The “Liberal” Leo

Posted byremcmahanPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , ,

April 13, 2026

I found it interesting that this morning’s New York Times chose Trump’s feud with Pope Leo as its leading headline while wars continue to rage around the world, gas prices rise, stock markets fall, and Viktor Orban actually concedes defeat in Hungary. Wish I could ask the editors’ reasoning behind that. Maybe it’s because who is pope is one thing that Donald Trump cannot control, and that must drive him crazy.

Personally, like Pope Leo, I don’t care what Trump thinks of the current pontiff. Trump posted on Truth Social that “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States.” Well, guess what? Most of the world doesn’t want Donald Trump to be the President of the United States. So welcome to our reality, Mr. Trump. But the reason for this post is not to focus on Trump’s frequent three-year old tantrums, but rather on the plight of clergy today who, every Sunday, face the accusations of being “too liberal” and “bringing politics into the pulpit.” I know because as an ordained Presbyterian USA minister, I am one of them.

I chose to retire early in 2020 after making it through the first Trump term. I was exhausted and disillusioned with trying to preach the message of Jesus Christ—self-sacrifice, love, inclusion, service, unity, humility, compassion—and then witnessing what many of my congregants, and others who claim to be Christian, were posting on social media. I was concerned about being true to the Gospel while trying not to offend those who “think differently.” And, frankly, I was tired of being accused as “liberal” when, in fact, I was preaching the words of Jesus Christ, right there in scripture in black and white, not my own. I feel confident that the text in my bible was no different from anyone else’s.

But here’s the point: I am NOT alone. Mainline ministers (Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, etc.) are leaving the pulpit in droves because they can no longer preach the Gospel, be true to Christ and to themselves, and keep their positions. Unless we are fortunate enough to minister in a progressive church (which are few and far between), we walk a weekly tightrope of trying to be true to Christ and holding the church together. And what happens if we don’t? We either lose our positions or the church splits. It’s untenable. It’s come down to Charlie Kirk or Jesus Christ.

So, kudos to Pope Leo who is neither “liberal” nor “a politician.” Kudos to a powerful man who says, “I have no fear of the Trump Administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do.” Yes, if we are Christians, it is what we are all here to do. And if you’ve been misled by what that message is, if you turn away from the hypocrisy of so-called “Christians,” please let me tell you what is NOT Christian behavior or belief:

  • Slander, lies, and falsehoods;
  • Hate and bigotry;
  • Anger and vengeance;
  • Power used for self-gain;
  • Manipulation, pride, and boasting;
  • Killing;
  • Putting oneself (or country) first;
  • Selfishness and greed;
  • Inhospitality;
  • Lack of care for the least of these;
  • Apathy.

Now, please let me tell you what the Christian message actually IS:

  • Love God (however you conceive God to be);
  • Love your neighbor (the one who is different from you) in whatever ways you can;
  • Love yourself (because you are unique and valuable).

Easy to do? No. Clear enough? Yes.

Whether we are Christian or not, living from a place of love, of respect, of mutuality, of care is what we are all called to do because we live in community. It is also the strongest action of resistance to the evils of this world. Pope Leo is living that role and there’s nothing Trump can do about that.

Still here,

Rosemary

Photo credit: The Vatican

Published by remcmahan

Poet, writer, minister, wanderer, traveler on the way, Light-seeker ~ hoping others will join me on the journey of discovering who we are and were meant to be. You can reach me at 20rosepoet20@gmail.com or at my blog, Spirit-reflections.org.

21 thoughts on “The “Liberal” Leo”

  5. Thank you! And, on behalf of my country, I apologize to your and all others. I didn’t vote for the man, but I live it a country that did. Keep on loving!

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  8. Loved this one!  I read it early!  Excellent and well said!  I’m having an issue with loving my neighbor though if you know wh

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  17. Many thoughts, so I’ll start with humor. I don’t remember which late-night comic quipped about Trump saying Pope Leo is “weak on crime” that well, yeah, he’s the POPE. But it would be cool to have a superhero, crime-fighting Pope, like Batman. 🙂 Another comic aptly said, “the premise of a fight between the President and the Pope is something out of South Park.” And here we are…I didn’t realize you had retired, nor why. Reading this made me feel “heavy.” Hard to explain it, but it was accompanied by a loud, resigned sigh. I get it. I also know of doctors and therapists who had to quit after Trump 1.0 and COVID. I hadn’t thought about clergy, don’t know the ins and outs of the nuts and bolts. I’m not Christian, so it isn’t my world in that regard. I’m not “organized religion” but a pantheistic polytheistic animist (which rolls delightfully off the tongue 🙂 ). However, when I say “it isn’t my world” I mean I don’t know how your profession works. I have an idea, but it is like me saying I know how to cook but I have no idea how to run a professional kitchen. But living in America, growing up when and where I did, in a “normal” middle-class white area? Of course Christian America is what I know as my world. I believe something like 60-70% of the country identify as such, to various degrees.

    And while the SANE among us are wondering how did we even GET here? We are also wondering “how can any one believe, follow, support this administration, especially after years and years of horrors, and for crying out loud, the man was a FELON when elected!” And the SANE among us look at the “Christians” who are embracing this… thing. EVEN after he posts he’s Jesus masquerading as a Red Cross doctor. Where is the line? There is no line.

    So, I get why SANE clergy are either pushed out or leave. Sort of. But the sad thing is, the terrible thing is, when that happens THEY WIN. We NEED sane clergy. We NEED sane people who remember what the teachings of Christ are! I may not be a Christian but I think I understand the concept better than the Trump cultists! I’m not an atheist, but my friends who are act and think more Christian than those who are following the nightmarish fascist cult. We NEED people who state, in public, what the real teachings are, and just the pure teachings at this point ARE political.We are losing our voices and the fools don’t understand that. We are losing our books through censorship. We are losing our journalists. We are losing reality with AI. We are… losing our minds.

    When we lose our sane clergy, of any faith, we lose our spirit, our compass, our humanity.

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  18. Thanks for this thoughtful reply!! I am right there with you. To be clearer, I didn’t retire mainly because of Trump, but he was a serious consideration and I do know that ministers are struggling and departing earlier than they might have. I get the worry about letting the bad guys “win” when we leave. I’ve hated seeing SANE lawyers leave the DOJ and SANE military leaders resign, and SANE environmentalist depart the EPA and on and on and on. Unless you’ve been there, it’s hard to understand. But I don’ t think that evil can ever “win” over love. Don’t get me wrong. I know how evil “Christianity” can be and has been and will be again. History is proof. I may not be preaching in a pulpit now, but my blog reaches more people than Sunday worship ever did. That’s a win. And those who believe in the love, compassion, and mercy of Jesus Christ (or just the belief in being a “good person”) continue now to walk it, not just talk it. I’m more involved in social justice and volunteering than I’ve ever been before. Maybe my blog was a bit too dark because there ARE preachers out there preaching the gospel truth, and it’s not about power, being first, being American, or any of the other crap you hear. It’s about service, love, inclusion, and unity. I will continue to “preach” that however I can. Thanks again for the thoughtful reply. Loved it!

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  19. Rosemary, just read (all of) this. Re your Pope post, AMEN 10,000 times! And, re Laura’s (shared) dismay at our losing so many SANE people in public professions, such as clergy, who face constant stressors I can’t even imagine, a couple of things. First, Rosemary, thank you for pointing out that there are more than a few SANE pastors holding steady in the midst of our heart-wrenching environment. I am blessed to be a member of just such a progressive congregation whose pastors are not only SANE but, as one of them put it recently, willing and able to “endure, abide, and hold [their] ground.” Second, thank you, Rosemary, for your example, words, and continued service, welcome reminders that, often, it’s those in private or grassroots, communal spaces who accomplish miracles. Not least in the cumulative effect such efforts can have in encouraging the SANE leaders and public to stay the course. One last observation, based on my own experience. What if, as a private or public, SANE citizen, the pressures of office ; or of temperament and empathy, for example, threaten to drive you INSANE — to crush your soul? Then what? To quote Kenny Rogers — “you gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, and when to run . . . .” Meaning, sometimes it’s necessary to take a temporary or permanent time out, or to make a shift in “ministry,” so to speak. Thanks, Rosemary and Laura, for lots to think and dialogue about. SL (Susan)

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  20. Thank you, the world is a better place with you in it. Whether from the pulpit or your shared writings. I believe you touch more people than you realize and do make a difference. Keep sharing.

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