KQED's Forum Division Grows Among U.S. Catholics Over Trump Policies
Apr 13, 2026
Christopher Hale, a progressive Catholic organizer; Dónal Godfrey, a university chaplain; Amirah Orozco, a theologian and doctoral candidate; and Francis X. Rocca, a Vatican reporter, discuss deepening divides among U.S. Catholics. They explore conflicts over Trump’s immigration stance, the pope’s critiques, parish-level tensions, impacts on Latino and Filipino communities, and pastoral strategies for dialogue.
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Pope Speaks As Moral Teacher Not Partisan Player
- Pope Leo speaks from gospel-based moral language rather than partisan politics.
- Francis X. Rocca emphasized the Pope frames critiques as moral teaching, not campaign rhetoric, and will keep speaking about war and peace.
San Francisco Catholics Remember Iraq Protests
- Father Dónal Godfrey recalled protesting the Iraq war and compared that mobilization to current responses.
- He said San Francisco Catholics he meets feel strongly against the current war and are increasingly influenced by Pope Leo's stance.
Catholic Vote Is Varied And Potentially Shifting
- U.S. Catholic opinion on Trump is mixed and shifting, not monolithic.
- Francis X. Rocca noted recent polls show a majority of U.S. Catholics disapprove of Trump's performance, while Hispanic Catholics particularly oppose his immigration policies.