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Christian leaders praise their access to President Donald Trump, but what are they doing with that access?
Speaking about Trump's White House Faith Office, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, told The New York Times (gift link [ [link removed] ]), "It comes with unprecedented access and an unparalleled commitment to affirming our Judeo-Christian value system."
"Access" was a word I heard a lot during the first Trump campaign and administration in debates over Christian political alliances. For instance, when Russell Moore, then head of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, criticized Trump publicly, concerns were raised over Southern Baptist access to the White House. Or when pastors joined Trump's evangelical advisory board, they defended the choice by noting it gave them access to the White House. Access gives them influence, they argued, and with influence they can promote more Christ-like policies, or prevent un-Christ-like policies.
It's a good argument. Having access to the most powerful government office in the land certainly has advantages. I agree that one can do much good with that type of influence. But does influence matter if you're not willing to use it?
During the scandalous family separation policy of the first Trump administration, I was told that his evangelical advisory board was working behind the scenes to get the policy reversed. Rodriguez was the only member of that group I'm aware of to speak out publicly against the policy. Notably, he did not lose his position when he did that, and he apparently remains in good standing with the second Trump administration. If these Christian leaders played a role in getting the family separation policy reversed, I'll credit them for using their influence for something good.
But where is that supposed influence now regarding the numerous Trump policies that are not just un-democratic and un-constitutional, but downright evil?
This Trump administration apprehends people and sends them to a foreign torture prison without any opportunity to defend themselves in court. Trump refuses to even get one person returned who his administration admitted was wrongly sent there.
Asylum is a legal process established by Congress. People who come here seeking asylum are not "illegals," they are doing exactly what our law allows. When Andry Hernandez Romero fled his home country of Venezuela to seek asylum here, he was following the law. He did not cross the border illegally. He did not "skip the line." He was doing it the right way. Romero was at a legal border crossing in San Diego, going through the proper steps our laws require, when he was apprehended and sent to the prison in El Salvador.
Evil is a strong word, but watch this video showing the prison and I think you'll agree it's appropriate.
Plus, as I wrote previously, our alliance with Putin is also evil.
So, what about that "unprecedented access" that Rev. Rodriguez described. Either your access doesn't come with any influence, in which case you're just being used by Trump, or you're unwilling to use the influence you have out of ignorance or cowardice. Either way, what good is access if you're powerless to do anything about this much evil?
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A majority of Catholics and evangelicals backed Trump on Election Day. But some say his promise to enact a mass deportation of migrants threatens their churches. In a new report, they argue that 80% who would be at risk of deportation are Christians.
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A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism.
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NPR: “Harvard professor offers a grim assessment of American democracy under Trump”
Steven Levitsky studies how healthy democracies can slip into authoritarianism. He says the Trump administration has already done grave damage: "We are no longer living in a democratic regime."
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The Texas Tribune: “Prosecutor cites anti-immigrant rhetoric as El Paso shooter is sentenced to 23 life terms”
“While Patrick claimed in his manifesto that his views predated the then-President (Donald Trump) and that political figures were not to blame, he also explicitly stated the attack was a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas, echoing the language used by political figures,” defense attorney Joe Spencer told the court. “Indeed, Patrick believed he was acting in the direction of the president at the time, seeing it as his duty to stop the invasion because that’s what he believed the president was telling him.”
Link [ [link removed] ]
Axios: “3 ways Trump's immigration crackdown could hit U.S. citizens”
Trump administration [ [link removed] ] officials are suggesting their immigration crackdown could expand to include deporting convicted U.S. citizens and charging anyone — not just immigrants — who criticizes Trump's policies.
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