Sat Sep 14 06:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Pope Francis Condemns US Presidential Candidates’ Policies on Abortion and Migration, Advises Catholics to Choose “Lesser Evil”
In a surprising move, Pope Francis on Friday condemned the policies of both US presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, on abortion and migration. During an airborne news conference while returning from a four-nation tour through Asia, he labelled both candidates’ stances as “against life” and urged American Catholics to vote for the “lesser evil” in the upcoming US elections.
The Pope specifically condemned both the Republican and Democratic candidates’ positions on abortion and migration, two key issues deeply intertwined with Catholic Church teachings. He stressed that while he would not be voting himself, he felt obligated to provide guidance to Catholic voters in the US.
Francis explicitly stated that having an abortion is “killing a human being” and declared that migration is a fundamental right enshrined in scripture. He further asserted that anyone refusing to welcome strangers is committing a “grave sin.”
This is not the first time the Pope has weighed in on US elections. In the run-up to the 2016 election, he criticized Trump’s proposed border wall as un-Christian. The US bishops conference has similarly highlighted abortion as a “preeminent priority” for Catholic voters in their published voter advice.
While Harris has firmly defended abortion rights and advocated for reinstating a federal right to abortion, both candidates have faced criticism from the Pope for their policies. This statement further underscores the importance of these issues in the upcoming US elections.
First Piper 