‘One must choose the lesser evil’ - Breaking down Pope Francis’ U.S. election comments

[@aboydsto]

You never choose Evil. You choose the candidate that will preserve the most Good .

[@darby3385]

Thats what I do. I vote for the greater good> Example: Vote for the greater good in Peter Sonski with the American solidarity party who does not participate in intrinsicaly evil acts such as abortion rather than voting for Trump or Harris who do aka "the lesser of two evils".

[@mudbug7175]

How about choose the one who will uphold the Constitution?

[@andy41417]

@@darby3385 Nonsense. Your vote will be welcomed by Harris as it will make it easier for her to gain power. Power which she will exercise in a dangerous fashion far more than Trump. This is critical in swing states. Illinois is not a swing state so culpability for failure to vote for the candidate more likely to preserve the good is lessened so your vote could be to send a message. Otherwise you only gratify your own misguided ego.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

@@darby3385 I can see how happy you are with yourself in throwing your vote away on someone who doesn't have a chance to win. I assume if Caligula with the pearl earrings gets in, you will continue in that pride. You might as well have just stuck your head in the sand.

[@jonathanhuang2955]

An unborn child is the most vulnerable, the most innocent, the most voiceless and the most in need of support. Abortion is the worst form of killing, way worse than killing someone like me who is a sinner, has committed and will continue to commit all sorts of sins in the near future.

[@inaantao2792]

All killing is wrong… Pro Life is From natural birth to natural death Abortion, Euthanasia, Death Penalty n Killing with guns are all sinful. So help us God!

[@texasson7950]

Interestingly, I don't recall "Pope" Francis publicly calling out so-called Catholic Joe Biden, who blatantly advocates for abortion rights. I've become VERY DISILLUSIONED with Bergoglio's brand of Catholicism!!! Frankly, I'm not sure if I will remain in the Catholic Church.

[@DENISEGirolamo-qw2xk]

The Holy Fsther is said to have nade a statement a long time ago, He said it was his Parishes Bidhop to decide what to do

[@IoannesN]

Please don't leave the Catholic Church! The actions of the Holy Father may be questionable, but leaving the Holy Church is never an option. Popes come and go, but the Holy Church remains and with her the invaluable treasures of salvation she holds for you and for her sons and daughters.

[@luzvargas76]

Abortion is not just murder it is torture, most horrible form of torture in the whole world.

[@alexisrodrigues4767]

Abortion proposition in any manner either by act, consent, will or help, will get automatic excommunication as per Canon Law 1397. Rest can be argued with Almighty Judge at the very moment of death, if the reasoning is intact, but no, our soul will inherit the damnation.

[@davidjones5547]

What do you tell a woman who has an ectopic pregnancy who could very well die, not to mention having the baby born dead? Should this woman be denied an abortion and an opportunity to try to have a child down the road? It is not Christian not to have certain exceptions when it comes to abortion.

[@alexisrodrigues4767]

@@davidjones5547 That is a good question. How about an instance of a mother who sacrificed herself for the sake of her baby being drowned. In the end you can question God if you can, else, it is not possible to get salvation if a person commits abortion, even if her own life is at stake and her baby's. Who ever tries to save oneself will lose it eternally. Do you think that person can come out? Rest you better question Almighty at the moment of your death, if you have reasoning, but, only your soul will inherit to be joined by your body at the end of time. That is horror and terror.

[@ThomasWarren-j8i]

@@davidjones5547 I am a physician so please hear me. There is not a single state in the US that will deny the appropriate surgical treatment of an ectopic pregnancy, even the states with the most restrictive abortion statutes. To make these baseless claims is to believe the lie being propagated by Harris and most other democrats. No one in the Pro-Life movement is proposing to deny these women the treatment they need. Please, do not believe this willful lie.

[@randall8379]

@@davidjones5547 My understanding is that the Catholic position is that you cannot take a life in an attempt to save a life. Groups like the Billy Graham Organization justify abortion in the case of rape or incest. I believe this interpretation reveals a lack of understanding of the fundamental right to life.

[@michaelwoods4495]

Indeed, we owe our guests hospitality. And who are guests? Guests are those who are invited. That leaves the question of dealing with intruders unanswered.

[@pattican700]

intruders = invaders

[@doloresikbaker2371]

Chaos in immigration ..is not correct.

[@FranklinKaithathara]

Citizen of USA should concentrate on Democracy & Constitutional Rites and Obligations . Rule of Law is most important. Personal integrity matters much for a President to be. Should have also good knowledge of Civil & Criminal Laws. Socially speaking President should have empathy not only to poor & middle class also towards poor and needy countries . Should be Patriotic while respect and tie up with friendly Nations. Vote for such candidate. Our president should not be a Clone or laughing stock to foreign countries.

[@inaantao2792]

Well said!!! America is a Secular Country.

[@randall8379]

You are right. Trump negotiated a peace treaty (Abraham Accords) between several Muslim countries and Israel. A remarkable achievement. He kept the peace.

[@dianebannister4591]

Franklin, great post regarding qualities a president of the US should have. A person saying merely that he is "pro life" does not qualify a person for all the many responsibilities of that position.

[@dianebannister4591]

​@@randall8379However, Trump tried to overthrow our Democracy on January 6th, 2021. He let his supporters trash the Capitol and beat police officers. Over 140 officers were injured, some with permanent disabilities. He sat and watched it all on TV for over 3 hours instead of calling on his supporters to go home. He broke the oath he took to abide by the Constitution. He didn't protect the USA that day. Peace should begin at home. That's most important.

[@justme-zm2vv]

I agree with your comments. But the clergy has no right to meddle in politics. As this Bishop has always made it clear who he supports. KEEP this to yourself. they were instrumental in putting him in office they were safe behind their churches. It was US that had to suffer under His iron fist. He is like Hitler and deep down inside they know it. He plays us catholics by claiming to be religious and anti abortion. Really? And President Biden is catholic and he goes to confession so who are you to judge him. Aren't his sins forgiven? And besides the USA IS NOT 100% Catholic so he CANNOT be expected to rule this country made of different religious beliefs on his personal ones. I'm ashamed of this and other clergy who so openly promote the adulterer, treasonous, racist, vindictive , bully who degrades women, the handicapped, POWs, those that didn't make it home. I agree with FranklinKaithathara's comments. Our country is not run on one issue. Never has never will. And in closing I just want too say once these children are born did this clown protect them through food programs , libraries, better schools, protection and family programs.? NO! trump DIVIDED our Nation and alienated our allies, yet praises hitler, putin, and korean dictators. And you cant see through all his bs. Do your homework clergy and the blind sheep who follow so blindly. Yall make me embarrassed to be catholic.

[@stephenyoung8069]

The church is supposed to teach morals, not shrug shoulders and say "up to you". Why have leaders in the church that don't lead or instruct?

[@JasonPelzel]

Problem is that the POTUS doesn't have really any power by themselves to do anything definitive about abortion. They do however have meaningful powers towards immigration.

[@upfromdown4573]

I think it is kind of cowardly to not say voting for the pro abortion candidate is the greater evil.

[@SalT-u5i]

Both are pro abortion

[@jerrytang3146]

The next Pope should be charismatic BUT CONSERVATIVE. This will draw back the faithful who are leaderless.

[@inaantao2792]

Our Pope is charismatic… walks the talk n pastoral .., Doesn’t believe in luxuries… ❤️the Pope. We need to pray for Pope Francis… All of us…

[@dianebannister4591]

​@@inaantao2792Yes, I pray 🙏 for Pope Francis. He is a good Pope and also needs prayers.

[@ol_gunner13b40]

Why vote for "the lesser of two evils" when you can vote for a write-in; Jesus Christ.

[@davidjones5547]

Then why vote? You are simply throwing your vote away.

[@ol_gunner13b40]

@@davidjones5547 When will people stop putting more faith in their leaders than in God?

[@GloriaJFetta]

What does the word illegal mean. Come through the front door and be an asset to society. Do you understand?

[@jamesv2471]

​@@ol_gunner13b40We have to be realistic here. In this country, there are only 2 options as far as political parties: Democrat or Republican. The one that aligns better with Christianity is the Republican party. That's the party that has my vote.

[@ol_gunner13b40]

@@jamesv2471 There are not two "parties". There is one party, the uniparty. One would think people would realize this by now. This country is run by oligarchs, as in, big pharma, Blackrock, etc. Trump is a mere aberration that the oligarchs will negate if in office. The lawsuits are already well planned, in advance, to bog him down so he accomplishes nothing. If people want their "country back", nothing short of what was done in 1776 is required. Don't fool yourself or be deluded. The one step forward the country takes are always negated by two steps back. Look at where we are today. You think anything will change for the better? No, it's only going to get worse because men have put their faith in man and science (covid proved that) and not God. Really, I do vote and I vote and pray for the "party" that appears to promote life and respect for God and the Church.

[@asvintageelectronics]

Very well said. There are more than two candidates! I am doing nearly the same in Indiana! I think the error is that many people take people at their words without fact checking. Supporting Free IVF treatments is not pro-life. shutting down the argument of a national abortion ban is also not pro-life -- what they *are* is political expediency.

[@LilianHortillosa]

Amen

[@jw12121212]

Wow! Good job, Bishop! I appreciate your clarity, the cogency of your thinking, and the care you took to communicate church teaching in a manner that is authentic and sensible. God bless you and your good work.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

Only one candidate can stop Caligula with the pearl earrings.

[@John-zn4lp]

If both are evil, you don't choose either one.

[@JoAnnFuir]

Vote for the greater good. Vote for Religious Liberty and other Freedoms in America. Vote Red!

[@John-zn4lp]

We have free will, and the person getting an abortion and the one performing it are the ones committing the sin.

[@JoAnnFuir]

Murder is against God's law and human law. Abortion is murder!

[@rafaelwilks]

Vote Orange - vote American Solidarity Party 🧡🧡🧡

[@tirhashabrham2943]

no fear of God --no truth

[@DominusTecum316]

1759 CCC- "An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention" (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means.

[@kevincassidy7233]

You left about the part where Pope Benedict said voting for a candidate supporting abortion precisely for that reason is wrong, but voting for the same candidate for other resons is "permissible in the presence of proporational reasons."

[@harrietl2869]

TRUMP 2024

[@mudbug7175]

I"ve asked this to Catholics many times. Still haven't gotten an answer. What is your Constitutional argument against abortion? Do Catholics even consider the Constitution when casting a vote?

[@radarhec]

We all have sinned an fell short of the glory of GOD . A free land gives us a choice ! To a forgiving Savior to make up our own minds . Not a dictatorship ! Guess who wants to be a dictator ? Worse of two evils ,! Father ?

[@carlosremon4347]

There no doubt aboit. Our Pope is the autohity of our church and it is our obilgation to follow our Pope who is the guided by the Holy Spirit. Jesus taugh that we are free to act. After all we have the ten Commandments and the precept of the Catholic Chuch, and will be judge when we pass into our next life when we will answer withou bias and in the spirit of truth.

[@jayarajubodanapati4211]

Why do you think of evil ,the negitivity

[@johndobozy6681]

Dear PAPA--Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor. Who is our neighbor?? =people live around us in the 'neighborhood !!--- Where do they live??= on their part of the turf=the neighborhood===the other side of the fence. We help each other and love each other. BUT if they come to live in our house,the bond of love gets tested and taken advantage off.They are no longer "NEIGHBORS"

[@paulfranco7533]

The Roman Catholic Church and its leadership should not be promoting or endorsing politics and political parties explicitly or implicitly. The prelate currently speaking in this podcast is implicitly promoting the Maga Republican platform, especially on the issues of abortion and immigration. Ethically, the Church and its leadership should stress the mandatum: Follow one's own conscience in such matters. ONE'S CONSCIENCE IS VOX DEI!

[@jacquelinenguyen759]

Catholic is deviated from its orthodoxy by becoming a MAGA cult.

[@mvsgeek]

The word deport triggers me. Please use the word "Repatriate".

[@CeciliaThompson-g9y]

Adults who want to abort their children should First be shown d process of abortion on d child 2. Should be asked to undergo d process of abortion without anesthesia. So they can feel d same pain d child is subjected. 3. Why should d sinful, irresponsible mother be spared pain wen d innocent is massacred? 4. Why do women not think that sex is just for pleasure? Wen they know that is how they came into this world. And they are glad to be enjoying this life and extremely happy they were not destroyed Tru abortion? The man needs to be held accountable for that child's life too. They are always getting away. This whole break down in societal morality is because of d destruction of the spirituality in d family unit. We all have to take responsibility for our action to prevent further deterioration of d family fabric.

[@mmouseav8r402]

I’m voting for Trump, he will do the least harm.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

The fact that only three people here giving your comment a thumbs up, myself included, is a terrible sign that many Catholics would rather have the Communist Kamala Harris as president. So, many Catholics support the Democratic Party and abortion that it is very sad. I guess they are so proud of Catholic Joe Biden and all that he has accomplished for America.

[@kathleenhulen4875]

I feel you can't be a Demicrate and be Catholic....My opinion.😮

[@websurfin9575]

MAGA 2024!

[@rjbroaddus7167]

It’s still picking evil though

[@randall8379]

The Pope said that abortion is MURDER. He also stated that deportation is against life. Even if the latter were the Catholic teaching, which it is not as His Eminence has pointed out, logic would dictate that the lesser of the evils would be the candidate who is opposed to abortion and not the one who advocates it. The real issue is not that of deportation, rather the continuation of an open border policy that is out of control and causing social disruption in communities across the US. The Pope does not seem to understand that by making it so easy to enter the US, millions of people have taken enormous risks in their treks from countries in Central America and elsewhere across the desert to the US. Children are exposed to any number of horrors, including death. Women are abused. Drugs flow freely into the US resulting in a dramatic increase in addiction. That the Holy Father could equate border control or even possible deportation (which the catechism allows when governments legitimately deem it to be necessary) is nothing less than astonishing.

[@inaantao2792]

Using guns to kill is not murder?

[@randall8379]

@@inaantao2792 Who is using guns? 'Coyotes' smuggling people?

[@randall8379]

@@inaantao2792 Who is using guns? 'Coyotes' smuggling people?

[@alanjely]

actually it is murder, doesn’t take away from the fact that abortion is also murder, so both are grave sin,

[@SalT-u5i]

Both are pro abortion

[@borg972]

The holy father pope Francis is both far wiser and also a better man than this bishop, who goes out of his way to diminish the pope's simple and correct message. The bishop tells you to care only for creating new people, and care less or none at all for the suffering and hardships of people who already exist. This is a morally corrupt stance from a well fed and careless man. I wish the US would have better religious leaders, more like the good pope Frances 🙏

[@jessiekenel-pierre784]

Bishop What is the best way for the Catholic Church to insinuate to vote for Trump ?

[@Ronbarno]

Trump 2024 JMJ God is good.

[@davidjones5547]

So what you are saying is that God is on Trump's side? That is clueless and utterly stupid thinking.

[@paulmitchell2916]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a conscientious choice not to cast a vote for president. It's a mystery to me why anybody thinks voting is always a moral obligation.. It's just the same as any other situation we might come across in life. If there is a moral action available, we take it.. and if there is no moral action available we do nothing and leave the result to God. I think that very likely is the case this election.. So I'll vote for my local issues, but not for the president.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

The Church teaches that it is a moral obligation.

[@paulmitchell2916]

@@EricBrunoBorgman For many centuries the Church taught that obeying hereditary monarchs was obligatory and democracy was denounced as a Masonic notion, which, in fact, it was. So if the Church does teach what you say (you don't give any citation) their authority would be pretty questionable. My belief is that if I inform myself about the ballot, then make the best vote I can I'll have fulfilled my duty. But if supporting a candidate is a positive evil, I can't do it. The "lesser evil" logic only applies if there are truly only two choices, but that's not the case in voting, because we can make the choice not to vote.

[@loradurling2358]

I don’t agree with abortion. But I don’t want to vote for Trump.

[@Ignatiusthebuch]

Pride.

[@inaantao2792]

@@Ignatiusthebuch Let God do the judging… You are not the judge nor the jury!

[@randall8379]

Why not?

[@Ignatiusthebuch]

@@inaantao2792 we can judge, just not condemn. Read a book.

[@inaantao2792]

@@Ignatiusthebuch Judge ye not …lest ye be judged!

[@loradurling2358]

B I don’t think Trump is a good choice for the White House. He has the ideals of a dictator he wants to do what’s good for himself not for the United States, so what should I do not vote for anybody I don’t agree with abortion, but I do agree with other what she wants to do for the country to help people make more money to help people be on a good dental medical plan to help businesses while the other candidate wants to help nobody but himself.

[@patrickparsons2378]

And Harris is a complete loon, who supports one of the most evil ideologies, Wokeism, and the most evil, Nazism, and who will get everyone killed... I think we know who is truly evil and who intends to destroy the US.

[@fraspqr]

My question to you is.....why hasnt she done it yet? She doesnt care about the american ppl. Do more digging. Why she is backing away from interviews, trump is going from town to town to speak with the people directly. He is what the white house need at the moment

[@jamesv2471]

With which presidency was our country better, with the Trump presidency or the Biden presidency? When did the world experience more peace with each of those presidencies? Voting for Harris will be the same or worse than voting for Biden. Trump is for our nation, he wants for us to be energy independent, he wants businesses to thrive. Trump has my vote 100% of the way. I can't even think of what the next 4 years will be should Harris win the election.

[@starbuono3333]

Are you Catholic ? I mean a PRACTISING CATHOLIC ?

[@inaantao2792]

@@jamesv2471 Over One million died under Trump!!! Get the facts!!!

[@jtat7122]

Thank you, Bishop 🙏 People flee from their countries because of corrupt or tyrannical governments. How America can take care all of them? The loving and best way to help is to make those governments respect human rights to take care for their own people. We must make our country wealthy and strong so we can negotiate and have positive effects on those governments.

[@alexisrodrigues4767]

Most of these countries are Catholic countries and the people chose the corrupt rulers.

[@JaylenPotts-o7t]

Great to see Pope Francis he's very special and spiritual

[@hayanah7525]

Do you think you possess a soul or a life force? Catholics, like followers of any other religion, should refrain from engaging in politics. Many religions believe they hold the exclusive truth; who are they fooling? My point is that no religious group should dictate how you live your life on Earth, unless they claim to be a Divine entity, which they are not. The soul or life force within each person is part of the fabric of the Universe. Consider this for a moment. I refer to this as the Source, while others may call it God, the Divine, the Creator, or Universal Energy. The Source is indifferent to your race, gender, religion, or wealth; it only cares that you fulfill your soul's purpose on Earth. You don’t need intermediaries telling you what that purpose should be. The Source desires for the soul to learn, experience life, and grow, not to follow religious leaders who seek money, power, and control. If you have faith, you should understand that a soul requires a vessel to fulfill its purpose, which is a contract between the Source and that soul, not with another human. If something happens to that vessel, the soul will simply find another. We are more than our physical forms; we are unique souls, and we need to look within to discover our Higher Being. The Source does not judge us; we judge ourselves based on whether we fulfill our purpose. Human judgment, often tied to religion, is a flawed concept. The true evil lies in what humans do to one another and to the planet, driven by the pursuit of money, power, and control. Those who believe they can control others are mistaken; the only thing you can control is yourself, and in the universe, nothing goes unnoticed. I have a distaste for religious organizations because they often become corrupt over time. Remember, all sacred texts were written by humans, and it’s certain that they have been altered to serve specific agendas over the years. The Pope should not make comments about the lesser of two evils, just like people in glass houses should not throw stones, he is not the Source. Human must advance pass these concepts that one path is the only path to the Source, because all paths are good and right if they do no harm. I think the Earth has seen to much violence and death all in the name of a Religion. That is not honoring the Source it is the exact opposite, so in order for Humankind to survive and our children to have a future we must grow and advance, and move forward.

[@Vicky-rz8dd]

Sure avoid the commandment that came from God Himself, "Love thy neighbor as thy self" The Catechism is written by people such as yourself Bishop, the commandments were written by God Himself and Jesus even stressed the importance of Love thy neighbor in the Gospels.

[@alexisrodrigues4767]

Thou shall not commit murder is 5th commandment, which is also in the duties towards neighbor. Learn the Catechism first. If you cannot feed yourself, you are not forced by God to look after others in order to kill oneself. That is suicide which is intrinsic evil calling for damnation.

[@jtat7122]

“Love others as ourselves.” We don’t do illegal things, we teach our kids to be grateful, to be responsible, and uphold their dignity. So we love others the same way. My kids don’t have much good food, my neighbor has party with plenty of food, I don’t send my kids to their houses to make others feed my kids, nor pay for our medical bills. People are poor and suffering not because their countries do not have resources but because of corrupt governments. The loving and best way to help is to make those governments respect human rights to take care for their own people. We must make our country wealthy and strong so we can negotiate and have positive effects on those governments. We are free to love and care for others with our own money. Just go to sponsor some if you want to. Government does not make money, and the US president’s responsibilities are to lead and take care of Americans first just like you have to take care for your children first. If a kind heart person has money and wants to build a place for the unvested immigrants/homeless to stay in your neighborhood, would you agree?

[@specialteams28]

Banning the murder of preborn humans is the ultimate way to love our neighbors.

[@patrickobrien8060]

Two years ahead of you at Quigley, Bishop Paprocki. Alas, I think Francis is an antipope.

[@jacquelinenguyen759]

My family and I are all anti-abortion advocates, but we will vote for Democrat ticket of Harris and Walz based on our strict adherence of GOD'S DIVINE BIBLICAL TEACHINGS of Love, Truth and Compassion.

[@JoAnnFuir]

Kamala is a proabortion Marxist politician. She has no compassion for unborn babies. Waltz is also in favor of abortion without any limits. A vote for them is a vote for abortion on demand and Marxism.

[@FrankKirby-h9p]

Ha,ha,ha you are easily duped.

[@prapaisritantigranont8427]

Vote Trump then 🙏🙏🙏

[@hilda.rbarbieri7634]

Your Eminence ,Am sorry. Abortion is a personal sin . It is killing . It is also not a civil. rule every body has the liberty to do good or t he opposite. God gave as freedom.

[@JoAnnFuir]

God commands us not to kill. Thou shall not kill!

[@oswaldo66]

Is this propaganda on behalf of Trump?

[@ThomasWarren-j8i]

No

[@John-zn4lp]

If religion got out of politics, the world would be a better place. Pray that God puts the right people in place. If not, it's part of his plan.

[@JammieFortier]

don't take political or governance advice from religious leaders.

[@loradurling2358]

B I don’t think Trump is a good choice for the White House. He has the ideals of a dictator he wants to do what’s good for himself not for the United States, so what should I do not vote for anybody

[@specialteams28]

Tell us you follow and trust the main stream media without telling us g us you follow and trust the mainstream media.

[@ChristopherParks-w8j]

❤😊❤😊❤

[@KimberlyPalmetto]

They are the same Trump and Harris

[@michellemcdermott2026]

Not even close

[@alanjely]

if that helps you sleep at night, but you will be judged by the Lord accordingly and his Law is alot different than ours

[@TonyJohnson-t1k]

He is the false prophet

[@johndobozy6681]

Dear PAPA----Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor. Who is our neighbor?? =people live around us in the 'neighborhood !!-- Where do they live??= on their part of the turf=the neighborhood===the other side of the fence. We help each other and love each other. BUT if they come to live in our house,the bond of love gets tested and taken advantage off.They are no longer "NEIGHBORS"