Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Your feature letter from Ms Bernadette Fitzgerald in the edition of November 24 (“Why Catholics should welcome Trump”) repeats the idea that, as long as a person is pro-life (i.e., specifically opposed to abortion), this alone trumps (no pun intended) all faults. This is utter nonsense. First, let me be clear, I am avowedly pro-life. However, for me, this means that I am against abortion, opposed to euthanasia and so-called assisted dying, and I am against the use of the death penalty.
Like many Americans, and especially, like many American presidents, Trump is in favour of the death penalty. So is Vice-President elect Pence (who is also praised in the letter). While any use of the death penalty is to be deplored and condemned, in the US they have no problem putting to death people with confirmed intellectual disabilities. Trump and Pence are opposed to gun control, despite the death that is wreaked on communities, sometimes schools and colleges, so often. Where is pro-life in any of this?
Of course, the issues with Trump go well beyond his views on abortion or the death penalty. His attitude towards women is from the gutter, his anti-Muslim rhetoric is appalling, and his racist attitudes towards Mexicans have no place in this world, let alone the White House. None of this should be acceptable or welcomed by anyone, Catholics included.
So no, Catholics should NOT welcome Trump. Perhaps he is against abortion (it isn’t clear that anything the man says is true) but I for one cannot welcome someone who can approve putting human beings to death and who will bring so many harmful and terrible ideas into the White House.
Yours etc.,
T. Gerard Bennett,
Bunbrosna, Co. Westmeath.