Sunday Sermonette #2

Pope Leo XIV had some things to say about the Trump administration’s immigration policies this week. Many members of the current administration are Catholic (most noticeably, J. D. Vance and Karoline Leavitt), but their public statements about this have indicated their rejection of the Pope’s criticisms and their continued support for the administration’s immigration policies.

Pope Leo has strongly criticized Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Catholic church’s “pro-life” teachings.

“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” the pontiff told journalists outside the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban Hills, near Rome.

I think the Pope’s statement reveals what really is the ne plus ultra of Christianity – the core values of the faith, found in the Beatitudes. In the United States, many people want to see the 10 Commandments mounted on the walls of courtrooms and school houses. It think the Ten Commandments are more accurately considered the ne plus ultra of historic Judaism (in modern Judaism, the Ten Commandment remain central, but the faith also centers broader Torah teachings and modern ethical practice.

The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments have different messages. The Ten Commandments come with a threat of punishment for those who perform acts that contravene them; the Beatitudes come with the potential for reward for those who seek to live up to them. Another comparison can be found in the language itself; the Ten Commandments use words like “do not” or “shall not,” while the Beatitudes are inspirational, encouraging people to seek justice or humility, for example.

The New Testament also talks about the fruits of the Spirit – the virtues that result from having the Holy Spirit withing you. The political right doesn’t talk about this much either.

The political right in America is no longer interested in the Beatitudes, because these verses suggest a moral system that gives hope to the downtrodden and suffering. Now that the political right is in ascendency, they see no continuing need for what the Beatitudes teach – empathy and courage. When you’re in charge – as the GOP is right now and as it apparently plans to continue to be – all you need is control over the reins of power to maintain your position. Emphathy Shmempathy.