Fr. Michael J. Kavanaugh
(Bishop) Barron and (Cardinal) Dolan were not merely "engaged" with Trump. "On the Wednesday of Holy Week — Bishop Barron was at the White House, seated among administration loyalists at what was billed as an Easter prayer luncheon. The Trump team accidentally broadcast the event to the public, and what the video captured over 64 minutes will follow the Bishop for the rest of his episcopate. 
Let us be precise, because precision matters when a bishop’s integrity is at stake.
The president opened with approximately 45 minutes of political commentary before a single prayer was offered — attacking Democratic judges, mocking allied heads of state by name, and urging his audience of clergy to mobilize for the 2026 midterms.  Bishop Barron is the shepherd of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota. The president attacked Representative Ilhan Omar by name and denounced the governor and attorney general of Minnesota as “crooked” and “stupid.” The Bishop sat through every word and said nothing. 
Then came what can only be described as a theological catastrophe. Paula White-Cain told Trump directly: “No one has paid the price like you have paid the price. You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It’s a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us. Because of His resurrection, you rose up.”  These are not merely imprecise words. They are a Christological inversion — a blasphemous conflation of the passion of the Son of God with the political travails of an elected official. Bishop Barron stood on the stage. He said nothing. He then rose and offered his blessing.
I am not naive about the long tradition of Catholic bishops engaging the political order. The critical distinction is always this: does the Church speak to Caesar, or does it speak for Caesar? Does the bishop bring the Gospel into the hall of power, or does he lend the hall of power the legitimacy of the Gospel?
What the leaked video reveals is that there is not a scintilla of prophetic tension in Bishop Barron’s engagement with this administration."
Let us be precise, because precision matters when a bishop’s integrity is at stake.
The president opened with approximately 45 minutes of political commentary before a single prayer was offered — attacking Democratic judges, mocking allied heads of state by name, and urging his audience of clergy to mobilize for the 2026 midterms.  Bishop Barron is the shepherd of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota. The president attacked Representative Ilhan Omar by name and denounced the governor and attorney general of Minnesota as “crooked” and “stupid.” The Bishop sat through every word and said nothing. 
Then came what can only be described as a theological catastrophe. Paula White-Cain told Trump directly: “No one has paid the price like you have paid the price. You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It’s a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us. Because of His resurrection, you rose up.”  These are not merely imprecise words. They are a Christological inversion — a blasphemous conflation of the passion of the Son of God with the political travails of an elected official. Bishop Barron stood on the stage. He said nothing. He then rose and offered his blessing.
I am not naive about the long tradition of Catholic bishops engaging the political order. The critical distinction is always this: does the Church speak to Caesar, or does it speak for Caesar? Does the bishop bring the Gospel into the hall of power, or does he lend the hall of power the legitimacy of the Gospel?
What the leaked video reveals is that there is not a scintilla of prophetic tension in Bishop Barron’s engagement with this administration."
April 17, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Mark
Father Kavanaugh:
I did see the remarks from Paula White-Cain and Bishop Barron's prayer shortly after the event. Prompted by your post, I have now watched the entire event. For those who want to do the same, here is the YouTube link [you will need to rewind it back to the beginning; for some reason it starts in the middle]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_cXiFVJNs
Readers may want to play a game: How many lies can you spot in Trump’s remarks? Tip: Do some fact checking while you watch. Despite these gross violations of the Eighth Commandment, not to mention multiple sins against charity, all these faith leaders nevertheless anoint President Trump as God’s appointed and favored leader. Can it be a coincidence that the event occurred on April 1? Or, more seriously, that Trump only a few days later shares an AI image of himself as Jesus Christ?
Mark J.
I did see the remarks from Paula White-Cain and Bishop Barron's prayer shortly after the event. Prompted by your post, I have now watched the entire event. For those who want to do the same, here is the YouTube link [you will need to rewind it back to the beginning; for some reason it starts in the middle]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_cXiFVJNs
Readers may want to play a game: How many lies can you spot in Trump’s remarks? Tip: Do some fact checking while you watch. Despite these gross violations of the Eighth Commandment, not to mention multiple sins against charity, all these faith leaders nevertheless anoint President Trump as God’s appointed and favored leader. Can it be a coincidence that the event occurred on April 1? Or, more seriously, that Trump only a few days later shares an AI image of himself as Jesus Christ?
Mark J.
April 17, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Fr. Allan J. McDonald
As the “nones” grow, and they are many, they latch onto something to fill the void of true faith and morals. For the fanatics of politics, it is politics and the “moral” positions they hold and promote. For Democrats, it’s all about abortion, euthanasia and the Orwellian “gender affirmation care.” All of these are presented as health care and thus moral goodness, not the offense to God that these are. Prayer at abortion clinics for those who have and offer abortions is see as good. For MAGAs, a hawkishness that goes beyond war mongering occurs and the video indicates the hawkish language of the president and others of his moral ilk. But it isn’t true religion “moral ilk” but that of this particular expression of the Republican Party. What is worse, is the elevation of the leader to a cult status equivalent to the true worship that must be offered to God alone. True religion challenges both Democrats and Republicans/MAGAs, thus these parties manipulate religion for political purposes. MAGA has nothing on Democrats except MAGA’s language is more hawkish (uncharitable) and a bit more honest about the cult leader. This is what Pope Leo said in Africa and it applies here too: This calls us to foster inculturation of the Gospel. It also calls us to be vigilant, even regarding our own religious practices, so as not to fall into the trap of mixing the Catholic faith with other beliefs and traditions of an esoteric or Gnostic nature, which in reality often serve political and economic ends. Only God sets us free; only his word opens paths to freedom; only his Spirit makes us new people capable of changing this country.
1 comment:
The concepts of esotericism and Gnosticism are closely linked by their focus on hidden, internal, or "secret" knowledge as the primary path to spiritual enlightenment. While they overlap, they represent different scopes of religious and philosophical thought.
The Nature of Gnosticism
Gnosticism (from the Greek gnosis, meaning "knowledge") refers to a set of ancient religious movements that emerged alongside early Christianity. Its core nature is defined by:
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Direct Experiential Knowledge: Salvation is not achieved through faith or good works, but through gnosis—a direct, mystical experience or "inner knowing" of the divine.
Cosmic Dualism: Gnostics typically view the material world as flawed or evil, created by a lesser, often malevolent deity called the Demiurge.
The Divine Spark: Humans are believed to contain a "divine spark" trapped within the physical body. Enlightenment involves awakening this spark to return to the true, transcendent God.
Spiritual Hierarchy: Humans are often categorized into three types based on their spiritual capacity: Pneumatics (spiritual), Psychics (soulish/mental), and Hylics (material).
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Wikipedia
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The Nature of Esotericism
Esotericism is a broader category of "secret" traditions or teachings intended only for an inner circle of initiates. Its nature is characterized by:
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Wikipedia
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Hidden Wisdom: It suggests that the true meaning of reality or sacred texts is "veiled" and requires specialized training or initiation to understand.
Inner Transformation: Like Gnosticism, it prioritizes internal spiritual work over outward religious ritual.
Diverse Traditions: While Gnosticism is a specific type of esotericism, the term also encompasses Neoplatonism, Alchemy, Hermeticism, and modern movements like Rosicrucianism.
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Wisdom Library
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Modern Context: Warnings on "Esoteric or Gnostic Nature"
In contemporary settings, the phrase is often used to describe beliefs that blend mainstream religion with alternative spiritualities. For instance, Pope Leo, during a recent visit to Cameroon, warned against mixing the Catholic faith with traditions of an "esoteric or Gnostic nature," cautioning that such blends can distort religious teachings and be used for political or economic ends
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