesse Romero are two men, by the grace of God, ready to set your soul on fire with the love of Jesus! This dynamic duo has been sharing the Catholic truth without compromise on traditional broadcast radio for eleven years – and they’re just getting started! Well-known for their straight talk and power preaching, Terry and Jesse daily inform and inspire with clarity and charity".

Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-Life Religious Council

Father Frank Pavone recently stated* the following:

WHEN I do my daily broadcasts from our TV studio at our Priests for Life headquarters, I have a photo of President Donald Trump clearly visible behind me.

On a regular basis, one or another viewer, whose comments I can see during the broadcast, will ask, "Why do you have a picture of President Trump over your shoulder?"

I respond first by saying , "Well, this program is coming to you from the United States of America, and he is our President, and second, if he were not where he is, we would not be where we are."

I pause for a moment to let that sink in, and then I explain further that under the Obama administration, Priests for Life was one of the religious groups that had to fight all the way to the Supreme Court to avoid crippling fines for our refusal to include abortion in the health insurance plan that we offer our employees.
The Supreme Court, in the end, didn't technically decide the case. Donald Trump did. The court had asked that we work out a solution with the administration , and the Obama administration was simply unwilling to honor our religious objections.

President Trump did, and we were forever set free from the oppressive mandate that, had it been enforced under a President Hillary Clinton, would not have allowed our ministry- and countless others-to function. If President Trump were not where he is, we would not be where we are.

Many voters, whose faith means something to them, realize this , and it's time that the rest did as well. That's why this book is so important and so timely.

Because religious people care about virtue, some will complain if they do not think the president is living out the Christian faith.

Now I reject the premise.

I believe he does live the Christian faith. He is a man who believes in Christ, keeps his promises, protects his nation as his constitutional duties require him to do, loves his family and raises beautiful children ("By their fruits you will know them''), and is generous - including with his salary. A pastor who ministers to him said that he had rarely met a man more open to the Holy Spirit than President Trump.

He lives his faith.
But to those who think he doesn't, I ask, would you rather have a president who does not live out his faith, or a president who does not allow you to live out your faith?

No president has protected religious freedom and conscience more than President Trump. And he has done so proactively, putting in place executive policies that enable faith-based organizations to do their work with fewer obstacles, and without discrimination, and punishing institutions that violate existing law that protects religious freedom . President Trump even created a new federal office to protect conscience and religious freedom!

There's another dimension to consider as well. This election is not about personalities. It is about a clash of world­ views, which shape multiple issues, far beyond the most fundamental ones of abortion and religious freedom.

The election is not about private virtue; it is about public virtue. Instead of worrying about the president's marriages, ask yourself what impact the judges he appoints will make on the shape of marriage in our country for the next generation. Instead of worrying how religious he is, ask yourself what impact his policies will have on the Church's freedom to help people live out their religion for the next generation. Instead of being concerned about the tweets he sends, pay more attention to the laws he signs. It's the public virtue, not the private virtue, that should shape our vote.

Pro-abortion Democrats try to make us focus on what they believe in private about abortion, as an excuse for us to ignore the public policies they create that make it continue. Let's not make the same mistake in reverse.

The president himself has said that the election is not about him; it's about you. The attacks launched against him are really attacks on you. They are an attempt to deprive you of the impact of your vote and of your values on our public life. President Trump is just the messenger, the vehicle, of a whole set of policies and worldviews. Stay focused, ask the right questions, and see the big picture.
And think for yourself. Remember, Catholicism values human reason very highly and expects us to use it. You alone are responsible for your vote: not your parents and grand­ parents, not your union or your employer, and not even your pastor or bishop.

* The above statements are from Father Pavone's foreword to "A Catholic Vote for Trump" by Jesse Romero, a highly recommended book published in 2020 by Tan Books and available at  Tan Books Website

Learn more from Father Frank Pavone on the information-packed website of Priests for Life:  PriestsforLife

Listen to Life Site News co-founder John Henry Westen's July 29, 2020 interview with Father Pavone on the website of Life Site News:  Father Pavone on LifeSiteNews

Responding to questions about the appropriateness  of a Catholic priest speaking out on political matters, Father Pavone responded:

“The Democrat Party has made a covenant with evil. They are in bed with the abortion industry. They want absolutely no restrictions on abortion. They consider it a basic right, and they want us to pay for it.”

“This is a party now that does not respect the freedom of the Church,” he added. “So if a party doesn't respect the freedom of the Church, how can the Church be neutral?”

Father Pavone pointed to St. John the Baptist as a historical figure who reminded the political authorities of his own day about the moral law.

In a June 21, 2020 article, Protestant Pastor Shane Idleman answers this question as follows:

This is a spiritual battle. There’s a big push toward globalism, abortion on demand, sexual perversion, socialism, open borders, and so on.

The Bible says don’t murder innocent children (abortion). It also says that we should work hard if we can (no socialism). It also says that the government is to guard the nation, securing borders and fighting terrorism. The Bible adds that we should have judges who are honest and that we should bring God’s Word into all areas of life… Many of President Trump’s staff are doing all this and more. How a person, let alone a Christian, can overlook these things is a mystery to me.

We have an interesting dynamic working here: a politician actually doing what he said he would do. His past is not perfect, but he is guiding America in the right direction (in fact, many governmental agencies are now hosting Bible studies). He still sins  - “ as do we all - “ but it appears that he wants to point our nation back to God. His mode of communication is not always Christlike, but he is honoring God in many areas of legislation.

I see a man who is flawed like the rest of us. I see a man who is probably not proud of some of the things that he has done. We’re not looking for perfection; we’re looking for direction  - “ direction back to God. Throughout biblical history, God has used broken, flawed leaders. Aside from Christ, is there another kind?

I’m pretty sure that if unborn babies could talk, they would tell us they are not too concerned about the president’s character. They would be far more concerned about the character of the physician with an abortion tool in his or her hand.

Just the other day, I ran into a woman who was speaking Aramaic to her daughter. Her English was pretty good, so I asked her what she thought about our president. After explaining that she was a Christian from a persecuted area in Iraq, she said, “I love what he is doing. America is blessed to have him.” Let that sink in.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network.
The foregoing paragraphs are excerpts from Shane Idleman’s June 21 2020 article appearing on the website of stream.org.

Here is a link to this article on this site: Stream.org Can We still Support Donald Trump

On June 7, 2020, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and the rioting by Black Lives Matter and Antifa, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano (previously the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.A. from 2011 to 2016), issued an open letter to President Trump. In his letter, the Archbishop states:

For the first time, the United States has in you a President who courageously defends the right to life, who is not ashamed to denounce the persecution of Christians throughout the world, who speaks of Jesus Christ and the right of citizens to freedom of worship. Your participation in the March for Life, and more recently your proclamation of the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, are actions that confirm which side you wish to fight on. And I dare to believe that both of us are on the same side in this battle, albeit with different weapons.

In his letter, the Archbishop identifies two factions of people in our society:

On the one hand, there are those who, although they have a thousand defects and weaknesses, are motivated by the desire to do good, to be honest, to raise a family, to engage in work, to give prosperity to their homeland, to help the needy, and, in obedience to the Law of God, to merit the Kingdom of Heaven. On the other hand, there are those who serve themselves, who do not hold any moral principles, who want to demolish the family and the nation, exploit workers to make themselves unduly wealthy, foment internal divisions and wars, and accumulate power and money.

The Archbishop notes that the mainstream media largely supports the latter group, whom he calls “the children of darkness”, and gives the following advice and encouragement to all Americans of good will, whom he calls “the children of light”.* His letter concludes:

The American people are mature and have now understood how much the mainstream media does not want to spread the truth but seeks to silence and distort it, spreading the lie that is useful for the purposes of their masters. However, it is important that the good  - ’ who are the majority  - ’ wake up from their sluggishness and do not accept being deceived by a minority of dishonest people with unavowable purposes. It is necessary that the good, the children of light, come together and make their voices heard. What more effective way is there to do this, Mr. President, than by prayer, asking the Lord to protect you, the United States, and all of humanity from this enormous attack of the Enemy? Before the power of prayer, the deceptions of the children of darkness will collapse, their plots will be revealed, their betrayal will be shown, their frightening power will end in nothing, brought to light and exposed for what it is: an infernal deception.

Mr. President, my prayer is constantly turned to the beloved American nation, where I had the privilege and honor of being sent by Pope Benedict XVI as Apostolic Nuncio. In this dramatic and decisive hour for all of humanity, I am praying for you and also for all those who are at your side in the government of the United States. I trust that the American people are united with me and you in prayer to Almighty God.
United against the Invisible Enemy of all humanity, I bless you and the First Lady, the beloved American nation, and all men and women of good will.

Carlo Maria Viganò
Titular Archbishop of Ulpiana
Former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America

* The Archbishop’s reference to “children of light” evokes the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Saint John: “…believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.”  - ’ John: 12:36

Archbishop Vigano’s complete letter is found on the LifeSiteNews website here: Lifesitenews.com Vigano on Trump

On June 10, President Trump responded with a tweet linking to Archbishop’s letter and stating:

“So honored by Archbishop Viganò’s incredible letter to me. I hope everyone, religious or not, reads it.”

The global concerns raised by Archbishop Vigano are discussed in a podcast by Dr. Taylor Marshall on YouTube. Here is a link to this podcast on the YouTube site: Here is a link to this podcast on the YouTube site: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4upHPYKtqE&app=desktop

His Excellency Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò composed a prayer for the United States of America.

Here, below, is a copy of the prayer:

As President Abraham Lincoln knew when he led the U.S. through our country's previous darkest hour, the most powerful weapons are the people's prayers. In fact, they are essential.  We are now in a battle for the soul of our nation. Join the U.S. Grace Force in daily prayer.

Sign up here,   Novena Prayer for our Nation on the website of the U.S. Grace Force, and receive powerful daily mediations and prayers (available in English and Spanish).

As the U.S. Grace Force website states:

"In the novena, we have two intentions: For the protection and provision for the USA and the world. 

In the United States, we continue to live in peace-less times with laws and court rulings in conflict with God’s laws; especially the disregard for the rights of the unborn, elderly and weak in our society and the attacks on marriage and family values.

Society and many levels of government continue to demonstrate intolerance towards biblically-based religious belief and practice. In conflict with First Amendment constitutional rights, persecution of traditional religious expression has reached historically high levels.

This is a spiritual battle of historic proportions!"

The following content is from the 2020 version of our website and it is retained in 2024 because it is still relevant and helpful.

The U.S. Grace Force recently completed a 40 Days' "Let Freedom Ring" session of powerful daily prayers and insightful daily reflections by Father Rick Heilman, Father Bill Peckman and Father James Altman. As unwavering strong shepherds of the faithful, these three priests fulfill their priestly duty to unabashedly and firmly inform people of wrongdoing in society, just as Jesus Christ did throughout the four gospels. Appearing below are three examples of the content of their daily reflections, providing a framework that all Christians  can apply in evaluating political parties and candidates. In these examples, they speak out against three current ills of our society, illegal immigration, the constant attacks on our religious liberty, and this summer’s looting, burning and violence in certain cities.

“As President Ronald Reagan put it so perfectly: "The Constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying; it's declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray." Yet the Freedom from Religion crowd throw a tantrum over such things as taxpayers' children praying in taxpayer funded schools. Leftists get away with throwing their tantrums because too many people do not know the Constitution nor its historical precedents. Dear family, just wrap your minds around the fact that taxpayers' children praying in taxpayer funded schools was, in fact, Constitutional for roughly the first 175 years of our Country. Then realize that the ramifications of the rapid shift from this Truth to the Big Lie of "Freedom from Religion" has resulted in the downfall of our culture and society. As a brilliant meme put it so well: "Bibles aren't allowed in schools anymore, but are encouraged in prisons. If kids were allowed to read it at school, they might not end up in prison."

- from Father Jim Altman's reflection, "Freedom from Secularism", on Day 30 of "Let Freedom Ring". For Father Altman's entire reflection, link to the U.S. Grace Force website: Freedom from Secularism

Relativism bases itself in our emotional being more important than our rational being in decision making and in the pursuit of truth. Since, everything is subjective, truth is what I feel it is based on my own perceived emotional needs and passions. My passions and emotions are the filters through which I define my reality. So what happens when my reality does not line up with your reality? You have to be wrong and must align yourself to my reality. If you don't, then I will call you intolerant and if you try to express your opinion contrary to mine, then I will shout you down. Does this sound familiar?