3 US Catholic Cardinals Urge Trump Toward Moral Foreign Policy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Three U.S. Catholic cardinals have urged the Trump administration to adopt a moral foundation in its foreign policy. They criticized military action in Venezuela, threats toward Greenland, and cuts to foreign aid. Their statement calls for a foreign policy centered on human dignity, peace, and the global common good.
Catholic Cardinals Push for Ethical Foreign Policy: Quick Looks
- Cardinals Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin release joint appeal for ethical global leadership.
- They cite Trump’s Venezuela operation, Greenland ambitions, and foreign aid cuts.
- Warn of rising global suffering and erosion of U.S. moral leadership.
- Inspired by a major address from Pope Leo XIV on global peace.
- Pope criticized the use of force and nationalism in foreign policy.
- Cardinals call war a last resort, not a tool for national interest.
- Appeal for foreign policy rooted in life, dignity, and religious freedom.
- Tobin says U.S. prosperity must not come at the cost of others.
- Vatican cardinals consulted during January meeting before drafting the statement.
- Church leaders urge citizens to uphold human decency, not partisanship.
Deep Look
Catholic Cardinals Urge Trump Administration to Lead With Moral Foreign Policy
ROME — In a striking call for ethical leadership, three prominent U.S. Catholic cardinals urged President Donald Trump and his administration to adopt a moral compass in foreign policy, warning that current approaches risk global suffering and erode the United States’ moral authority.
In a joint statement released Monday, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., and Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, criticized the administration’s recent military actions, particularly in Venezuela, as well as Trump’s controversial statements about acquiring Greenland and his dramatic cuts to foreign aid.
The cardinals, all known for their progressive stances within the Catholic Church, framed their statement as a call to restore the ethical foundation of U.S. global policy, saying the nation is morally “adrift.”
“Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” McElroy told the Associated Press. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.”
Concerns Over Military Power and Nationalism
The cardinals’ statement arrives just two months after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned Trump’s mass deportations and rhetoric against migrants. This latest appeal adds to the growing religious criticism of Trump’s approach to international affairs.
The three cardinals specifically referenced the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, where American forces removed President Nicolás Maduro, as well as Trump’s push to acquire resource-rich Greenland from Denmark, and his administration’s dramatic reduction of foreign aid.
These actions, the cardinals argue, raise “basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.”
Pope Leo XIV’s Address as Catalyst
The inspiration behind their appeal was Pope Leo XIV’s January 9 address to ambassadors accredited to the Vatican — a speech described as his strongest critique yet of U.S. foreign policy.
Delivered in English, Leo’s address lamented the increasing use of power to impose national will globally, undermining the post-World War II international legal order. While the pope refrained from naming specific countries, his remarks came in the wake of the U.S. military action in Venezuela and Trump’s persistent rhetoric on Greenland.
The cardinals said the pope’s remarks, paired with private conversations at a Vatican meeting earlier in January, prompted them to act. They described Leo’s words as providing a necessary moral and rhetorical foundation for their own message.
A Call for Peace, Dignity, and Global Responsibility
“We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations,” the cardinals wrote.
They emphasized a vision of foreign policy that respects life, promotes religious liberty, and enhances human dignity — especially through economic assistance and non-militarized diplomacy.
Cardinal Tobin, drawing on his experience ministering in more than 70 countries, said U.S. global actions should never be based on “inhuman treatment of others” for the sake of prosperity.
“The real argument isn’t just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good,” Tobin told the AP.
Criticism Without Partisanship
While the statement clearly challenges Trump’s foreign agenda, the cardinals emphasized that their goal was not political condemnation, but a moral appeal.
“We’re not endorsing a political party or a political movement,” said Tobin. “They can make an argument of basic human decency.”
Cupich echoed the sentiment, saying that even justified international goals — such as Maduro’s removal — should not be carried out with the justification of “might makes right.” He warned against bypassing international norms and the rule of law for political or economic gain.
Foreign Aid Cuts Draw Church Backlash
One key concern for the Church is the reduction of U.S. foreign aid, particularly through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump’s administration slashed funding in 2025, calling many international aid projects wasteful or politically biased.
Tobin noted that such aid has historically had a tremendous positive impact — improving health, reducing hunger, and promoting development. The withdrawal of such assistance, he warned, undermines U.S. credibility and humanitarian outreach.
“U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health,” Tobin said.
A Broader Ethical Crisis
The cardinals conclude that the real crisis is not one of policy, but one of vision and values. They appeal to all Americans, particularly people of faith, to demand a foreign policy that upholds human dignity and pursues peace, not power.
Their message reflects a broader concern among faith leaders that the U.S. is abandoning its moral leadership role on the global stage, in favor of short-term political gains and nationalistic pride.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.