Rome
CNN
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Prominent Catholic Church leaders and allies of Pope Leo XIV have strongly criticised the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, describing immigrants as “inhuman” and “morally abomination.”
In a broad interview with CNN, Cardinal Robert McKelloy, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., expressed strong opposition to Trump’s major tax and spending bills, warned us about Israeli attacks on Iran, and discussed his views on the role of women in the church.
“It’s right to be able to control our borders, but what’s going on is far beyond that,” Cardinal told CNN on Tuesday. “It’s an indiscriminate deportation of men, women, children and family masses literally torn apart and intended to do so.”
McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Archdiocese of the US capital in January, the month of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. He was one of more than 100 Cardinals who participated in the Conclave, which elected the first American Pope in May.
Speaking to Rome CNN on the same day Trump visited Florida’s immigration detention center known as the “Alligator Alcatraz,” McKelloy said the “mechanism” used was a “creation of fear” among 10 million undocumented people in the United States.
“This is not only incompatible with Catholic teaching, it is inhumane and morally disgusting,” he added.
“In the scene that happened in Los Angeles, it’s not someone who can go down to the car wash and the Costco parking lot and chase after those convicted butlers.”
Trump says his strict immigration policies are needed to keep criminals away from the streets of the United States and to ease the burden on American institutions. He embraced the ominous image of an immigrant detention facility surrounded by swanplanes and reptiles.
“It is known as ‘Crocodile Alcatraz’. This is very appropriate. Because I look outside and not a place I don’t want to go,” Trump said Tuesday.
McElroy argued that the government has the right to deport those convicted of “serious crimes,” adding that the issue of immigration is rooted in the American political system, which has failed to immigration laws and reforms over the past 15 years.
But McElroy said people are “even fearing going to church” after the Trump administration removed a policy that prohibits immigration agents from arresting them in sensitive areas like the church.
“What’s behind this?” he asked, referring to stricter immigration policies and enforcement tactics. “I fear in the minds of many people pushing it, one of the main things behind it is the feeling that people who are coming to our country are a different kind now.
“And that was a great theme of American culture and history through the immigration of our country. When the Irish people came, when the Italians came, when Paul came, the reserve was the same as ‘These are inferior people.’ That’s what’s happening now…it’s anger. ”
Cardinal, a former bishop in San Diego, is one of several Catholic bishops who opposed Trump’s migration policy.
But Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic who converted in 2019, suggested earlier this year that the bishop’s criticism of Trump administration’s policies was motivated by economic interests as the church receives federal funds for resettlement of immigrants. McElroy fought back in the interview, saying that government funding is not enough to cover the program and that the church must pick up the shortage.
“It’s people who say the church is not doing mathematics about what the government has contributed to these programs,” he added.
Since his election, Pope Leo has sought respect for immigrants, saying he was “a descendant of immigrants and chose immigrants.” McElroy said Leo XIV spoke of immigration in a “universal” context, but “If you see what he is saying, it has a clear meaning to us.”
During the interview, Cardinal McElroy criticized Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” This is a drastic law to extend tax cuts and increase funds for national security, partially paid by the biggest cuts to the federal social safety net in decades. He recently signed a letter with other bishops and faith leaders opposed to the bill.
He said millions will “finally lose healthcare due to this bill, so billionaires will be able to receive a bigger tax cut.”
In a statement, White House spokesman Abigail Jackson declined to criticize. It was especially leveled in Trump’s agenda bill.
“The Americans elected President Trump, not the Archbishop of DC, as president,” Jackson said. “President Trump is fulfilling the mandate that the American people gave him in November — he’s turning his campaign promises into law, as hints, social security, taxes on overtime are not law.
Regarding Pope Leo’s church reforms and priorities, McElroy spoke about the importance of dealing with the role of women.
He said the topic was a “very powerful flow” during Synod, a recent Vatican rally. The meeting looked at church renewal questions and looked at ways to include more women in their decision-making roles.
“The main thrust must see that women are “not” and ask why? ”
McElroy is a supporter of women as authors. The butler acts like a priest, but does not say the public and hears confessions. “That’s a controversial question within the church,” he admits, “but I think it’s important to move in that direction.”
Cardinal McElroy’s candidacy for Washington, DC, was strengthened by a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University and was awarded for a dissertation on moral norms in foreign policy.
He told CNN that recent US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites could encourage other countries to develop nuclear weapons to protect themselves. He said it was “very important” to maintain the “non-proliferation” of nuclear weapons.
“My great fear is that the lesson the country will take away from this intervention in Iran is that if they have nuclear weapons, they will not be the subject of this type of attack,” he said. “I think that’s an open question. Does this encourage more spread as the incentives are now stronger or more clear? That’s very ominous.”
Finally, Cardinal said he believes that Chicago-born Pope Leo will visit his home.
“When he comes to the US, I think it will be a great moment for our country.”
