Why hasn't The Pope's criticism of Trump hurt him amongst Catholics?

[RR1997]

Even after The Pope (of all people) criticized Trump, Catholics still love him. He still leads in states like MA. Why is this?

[Pyro]

Because he's invulnerable.

[Illiniwek]

Catholics still love him.

That isn't quite true...

[Asian Nazi]

Because most American Catholics are functionally secular.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Because American Christians are filthy casuals.

[Famous Mortimer]

Because the Pope is a liberal.

[Skye]

Why hasn't X's criticism of Trump hurt him amongst X?
It's a broader question.

[PeteB]

Three reasons:

1. Because most Catholics are not swayed by religious opinions of political candidates and
2. Because for most Catholics, the Pope didn't really criticize Trump (the comment about not building walls is too esoteric for most).  Should the Pope come out stronger against Trump specifically (which I do not believe will happen as the Holy See tends to shy away from direct interference), it will have an effect, and finally
3. Because most Catholics who subscribe to New Testament Christian values like charity, humbleness, brotherhood, forgiveness and piety are already against Trump.

[Ljube]

Because the Pope is a liberal.

Because the Pope is a communist.

[Mr. Reactionary]

The Pope is a european theocrat king. Why should Americans care what he has to say?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

The Pope is a european theocrat king. Why should Americans care what he has to say?

Cross before flag, blackraisin.

[Illiniwek]

The Pope is a european theocrat king. Why should Americans care what he has to say?

Cross before flag, blackraisin.

He is *our* european theocrat king.

[Why]

Because Catholics are not Christian.

[Mercenary]

Because to his devoted followers Trump is the pope.

[DemPGH]

I think probably because most people figure that the pope has his opinions and they have theirs, and he's talking out of school.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Guys, it's time to put aside the 1840s Protestant vs. Catholic mentality. We all love America and we all love the Pope. We don't need blood in our streets and fights in Congress about which church is superior. Believe in your religion and be proud of it; don't act like despots of old and look down on others because they were born to a faith different than yours. GOD wouldn't want you to fight; THE POPE wouldn't want you to fight; your fellow countrymen and HUMANS do not care for this constant argument.


One day people will looks back on you young fools and wonder why you, the generation with the most education of any; the highest productivity of any; and the highest diversity of any so far, still try to reenact the old hostilities. It's a new day; throw down your broken arrows of rhetoric and pick up the olive branch of PEACE.

Is this from something? Because if it's original, let the record state that my worldview shares more in common with atheists than the (white Evangelical) Protestants. I cannot bare the latter anymore and do not wish to be involved in a political party with them any longer. I wanted a moderate 3rd party, but it seems Donald Trump is doing a solid job of just hijacking theirs, which is even more enjoyable.

[RI]

I don't recall Pope Francis attacking Trump solely. He called out anyone who wants to build walls instead of bridges, which also includes Cruz and Rubio. Unlike Cruz and Rubio, Trump also wants to build bridges as evidenced by his openness toward Russia and Palestine.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

The Pope no longer exercises temporal authority over Catholics.

[Meclazine for Israel]

I think we are missing a critical factor in this discussion. Age.

I have come across some Catholic people in my dealings of late who were as conservative as a 13th century Austrian knight sitting atop the castle wall.

Their age: 68 and 65.

Their divorced daughter was not to re-marry and she was destined to stay in the ivory tower to live out her life in solitude unless a gallant knight could slay the evil fire breathing dragon.

They were literally still defending the white European enclaves from the raging Attila himself.

And Catholics who are 22 years of age.

Go out. Get drunk. Have sex. Smoke pot. Get arrested. Bite Police. Rage on.

So age is a critical factor in the slow and inevitable dilution of religion as a force in our society (Australia).

I have little clue if religion is fading in the USA, but the paedophile priest brigade are killing it Catholicism pretty quick here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtHOmforqxk

in response to:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/gerard-henderson/tim-minchins-abusive-song-fires-up-cardinal-george-pell-haters/news-story/fed90ef6bbf68980757825ac162a030f

Cardinal Pell is a religious version of an Italian Cruise Ship Captain, literally.

[Badger]

Think about the kind of issues most important to Catholics who vote in Republican primaries. Do not, repeat NOT, limit yourself to simply abortion and similar less emphasized social issues. I submit that a typical Catholic Republican primary voter has very similar views on immigration and terrorism as most Protestant Republican voters. Now think about the voters to whom those issues are important enough that they're already inclined to support Trump. How likely are those voters to be swayed by Pope Francis's oblique criticism of Trump, and trumps rather genteel - - at least by Trump standards anyway - - criticism of the Pope?

Answer: Just a few around the periphery at most.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Because most American Catholics don't really care that much about the Pope.

[Famous Mortimer]

Because most American Catholics don't really care that much about the Pope.

Liberal/lapsed/CINO Catholics don't care what the Pope thinks.

Conservative Catholics don't like this Pope.

[cwt]

Liberal/lapsed/CINO Catholics don't care what the Pope thinks.

They care when he agrees with them. Which they pretty much do on everything now except abortion and gay marriage.

[The Mikado]

Guys, it's time to put aside the 1840s Protestant vs. Catholic mentality. We all love America and we all love the Pope. We don't need blood in our streets and fights in Congress about which church is superior. Believe in your religion and be proud of it; don't act like despots of old and look down on others because they were born to a faith different than yours. GOD wouldn't want you to fight; THE POPE wouldn't want you to fight; your fellow countrymen and HUMANS do not care for this constant argument.


One day people will look back on you young fools and wonder why you, the generation with the most education of any; the highest productivity of any; and the highest diversity of any so far, still try to reenact the old hostilities. It's a new day; throw down your broken arrows of rhetoric and pick up the olive branch of PEACE.

What's this nonsense? Since when did education, productivity, and diversity reduce conflict? They heighten awareness of differences, increase proximity of differences, and increase tensions.

What's with this ridiculous belief that greater understanding leads to peace rather than increased conflict?

[Badger]

Because most American Catholics don't really care that much about the Pope.

Liberal/lapsed/CINO Catholics don't care what the Pope thinks.

Conservative Catholics don't like this Pope.

This is a vast oversimplification bordering on error. Conservative Catholics still overwhelmingly admire and revere the Holy Father.

But on issues of immigration and terrorism, they largely agree with Trump over Francis.