Letters to the Editor | May 8, 2025

Catholicism, despite its unbecoming past regarding abuse accountability suits, continues to be a large religious denomination within our world. Fortunately, this year’s College of Cardinals has withstood the test of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as it relates to qualified papal candidates, according to Inquirer news coverage. Cardinals assist in the Catholic Church’s governance, giving them the exclusive right to elect a supreme pontiff during their papal conclave. The world awaits their two-thirds majority vote.

Wayne E. Williams, Camden

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the powerful and courageous full-page message by Catholic sisters published in the April 27 edition of The Inquirer. In a time marked by division, inequality, and environmental crisis, their call to uphold the sacredness of life, to care for the most vulnerable, to honor the dignity of all work, to protect our common home, and to pursue justice and peace is not only timely — it is essential. These are not abstract ideals, but urgent moral imperatives that must guide our personal choices, our institutions, and our public policies. Their message was a brave and compassionate reminder of the values that sustain a just and humane society.

Their commitment to justice and peace reflects the best of our shared values the Sisters of Mercy taught me, and their influence has remained with me throughout my life. It is perhaps the reason this note comes a little later than I would have liked — I wanted to take the time to write with the care their message deserves. Thank you, sisters, for speaking truth with love and clarity. Your voices remind us of the church’s call to live in solidarity, compassion, and hope.

Betsy Joyce Bracken, Wynnewood

What a shame so many American Catholics are outraged over the image Donald Trump posted of himself as pope. After all, about 57% of my fellow Catholics voted for Trump — a percentage that has been growing with each election. These Trump-supporting Catholics didn’t seem to mind when he sexually assaulted a woman in a dressing room, bragged about grabbing other women’s private parts, was convicted of 34 felonies, mocked a Gold Star mother and a disabled reporter, cozied up to Vladimir Putin, was impeached twice, oversaw the treasonous Jan. 6, 2021, invasion of Congress, deprived immigrants of due process, ignored the Constitution — all the sorts of things that pretty much fly in the face of Catholic social teaching. Wake up, American Catholics. The joke’s on you.

Rosemary McDonough, Narberth

During the 2024 campaign season, Donald Trump said he knew nothing about Project 2025 and/or knew the authors and contributors to that plan/document. It is now obvious to anyone paying attention that he and his administration are rapidly deploying that plan and, in my opinion, setting himself up for an authoritarian regime. Trump clearly committed election fraud by lying to the voters. If nothing else, Trump should respond to having committed this big lie. I suspect he will reply to this at the same time he finally provides actual and material proof that the 2020 election was stolen.

Kent Kingan, Malvern

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