Pope vs. Trump: Conservative Catholics Defend the Pontiff
Leading conservative Catholics explain why they're siding with Pope Francis in his high-profile rift with President Trump, costing the president valuable support.
The rift between President Trump and Pope Francis has become increasingly public, and it's costing the president valuable support from a key conservative voting bloc - conservative Catholics. Leading figures within the American Catholic church have come out in defense of the pontiff, criticizing Trump's policies and rhetoric.
The tension between the two powerful leaders began during the 2016 campaign, when the Pope made comments interpreted as a rebuke of Trump's hardline immigration stance. Since then, the two have clashed on a number of issues, including climate change, immigration, and the death penalty. While the Catholic church has historically been an important voting bloc for Republican candidates, Trump's feud with the Pope is putting that alliance at risk.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Source: BBC News
