Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday. Topping our list this week are several reports of how three American cardinals criticized the Trump administration foreign policy without mentioning President Trump by name. What the cardinals said was about “charting a moral vision.” Or what they did was “break further with Trump” or “issue statement on morality of U.S. foreign policy.” Headlines make a difference as we search various media outlets for truth and wisdom.
Three Cardinals: Reports of What They Said
US bishops break further with Trump, this time on foreign policy. That’s the headline from National Catholic Reporter, reporting how “U.S. bishops are offering stark warnings against the administration’s recent foreign policy actions and threats, including a rare joint statement from three senior church leaders.”
A Catholic Perspective on Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ was published by the National Catholic Register, Jan. 14, editorializing on what the pope said Jan. 9. We found no report, as of mid-day Jan. 20, about the three cardinals’ statement. The editorial, however, said, “We hope the administration heeds Pope Leo XIV’s reminder that the long-standing priorities of promoting democracy and upholding human rights around the world shouldn’t be discarded at the expense of hemispherical hegemony.”
Top U.S. archbishops denounce American foreign policy. National Public Radio headlined its story, describing how “The three highest-ranking heads of Roman Catholic archdioceses in the United States issued a strongly worded statement on Monday criticizing the Trump administration’s foreign policy — without mentioning President Trump by name.”
The local New York NBC station said the statement “was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have asserted their voice against a Trump administration many believe isn’t upholding the basic tenets of human dignity.”
Nation’s Top Catholics Rip Into Trump’s ‘Moral Foundation’ said The Daily Beast, describing the three as “GOOD TROUBLESOME PRIESTS.” Reporting from the left, the publication said, “Three cardinals returned from talks with the Pope and made an unprecedented statement on U.S. policy.”
McElroy, Cupich, Tobin can’t keep hands off Trump. That headline from the right, or from a traditional perspective, was reported by the California Catholic Daily, citing “Pope Leo ‘principles’ set forth on Jan. 9.”
Three US Cardinals: Foreign policy must respect human dignity, religious liberty. So said Vatican News with a factual report of what happened. “Ten days after Pope Leo XIV’s ‘State of the World’ address, American Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin release a joint statement renouncing war and calling for US foreign policy to be based on peace and respect for human dignity and religious liberty.”
Three Catholic Cardinals Issue Rare Joint Statement on the Morality of U.S. Foreign Policy, said the headline above a news release from the Archdiocese of Washington. The release also included the full text of the statement, a rare find among releases and reports.
Justice Bulletin Board
Barbara Molinari Quinby asks, “While we’re all for God’s family values, do we really value God’s family?”
Venezuela bishops call for release of all political prisoners
Each year, the annual Marian procession of the “Divina Pastora” (“Divine Shepherdess”) draws millions of pilgrims and devotees in Venezuela. The Jan. 14 procession, however, was of particular significance following the United States’ capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores Jan. 3. Annual Marian celebration in Venezuela.
Pope Leo expected to travel to migrant hotspot in Spain
Madrid Cardinal Jose Cobo said the pope’s trip is “his own personal initiative.” From National Catholic Reporter.
Pope calls for peace and dialogue as protests continue in Iran. From National Catholic Reporter.
Vatican ‘tried to mediate’
The National Catholic Register reports, “Vatican Confirms It Tried to Mediate With Maduro to Avoid Military Intervention in Venezuela.”
‘I haven’t given up my fight,’ says nun who accused bishop of rape
In 2018, Sister Ranit Pallassery, a former superior general of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ), a diocesan religious order in India, accused her then-bishop, Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar diocese in northern India’s Punjab state, of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. From Union of Catholic Asian News.
Israel bulldozes aid center
Israeli crews have begun bulldozing a United Nations headquarters in east Jerusalem as Israel’s government tightens restrictions on humanitarian groups that provide aid to Palestinians. The report from the Associated Press, that Palestinians say UNRWA is critical to ensuring people receive basic services but the group has for decades been a target of Israel.
Immigrant services
National Catholic Reporter offers an examination of a parish resource center aimed at meeting immediate needs of immigrants. “I think that this center represents a conception of church, which is broader than just a place you come for sacraments, but a place you come for other needs to be served,” said the pastor.
Religion News Service features an LA interfaith coalition that is using “freedom schools” to defend against ICE. The association, “One LA,” seeks to help residents learn what to do if confronted by immigration enforcement. This story is part of RNS’ Love Thy Neighbor series. You can read all the stories here.
Federal attacks against refugees and undocumented immigrants represent an imminent threat to the constitutional rights of all Americans, said UnidosUS President Janet Murguia. “The government overreach and abuse of power we have seen from the Trump administration is unlawful, unacceptable and un-American.” From Baptist News Global.
‘If you are neutral, you are taking the side of the powerful,” said James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, reported by Baptist News Global. “When you read the Gospels, Jesus certainly wasn’t neutral. He certainly wasn’t middle of the road. . . . I’m not trying to claim Jesus for the Democratic Party; I’m trying to wrestle Jesus away from partisan politics.”
A structure of sin: How EWTN fuels a distorted view of Catholic teaching
OPINION from Black Catholic Messenger. “There is simply no way to marshal the Catholic faith in defense of Trump’s border policy without distorting it beyond recognition.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
USCCB president exhorts faithful to heed MLK’s call to be “a drum major for justice.” From National Catholic Reporter.
“We Have Not Read MLK Enough,” said Sho Baraka, a staff writer at Christianity Today. He adds, “Americans have strong opinions about the civil rights leader but often simplistic notions of who he was.” He confesses his own former belief: “My view of King back then was like my view of Jesus: I saw both as honorable men who asked their followers to practice the unconscionable act of loving their enemies. I wanted no part of either.”
Sister Mary Antona Ebo was the only Black Catholic nun who marched with civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, according to a report by Catholic News Agency. “I’m here because I’m a Negro, a nun, a Catholic, and because I want to bear witness,” Ebo said to fellow demonstrators at a March 10, 1965, protest attended by King.
‘Just Like Selma’ hymn project aims to help churches recall King, mark Black History Month. The report from National Catholic Reporter provides the details of the project and also links to a Youtube video of the hymn which will be incorporated into worship services.
Prayer for Christian Unity
Podcast: In 2026, is it finally time for Black Christians to unite? Rev. Dr. Ebony Grisom, Fr Samuel Davis, Eric T. Styles, and Nate Tinner-Williams discuss Black ecumenism and the challenges therein. In the latest episode of the Black Catholic Messenger show, a diverse panel of Black Christian leaders explores the significance of ecumenism, particularly within the Black community, as we celebrate the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from Jan. 18-25.
Parish police protection
The New York Police Department (NYPD) says it will increase officer presence at local churches after several crimes committed at Catholic parishes on Staten Island. From National Catholic Register.
Book Review: The Romero Rosary
Archbishop John Wilson begins this beautiful devotional book wondering whether people have picked it up because they love the holy Rosary or because they love St Oscar Romero or because, like Archbishop Wilson, they love both.
Is this story true – or fake news?
Here is a media mini-course with tips for news readers, from Independent Catholic News.
Indiana Football – ‘Give all the glory to God!’
Fernando Mendoza, quarterback of the Indiana University football team, was interviewed prior to the Jan 19 championship. The National Catholic Register says It’s a bit unusual in Mendoza’s case, as he is Catholic, and it is usually evangelical Protestants who speak about God in their postgame interviews.
Quotes by popes and other items
“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. . . . Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” From Pope John XXIII, found at the link below. Other categories are highlighted, courtesy of AUSCP Friend Bob Stewart.
- Quotes by Popes – Click Here
- News& Commentary
• Daily Scripture Readings & Homilies
• Prayer & Reflection
• Streaming & Podcasts
• Spirituality & Education
• Books & Publications
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