Donald Trump’s victory also bears the signature of American Catholics: 56% of them voted for the tycoon. Despite this, the Holy See’s reaction to the outcome of the polls was lukewarm. What scares the Vatican is the policy on migrants promised by the Republicans. Yet, not everyone in the Church thinks this way. Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former prefect for the doctrine of the faith, is far from disappointed by the result that arrived from overseas.
Your Eminence, did you expect that the vote of American Catholics could help bring Trump back to the White House?
“Yes. It was clear to me that the position on ethical issues would be decisive for the Catholic electorate because Kamala Harris was a strongly anti-life candidate. The recommended criterion remains that of voting for pro-life politicians.”
How do you judge the presidency of the second Catholic to arrive in the White House?
«Negatively. It is not enough to present yourself as Catholic if you then adopt anti-Christian policies.”
What would have happened in the States if Harris had won?
«On his part we saw a tendency towards totalitarianism. The risk of having a state ready to define the boundaries of religious freedom would have been real. You cannot govern with ideology, as Harris would have done. The State is not a divine institution and we are not in the world to serve it.”
Have you had the opportunity to meet the president-elect during your travels in America?
«Yes, once about two years ago. During our meeting he showed me his respect for the Catholic faith.”
The president-elect is not Catholic, but his deputy JD Vance is.
«I met him too. He spoke to me about his personal journey and his difficult family told in “American Elegy”. Vance told me that his encounter with Catholicism allowed him to overcome the problems he carried over from childhood.”
The Holy See reacted coldly to the election result. Parolin recalled the differences with the Pope on migration policies…
«The Church must defend the human dignity of all men, including illegal migrants. However, it must be remembered that no one has the right to live where they want. Intervening on illegal immigration is not at all against human rights.”
Is repatriating an illegal migrant anti-Christian conduct?
“Absolutely not. Faced with illegal immigration, a State has the right to send people back to their countries of origin if they do not risk their lives there. We must help developing countries, but we cannot think, for example, that the entire population of Africa can move to Europe to solve problems. A state has the right to defend its borders and restore legality. Those who are dying at sea and are in an emergency situation must be saved, but the rules for establishing legal immigration are a completely different matter.”
Speaking of Europe: Italian President Giorgia Meloni invited her European counterparts not to be afraid of Trump. Do you agree?
«Very strange that they are afraid of Trump and not dictators! Don’t they accept the vote of a free country? Meloni did well, but it doesn’t surprise me: she is a very clear and prudent woman. This is why it is very popular in Italy.”
Meloni, like Trump, has also been criticized for her views on illegal immigration. What do you think?
«The government is responsible for the Italian territory. Therefore he has the right to solve problems related to mass immigration by all legal means.
I repeat: there is no natural right to live where you want.”
Returning to America: what do you think of Trump’s habit of mentioning God both during the election campaign and immediately after his victory?
«Talking about God in public debate does not mean exploitation. I prefer representatives of public life who refer to God in their speeches than those who behave as if they were God or as if their party were God.”
#Catholics #chose #Trump #taboos #migrants #Tempo
**Interview with Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller on American Politics and the Catholic Vote**
**Interviewer:** Your Eminence, the recent election results seem to point towards a significant shift in American politics, especially among Catholic voters. Did you anticipate that American Catholics would play a crucial role in Trump’s resurgence?
**Cardinal Müller:** Yes, I did. The stance on ethical issues, particularly regarding life, was pivotal for the Catholic electorate. Kamala Harris’s strongly anti-life policies made it clear that a pro-life candidate would attract significant support from Catholic voters.
**Interviewer:** How do you evaluate the presidency of Joe Biden, particularly as he is the second Catholic president in U.S. history?
**Cardinal Müller:** Unfortunately, I must judge it negatively. It is insufficient to identify as Catholic while pursuing policies that contradict Christian values.
**Interviewer:** If Harris had won, what kind of America would we be facing today?
**Cardinal Müller:** A Biden-Harris administration would likely lean towards totalitarianism, infringing upon religious freedoms. Governance based on ideology rather than a moral and ethical framework is unacceptable. The State serves the people and not the other way around.
**Interviewer:** Have you personally interacted with President Biden since he took office?
**Cardinal Müller:** I had the opportunity to meet him about two years ago. During our conversation, he expressed respect for the Catholic faith, which was encouraging.
**Interviewer:** While Biden is not Catholic, JD Vance, his vice president, is. What can you tell us about your discussions with him?
**Cardinal Müller:** I also met with JD Vance. He shared his personal journey and struggles, as detailed in his book, “American Elegy.” His embrace of Catholicism has played a transformative role in his life.
**Interviewer:** The Holy See’s response to the election was quite muted, especially regarding immigration policies. What is your stance on illegal immigration and the role of the Church?
**Cardinal Müller:** The Church is indeed called to uphold the dignity of all individuals, including illegal migrants. However, it is essential to recognize that no one has an inherent right to settle anywhere. Addressing illegal immigration does not contradict human rights.
**Interviewer:** Do you believe it’s anti-Christian to deport illegal migrants?
**Cardinal Müller:** Absolutely not. A State has the legitimate right to repatriate individuals when their lives are not in danger upon return. The focus should be on assisting developing countries while maintaining lawful immigration practices.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Your Eminence, for your insights on these pressing issues. Your perspective as a Church leader holds significant weight in today’s complex political climate.
**Cardinal Müller:** Thank you for having me. It is crucial that faith and moral principles guide our political discourse.
