The
Washington Post today reports that an article in the influential Jesuit magazine
La Civilta Cattolica-- whose content is approved by the Vatican Secretariat of State-- is critical of conservative Catholic support for the evangelical political agenda in the United States. The article is authored by the journal's editor and by a Presbyterian pastor who edits of the Argentine edition of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. The article (
full text in Italian) whose title translates to
Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism: A Surprising Ecumenism, is summarize by the Post:
The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor of the influential Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, said a shared desire for political influence between “evangelical fundamentalists” and some Catholics has inspired an “ecumenism of conflict” that demonizes opponents and promotes a “theocratic type of state.”
Spadaro also took aim at conservative religious support for President Donald Trump, accusing activists of promoting a “xenophobic and Islamophobic vision that wants walls and purifying deportations.”...
Spadaro specifically criticized the far-right Catholic American media organization ChurchMilitant.com. Spadaro said the media outlet framed the presidential election as a “spiritual war” and Trump’s ascent to the presidency as “a divine election.”
Spadaro’s critique also appears aimed in part at America’s Catholic bishops, who have fought for religious exemptions from gay marriage laws and other measures church leaders consider immoral, and have often characterized those with opposing views as wishing to persecute Christians.