Charles Synyard (@CharlesSynyard)

One appalling piece of news. The titan of Conservatism, Inc. abjures the Faith over policy disagreements with Pope Leo. How did we get here? This should be a golden time to be an American Catholic. For the first time, we have an American serving as the successor to Peter! He was even a registered Republican. Yet, we now have the nominally Protestant president constantly clashing with Leo, whose opposition to the Iran War and pro-immigration stance, exactly in line with his immediate predecessors, should neither have surprised or much bothered him. Even Catholics can disagree with the pope’s judgment about political matters, though they should at least listen to what he says out of paternal affection. Very sad that some MAGA zealots are taking this passing spat so seriously they are apostatizing. I am sure Sean Hannity believed once, but spewing GOP talking points hour after hour for decades must have led him to internalize them as the alpha and the omega. American kulturkampf? A few of the least devout may leave the Church to make some kind of politico-cultural statement, which in itself says something about the Make America Great Again movement. In the past, Trump always said he led not just a candidacy, he led a movement, which presupposes a level of leadership and initiative from below, yet he is now trying to excommunicate (lol) followers who are anti-Zionist, or just too “soft” on Iran. In Peronism by contrast, within Juan Peron’s lifetime there were left-wing and right-wing Peronists, who sometimes openly protested the policies of the politician they named their politics for. Not so Trumpism. Short-sighted! Not the way to leave a lasting legacy on American politics. If only The Donald, and the most blind and clueless of his followers, could brook a little disagreement over an elective war that went against his campaign promises! Then again, if he couldn’t resist clashing with the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, and using AI to make it look like he was Jesus, it’s kind of a given he wouldn’t have the patience to tolerate differing opinions within MAGA. #AmericanKulturkampf #kulturkampf #SeanHannity #Hannity #PresidentTrump #DonaldTrump #Trump #MAGA #PopeLeoXIV #PopeLeo #LeoXIV #Catholicism #CatholicAmerica #CatholicChurch #CatholicGab #Christianity #blessedarethepeacemakers #antiwar