Cardinal Turkson ‘concerned’ by Trump policies, welcomes ‘dissenting voices’
March 30, 2017
The Vatican is “concerned” about the policies of US President Donald Trump, and hope he will “reconsider some of his decisions,” a top Vatican official told reporters on March 30.
“Fortunately there are dissenting voices” in America, said Cardinal Peter Turkson, the prefect of the Vatican’s new dicastery for Integral Human Development. He noted that the US Catholic bishops have criticized Trump’s stand on immigration, and “a lawyer in Hawaii” [actually a federal judge] had blocked the White House restrictions on travel to the US.
Cardinal Turkson expressed particular dismay over Trump’s decision to lift some restrictions on the mining and use of coal. He said that the decision throws into question America’s commitment to safeguarding the environment. The cardinal pointed to China’s recent decision to take action against pollution, and said that in leadership on environmental issues, “America is creating a vacuum that China is filling.”
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Further information:
- Vatican says hopes Trump will rethink (ANSA)
- Vatican says Trump risks losing climate change leadership to China (Reuters)
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Posted by: garedawg -
Mar. 31, 2017 5:44 PM ET USA
I visited China not too long ago. The Chinese people were wonderful, but based on the filthy air they had to breathe, I would say that China has a long way to go before they can be considered a leader in the environment.
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Posted by: unum -
Mar. 31, 2017 9:35 AM ET USA
The Cardinal's lack of concern for the effects of policy changes on families who depend on mining and coal related industries is striking. Christ's Church is becoming isolated from the real world and is unable to relate short term conditions and longer term world policies to Church teaching. Many of us are not sure what the Church is teaching today!
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Posted by: filioque -
Mar. 30, 2017 5:31 PM ET USA
Refresh my memory. Did the Vatican ever criticize President Obama's disastrous pro-abortion policies or offer encouragement to pro-life efforts in the US? I seem to recall being told not to obsess about it. What is the competence of the Vatican on matters of immigration and environmental policy?
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Posted by: feedback -
Mar. 30, 2017 5:29 PM ET USA
Card. Turkson does not seem to have any idea about US politics and the "dissenting voices" he is supporting. And to say that "China fills the vacuum caused by US in environmental protection" is outright delusional. Card. Turkson, Pope Francis, and all the distinguished Vatican prelates need to get new advisors, preferably without heavy political agenda of the Left.
