3 U.S. archbishops question morality of U.S. foreign policy : NPR
From right, U.S. Cardinals Joseph Tobin of Newark and Blase Cupich of Chicago attend a news conference at the North American College in Rome on May 9, 2025. Along with Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington (not pictured), the men issued a strongly worded statement Monday criticizing the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
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Gregorio Borgia/AP
The top three officials of the United States’ Catholic archdioceses issued a strongly worded statement Monday criticizing the Trump administration’s foreign policy — without mentioning President Trump by name.
Cardinals Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, and Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, say U.S. actions raise moral questions.
“Our country’s moral role in combating evil in the world, defending the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious freedom is under consideration,” the statement said. “And building a just and lasting peace, so crucial to the well-being of humanity today and in the future, is reduced to partisan categories that encourage polarization and destructive policies.”
They continued: “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the rights to human life, religious freedom, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, including through economic assistance. »
The senior leaders cited recent events in Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland, which they said “have raised fundamental questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.”
The White House did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment.
The statement by the American cardinals was inspired by a recent speech given by Pope Leo XIV to ambassadors to the Holy See. He criticizes the weakening of multilateralism.
“Diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by diplomacy based on force, either by individuals or by groups of allies. War is back in fashion and a zeal for war is spreading,” Leo said in his January 9 speech. “Peace is pursued through arms as a condition for asserting one’s domination. This seriously threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence.”
Cupich said in a commentary explaining the reasoning behind the archbishops’ statement: “As pastors charged with the teaching of our people, we cannot stand idly by while decisions are made that condemn millions of people to lives permanently trapped at the limits of existence,” he said. “Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”
