As the Pope criticises Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Carol Vorderman hears from Republican strategist Amy Tarkanian (00:00) and LBC caller Simon (06:21).
Pope Francis XI has told voting Catholics to choose the “lesser evil”. Speaking on the upcoming race to the White House, the religious leader took aim at Trump and Harris for what he called anti-life policies on abortion and migration.
“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants or the one who (supports) killing babies,” Francis said. “Both are against life,” the Pope said during an airborne press conference.
The Argentine Jesuit was asked to provide counsel to American Catholic mid-air on his return trip to Rome, telling US voters it is their civic duty to vote.
It follows the religious leader’s four-nation tour through Asia.
“One should vote, and choose the lesser evil,” he said. “Who is the lesser evil, the woman or man? I don’t know.”
Stressing that he was not an American and therefore would not be voting himself, Francis
Neither the Republican candidate Donald Trump nor the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris was mentioned by name.
But Francis nevertheless expressed himself in stark terms when asked to weigh in on their positions on two hot-button issues in the US election – abortion and migration – that are also of major concern to the Catholic Church.
Francis has made the plight of migrants a priority of his pontificate and speaks out emphatically and frequently about it.
While strongly upholding church teaching forbidding abortion, Francis hasn’t emphasised church doctrine as much as his predecessors.
He said migration is a right described in Scripture, and that anyone who does not follow the Biblical call to welcome the stranger is committing a “grave sin”.
He was also blunt in speaking about abortion.
“To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it’s killing,” he said. “We have to see this clearly.”
Asked though what to do at the polls, Francis recalled the civic duty to vote.
“Everyone in their conscience should think and do it,” he said.
It is not the first time Francis has weighed in on a US election. In the run-up to the 2016 election, Francis was asked about Mr Trump’s plan to build a wall at the US-Mexican border. He declared then that anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants “is not Christian”.
In responding on Friday, Francis recalled that he celebrated Mass at the US-Mexico border and “there were so many shoes of the migrants who ended up badly there”.
The US bishops conference, for its part, has called abortion the “preeminent priority” for American Catholics in its published voter advice.
Ms Harris has strongly defended abortion rights.
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The pope is OBLIGATED to have and voice opinions on issues outside of faith, he is a head of state. Popes have always been political entities. Bet if he was just talking about abortion she'd have give her full throated support
He spoke the truth and everyone loses their minds. He does not have to just stick to religion because when you are religious it pervades every part of your life be it social, economic or political and the pope is well within his rights to guide Catholics in these and many other areas. There is no need to bottle the man, so he can only say things related to religion. That is absurd.
When the Church you're supposed to head is falling apart in scandals, you'd better meddle into earthly affairs to fix it.
That one caller 'All religions are the same'
Exclusively focuses on Christianity.
Religion isn't the cause of the problems we're facing today, so much as it is tribalism which is different.
Amazing how most of us aren't able to grasp that.
That is not an argument. It is just nonsense to prohibit any high position leader to talk about what affects every citizen in the world, politics economics etc.. All of them should talk. In fact that will be very interesting and educational to heard what the King have to said about those subjects.
He is right. They are both evil. People need to vote for Dr. Jill Stein and Pro. Butch Ware 💚
The Pope said something totally uncontroversial. It could be said in most elections
The Catholic church is in no Persian to preach to any one.
Religion is the root of all evil.
Interject?
What language is she speaking?
It's the 21st Century,why are superstitions still prominent in the World . Such a shame
Trump's repeal of the law to keep guns out of the mentally ill is his own fault. Male sure to put blame where the blame is initially caused. Trump is at fault for his own assassinate attempt.
Adult converts to Catholicism are famously hyper-conservative in the United States
Talking about people who are detached from the reality.. ah yes, the same pope who blamed Ukraine for Russian invasion 😂
1:19 With a few rare exceptions, people don't build their personality or life around a sportsperson or a musician. Even those who are a bit obsessed with their favourite have the sense not to force everyone else to follow that celebrity with the same vigour.
However, with religions and the people who lead them, people will not only align their whole lives with these teachings without questioning, but they also feel that the religion itself compels them to impose these same practices on everyone else, including people they will never meet or interact with in person.
How is the church “misogynistic and anti-women”? A bald assertion.
USA has been very generous to immigrants.trump and harris are both children of immigrants.
The problem in usa is that the southern borders of the usa are porous.immigrants are crossing into usa undocumented.this a security risk for the usa.this is what trump is trying to articulate.
Religion and politics must not mix. A president looks after the nation citizens regardless of whether they are believers or non believers.
Shocking to have Pope call the USA presidents nominee as evil. I hope Religious Head don't meddle with America's politics.
I believe he is sending out a wake up call to all other nations to the Americans future in Democracy. The Constitution is DEAD! Get ready for what's next world?????
Why giving consent to the lesser of two great evils?
American entertainers are American citizens..
The Pope isn't .There is a separation of church and state for most citizens who follow the Constitution.
Sadly, as a Catholic, I feel this pope is a lefty and should mind his own business ! This guy stay out of US POLITICS! Small wonder Americans are leaving the church
She has no idea how deeply social justice permeates Catholic tradition, but only accepts the Bible, and thinks climate change is “political”, as if the fate of Creation is not a theological issue.
Fundamentalist through and through, who misidentifies as Catholic.
neither is the lesser evil…
You are hypocrites! The Pope is being honest as a human being! He was asked a question like any other human being! He has the right and freedom to answer and give his opinion! He is human! Respect anyone who is entitled to his own opinion! Nobody in this podcast understood the meaning of evil! If you honestly know it’s meaning then you do not need to be defensive, but you would know between Kamala and Trump who the lesser evil is! For once in your life, listen to your conscience and you know the choice!
like the fool cannot tell the diff……………………………………………………………..
I wished the Pope was as focussed on protecting the children from his clergy and other church members…😢