Like many of my friends, I’m nervous and upset about what’s going to happen next in my country.
The newly-elected president has already put into practice some disastrously ugly policies which may or may not be enforceable, and seems hell-bent on stuffing the cabinet with a rogue’s gallery of people who are laughably unqualified for their professional appointments, and horrifically dishonorable in their private lives. As I said, I’m nervous. I’m upset.
Not all my Catholic friends feel this way! Lots of them are jubilant and are anticipating the next four years with glee and delight. The president has promised them all kinds of things they have long wished for—a return to greatness, a return to goodness. A return to strength, and a return to power.
So I am going to do something I haven’t attempted in many years—I’m going to address Trump supporters directly.
If you’re Christian, and you’re looking forward to the next four years, then this is for you. It’s not for people who voted against Trump. They will have struggles of their own, and I have other words to say to them.
But if you have ever once thought that I occasionally, even accidentally, hit upon a solid or useful idea, then please listen to what I have to say.
You are in danger. Read the rest of my latest for The Catholic Weekly.
Photo via Wikimedia (Creative Commons)
To those of you asking why I specifically addressed this essay to Christian/Catholic Trump supporters:
1. Because self-identified Christians heavily supported Trump in the last election. He couldn’t have won without them
2. Because he and his team frequently invoked Chtistian concerns as a *reason* to vote for him
3. Because he and his team frequently spoke in terms of power, of strength, of might, and over triumphing over others
4. Because on Jan.6, he and his followers demonstrated that doesn’t let civic laws or moral laws slow him down when he wants to win.
And so on and so on. I have seen many, many people change they way they talk, the way they treat others, and the things they find acceptable or permissible in others, since they began supporting Trump. Dunno what else to tell you.
Ahh. Thanks for showing the connections you made that weren’t clicking in my head.
I’m sorry some people seem to have changed in ways you’ve observed. I get why you made the connections you did, now.
that’s very gracious of you, for real. It wasn’t my most rigorously constructed essay, so I’m sure I missed connecting some dots! I always struggle with writing clearly at this time of year.
👍🙂
Appreciate you taking the time to clarify, what with ‘Lucid Cooking,’ frozen pipes, and cars that need to be fixed!
Ok, thanks for the follow up but you still haven’t made it clear why we are being lectured on the evils of greed and power. Does it go both ways? You made the connection between a heavy Christian turnout for Trump last election cycle —- which is similar to the heavy(ish) woman turn out for Harris. If Harris had won would it be appropriate to assume every woman who voted for her needs to be lectured on the evils of abortion and the need to examine their motives/conscience? Just because they may have voted for her would it be fair to assume they are now vehemently pro-choice or power hungry just because their candidate is (and I’m sorry but if you are going to peg Trump as “power hungry” you need to be fair and acknowledge any one who finds themselves as a presidential candidate is power hungry on some level – that included Harris and those she surrounded herself with). I know many really wonderful women who voted for Harris who are none of those things. You also made a claim that Trump and his supporters invoked Christian concerns as a reason to vote for him. Again, similar to Harris and her team invoking the woman vote as a reason to vote for her. Does it stand to reason that any woman who voted for Harris is now in need of the self examination you recommend for Trump voters? I guess what I am trying to ask is, is it really fair or Christ like to make assumptions about others simply because of who they voted for? Any candidate is going to be a mix of vice and virtue, of wisdom and foolishness. Our job, as a voter is not to pretend they have are devoid of shortcomings or weaknesses but to simply vote in the way that best reflects our priorities. … Not everything is black and white. Not every person who voted for Trump is now feeling “rich” because their candidate won not are they giddy with the obsession of power you seem to think they have. You say there is nothing more dangerous than a “Christian thinking they have power over the lives of others”. Huh? Becuase Trump won, his supporters think they have power over others? Who do you hang out with that you think that? Or, could it be that on some level you feel power-less and are transferring these feelings onto others by branding them as power hungry? Regardless, as a reader of yours who has most definitely felt that you have “occasionally hit upon a solid or useful idea in your writing” more than a few times in the past, I find it offensive that you think it is necessary to lecture me on the evils of greed and power simply because the candidate I voted for won. I have many shortcomings and weaknesses but the need to yield power over others is not one of them. I didn’t appreciate being made to feel as if it is.
Well said AGG. I have been around many people with money and many people without money, just like I’m sure all of you. One thing I know money tends to simply amplify who the person already is. There have been times I have been surround by gracious and generous people with money, and around very demanding and rude people without money, and vice versa. In both cases it was never about the money but about the person, and honestly I find it a bit astonishing that you feel a poor person is somehow holier than a person with money. Having money and “power” can do a lot of good for society, and as a Christian that voted for Trump the last thing I want is “power” over anyone, and yes I do want my cost of living to go down and my bank account to go up. Biden in my opinion was a disgrace for America, and if I had voted for Kamala she herself said there wasn’t anything she would have changed in the Biden administration. I did not want Biden 2.0. I do not expect Trump to be a savior, I already have that in Jesus, but I do expect a better future than the direction Biden was taking our country and Harris would have further led us down.
I was totally relieved that Harris wasn’t voted in. Biden was a sell -out from a tax haven state for the rich. A pawn. But how could a Catholic, ever, ever, vote for a credibly accused rapist and polyamory creep who encouraged our Democracy to be overthrown. He stole classified documents. He’s a serial abuser. A money whore. He talks about human beings like they are vermin. As far as I can see, his rhetoric is a litmus test for whether people are tolerant of racism (are racist). I’m ashamed of what we did as a nation. I’m ashamed of my 89 y.o. mother who is a scared Trump-cult racist. I’m ashamed that she chose to fear the immigrants instead of the bankers and oligarchs.
I’m so sad about the desperation of Catholics.
Vulnerability and fear make people do strange things. Strange things like trusting a vulgar, bully of a man.
The fear mongers that make nice, Catholic, little-old-ladies (who have Fox news on all day for company) feed on hate and fear –are subject to hell fire.
Victims who are manipulated to harbor hate for the people that Trump hates: (people that don’t look like them) are less culpable.
The devil’s joke is mostly on the triumphant persecutors. It doesn’t matter if they consider themselves Christians in good standing.
Perhaps they will spend a few hundred –thousand? million (?) years in purgatory.
They face hellfire. That’s what we will feel when we see the repercussions of our hate. I hope that the pain doesn’t last too long, and don’t believe it is not for punishment, but I believe that it lasts for as long as it takes to cure every heart-wound that we have inflicted.
It’s terrifying.
I believe in mercy but I don’t presume upon it.
The sooner we throw ourselves upon his mercy, and face our crimes, the better.
edit: I don’t believe it’s for punishment
I am glad we elected Trump again, as he seems to be endorsing policies that will bring public order, truth, and freedom to more people in this country than if the Democrat candidate had been elected.
But no matter who had won the election, I would still be aware of my faults and weaknesses, and asking the Lord to help me grow closer to Him.
I guess I don’t understand the connection you (Simcha) seem to be making between being happy that Trump won the election and the way I live my Christian life.
It seems like your conclusion doesn’t follow from the premise/s, but I know you’re not a sloppy writer.
What am I not catching on to?
I mean: I’m not that invested in politics. I don’t care about “being on top.” I’m grateful that the man we elected President seems to want to increase the freedom, responsibility, and prosperity of as many people in this country as possible; I’m grateful that he seems to be taking our Constitution seriously; and grateful that he is acting to bring about justice for American citizens.
I appreciate the fact that he seems to be pursuing principles of public life that correlate to human nature as God has revealed it to us.
But none of that changes how I perceive my relationship with the Lord or my need and ability to trust Him more (and more and more!).
What connection/s did you make in your head that I’m missing in my noggin?
Exactly what part of invading Greenland makes your life better?
Hi Karen,
Well, it’s not about me; it’s about the common good. And it’s not about electing a President who does everything perfectly; it’s about electing a President who seems most likely to increase the common good (order, law, personal responsibility, freedom…)
I agree, MagoB! —- there is nothing wrong with the questions posed by the author but I am curious … do they only apply to those who voted for Trump? If so, why? Why wouldn’t those who voted for Biden four years ago also benefit from asking themselves these same questions? For that matter, perhaps those who voted for the candidate that lost may also benefit from the self reflection these questions, presumably, are meant to bring about? I guess I don’t understand the connection betwee those who specifically voted for Trump and these questions? Is anyone who didn’t vote for Trump somehow immune to the need for self freflection? Shouldn’t anyone, regardless of political affiliation always be about the desire to become a better version of oneself? Genuinely curious…
Just to add … I, and everyone I know who voted for Trump, are not on some kind of hyper power trip. We are well aware that the man we voted for is a human and is subject to faults and flaws as we we all. We didn’t vote for him because we think he is some sort of savior but because he better represented the policies and issues we favor. To give the impression that we now have to have some sort of “come to Jesus” moment and contemplate or defend our vote is puzzling to me. I wonder, did Simcha, who voted for Biden last term but has admitted she is not a “fan girl” feel the need to ask herself these same questions four years ago? Was she on some sort of power trip over the last four years because her candidate won? I will presumably assume she was not. So, why assume Trump voters are?
It is odd and it does make me wonder about the Catholic Trump voters that Simcha knows. I’m a Catholic and a Trump voter and not because I want power or a return to a Christian nation (uh, that ship has sailed).
I’m a Catholic Trump voter because I don’t want my sons going to war or our everyday items being made by Chinese slave labor. And I don’t want billions of our tax dollars and printed Fed funny money going to Ukraine or any other foreign blackhole when there are plenty of people struggling right here in our own country and our national debt is already insurmountable. I also value my first and second amendment rights and I saw those being trampled on by whoever was running the last administration, cuz we all know that it wasn’t doddering, child sniffy, handsy Joe Biden. But at least the people around ol’ Joe were completely upfront and honest about his mental issues, right? They’re nothing like those nasty people surrounding the felonious orange man.
It never occurred to me that Catholic Biden or Harris voters would be overflowing with glee when FEMA, as a matter of policy, was bypassing devastated Trump supporters in NC. And when it became apparent that conservative and/or contrary viewpoints were being silenced by Facebook and Twitter at the government bureaucracy’s behest, I didn’t assume liberal Christians were happy. And when SWAT teams were arresting pro-life protestors in front of their terrified children when a knock on the door would have done just as well, I didn’t think, “Oooh. I sure hope the liberal voting Christians aren’t rejoicing and instead are getting their souls right with God.” No. I assumed Catholic Biden and Harris voters and any human being of good will saw these and many, many other abuses of power as travesties.
I am a constitutional libertarian and I one hundred percent agree that we have to watch government grabbing power. Personally, I think (and hope, and pray) this new government will be less prone to government overreach than the last one. And lots of people disagree because Trump sucks. I got news for you. They all suck.
Yes! I wonder who the Catholic Trump voters Simcha addressed her piece to are as well. I have many friends who voted for Trump and many who voted for Harris and none of them come across to me as arrogant or power hungry. They simply had convictions that led them to vote for the candidate of their chocie. Am I, as a Trump voter, glad he won? Of course I am! Does that make me more need of being aware of the pitfalls and allure of power and greed than I would be if he had lost? Not at all. Why would it? What is is about my personal life and spirituality, strengths and weaknesses that have changed due to his winning? None! The faults and shortcomings I struggled with prior to the election are the same faults and shortcomings I struggle with in the present. Having the person I voted for win, does not make me any more or any less vulnerable to the dangers of wealth and greed that Simcha speaks of. I genuinely wonder what demographic she is speaking to in this piece…
Spot on.
Agree.
This expressed something I genuinely feel at this moment: I am heartsick and grieving for those who are vulnerable; I am deeply anxious about whether and how I and others will meet the moral trials to come (and praying for grace to carry us through); but I am also worried for those who are delighted. Mercy upon us all.
I have in some ways felt God’s closeness, too: I feel really grateful to worship a God who knew, as a person here on earth, humiliation at the hands of power, and who promised that mourning with those who mourn is a source of blessing now and always. I wish with every particle of my being that this election had gone differently, but I can see that there is grace to be found in the experience of defeat.
Excellent article. For everyone who thinks having the government be ‘Christian’ will make everyone virtuous, let me ask you what you think of the DMV. Or protesting your property taxes. Or getting a parking ticket. What happens when you make government religious, then religion just becomes another government department. Confessional states were probably more corrupt and immoral than secular ones throughout history. No country in Europe has church attendance above about 5% of the population. Is that what you want here in the US?
Honestly who in their right mind thinks there is this ‘Christian’ government coming to power? That seems delusional. I don’t know anyone who thinks this, and I live in a very conservative area in Texas where most voted for Trump simply for his policies. It seems a bit bigoted in the thinking of Trump supporters.
This was a well written article. Predictably, the people who choose to purposefully misunderstand the message will indeed not understand it, but don’t let that ever discourage you from writing.
Wise words.
I was a little wary about the direction this was headed. I’m no Trump supporter, I voted the Solidarity party, but I didn’t want to read a vicious rant against him either.
Instead you gave us all a very tempered and fair warning to guard against the corruption of power. Thank you.
Wow… Being grateful that the word “woman” actually means female again isn’t the same as trusting princes or being delusionally power-drunk.
This article looks like another case of accepting the false, surface narrative of “the evil/stupid people who voted for Trump…”
Did you read the article? The full article? She does not address specific policies. That’s not what it’s about.
That IS what it’s about. “Such awful policies” unspecified. “Such awful, unqualified appointees,” unspecified.
It’s self-righteous handwringing at folks who see the Trump election as a net positive. Considering the alternative of Harris and the twisted ideologies the current left/D is pushing I’m shocked and disappointed.
If there were specifics in this article; if there were clarifications instead of generalized accusations of moral dangers and moral failure, then we could have a conversation.
But no. Evil Trump and the people stupid enough to be glad he won.
Well said.
100%
This is Mark Shea lite…
We don’t need another misguided, virtue-signaling scold. Mark Shea already has that position too well covered.
Mark Shea has no business scolding anybody. He’s not even Catholic. Oh, sure, he claims that he is, but the problem with his claim is that he rejects Church teaching regarding the immorality of abortion. Shea supports abortion if it is done in the name of religion, specifically in the name of Jewish religious tradition.
Agree. Trump voters represents to me a group of people in our country who once again are seeking common sense and wanting law and order. Is Trump perfect? Obviously not, but he does seem to want to genuinely lift up the country again economically, make it safer here and abroad, and curb the extreme wokism that has been plaguing our culture. All this being said I do not believe it’s a case of a rising of a Christian government or the like, it’s simply going back to the fundamentals of a Judeo-Christian ethos that helped make our country exceptional in the first place.
Very well said