Even Good Popes Make Bad Politicians, by Charles A. Coulombe

By Charles A. Coulombe, Crisis Magazine, September 5, 2019

Recent clashes between former Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and supporters of Pope Francis are a sort of microcosm for the divisions that turn the faithful against each other around the world.

Writing in the August 30 issue of Foreign Policy, Mattia Ferraresi opines:

It is a tale of two Catholic churches. One is focused on social justice, welcoming migrants, helping the poor, protecting the environment, defending the virtues of the European Union, and building bridges rather than walls…

The other Catholic Church stresses the importance of tradition and defending the so-called Judeo-Christian West from mass immigration, pledges to protect the traditional family, and fights permissive laws on abortion and LGBT rights.

Revealingly, Ferraresi declares that “among the weekly churchgoers, 33 percent voted for Salvini’s League, which was the most popular party among believers, followed by the Democratic Party (27 percent).” ….

Read more at  crisismagazine.com/2019/salvini-vs