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To the editor:
It’s no secret that Donald Trump has been feuding with Pope Leo XIV.
Considering that Trump has unwavering support among Catholics (and Christians in general), MAGA reaction to the feud highlights how far removed American Christianity is from the 2026 year-old roots planted by the religion’s namesake, Jesus Christ.
Born in Judea, Jesus, a non-citizen subject of the Roman Empire, was in many ways the world’s first “woke” political figure. He welcomed foreigners, tended to the sick and the handicapped and protested the injustice of Roman law.
The man writing those laws during Jesus’ adult life (AD 14 – AD 33) was Tiberius Caesar, in many ways an anti-Christ figure. Tiberius was lascivious, vengeful and particularly cruel to society’s outcasts. He ruled by the motto “Vae Victis” – woe to the vanquished.
In keeping with custom, following Julius Caesar’s deification to “Divine” status, the Roman Senate decreed that Tiberius was a god, Tiberius Augustus.
Trump and Tiberius have much in common; lecherous behavior, coercive use of power, cruelty towards the weak and belief in a world governed by the “iron laws” of strength, force and power (as Steven Miller told Jake Tapper of CNN). AI-generated imagery posted by Trump depicting himself as the Pope, a holy figure standing beside Jesus and even as Jesus completes the comparison.
While no longer a practicing person of faith myself, it seems to me that MAGA Christians have far more in common with the Romans who cheered gladiatorial games at the Colosseum than with the Christians slaughtered in that arena.
What kind of Christian defends killing protesters? Detaining children? Engaging in warfare? Extrajudicial murders of suspected drug traffickers? Or, takes part in idolatry? Certainly not the Christians of ancient Rome whose lives or deaths depended upon Tiberius’ thumb.
Joseph Cannisi
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Valete
Your letter is essentially propaganda used to influence readers about the justification for illegal immigration into the US.
The religious aspect of your letter is contradictory, particularly when you assert that Jesus was the world’s first woke political figure. Jesus, a divine being, had no political agenda or power. Instead, God the Father sent Jesus to reconcile humanity with Himself, offering salvation from sin and eternal life through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
(However, since you are longer a practicing person of faith, by your own admission, you are unaware of this fundamental Christian teaching.)
(That leads me to the last paragraph of your false- narrative that asks; What kind of Christian defends killing protestors? Detaining
children? Engaging in warfare? And extrajudicial murders of suspected drug traffickers?
The answer to your question is clear and factual. President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, is bound by the US Constitution to protect citizens from foreign invasion. (The president has inherent authority under Article II to deploy military forces to repel sudden attacks, suspend entry of foreign nationals deemed a security threat, and invoke the Insurrection Act to manage domestic crises like acts of violence and border controls.)
In conclusion, Your comparison of Tiberius Caesar to President Trump does hold water. T. Caesar was a tyrannical ruler, unlike President Trump, who is lighthearted and often uses wit and anecdotes to communicate with the public about political matters.
—Word Man--
Thursday, May 14 Report this
fcannisi
@ Word Man - The fact that I no longer hold religious beliefs does not mean I am unaware of Christian teachings. As stated in Corinthians, Christianity teaches three virtues "faith, hope and charity .. the greatest of these is charity" and in Matthew's parable of the sheep and the goats, those who show charity (the sheep) to "the least of these" are rewarded and those who do not (the goats) are punished.
If Word Man cannot see his goat-like response to my letter, in particular Word Man's references to foreign invaders, he only reinforces the points made in the second and last paragraphs.
Thursday, May 14 Report this
Valete
Reen’ro as usual you are wrong on theology and wrong on illegals. The law rewards those who follow it, not those who violate it. Your letter is a sham, so stop the hearts and flowers spiel; it’s old hat.
Friday, May 15 Report this
Valete
Speaking Off-the-Cuff
You know what I love about this website? It is punching holes in the letters from misguided liberals like you. Are you kidding me? This letter is the epitome of misinformation and political propaganda, with the heart’s and flower’s spiel thrown in for more impact. Unfortunately, your letter is of no impact, and stating that Jesus was the first “woke” political figure is an example of how much you do not know about theology or any other topic of discussion. If this were not a liberal-friendly website,
your letters would be thrown into the general garbage disposal so that it could not be recycled and resurface in the foreseeable future.
Friday, May 15 Report this
fcannisi
You know what I love about Word Man's comments on this website? With each post, another fellow Trump supporter asks themselves - Am I as dumb as that ass?
Friday, May 15 Report this
krell1349
Since all you MAGA folks worship Trump like a god, I have an idea. Why don't you all go to an island, perhaps Epstein Island, and you can praise your god? You can swear fealty to your god.
Sunday, May 17 Report this
Valete
Why would any Trump supporter visit Epstein Island, which is currently overcrowded with left-wing Democrats?
Sunday, May 17 Report this
Valete
Yo Reen’ro,
Your propaganda letters are incredibly hilarious.
They provide me with countless hours of belly laughs.
Your ignoble posts are equally sidesplitting;
they are filled with contradictions and falsehoods.
You try to give justification for your alternative facts.
But I expose them for what they truly are:
the fabrication of a bemused little man’s vacuous,
disingenuous head.
Sunday, May 17 Report this
fcannisi
It's interesting that Word Man always deflects, spins, changes the subject and provokes. Regardless of a letter's subject - Iran, taxes, inflation, Israel, the economy, veterans gifting their medals or religion- Word Man always makes the exact same comment. "The letter is propaganda, the author lacks understanding of the subject and the content is false."
What is false is Word Man's self-professed piety, like all MAGA faux Christians. I stand by my letter; Christians welcome immigrants, they don't detain them in sub-human conditions. Christians oppose war, regardless of who the adversary is or what they have done. Christians never condone killing. AND, idolatry is an unforgivable mortal sin for real Christians. Word Man is no Christian. He is a fraud.
Monday, May 18 Report this
krell1349
I disagree, Epstein Island is populated with Republicans, the ones hiding behind the release of the Epstein files. Let's see full release of the files, one of Trumps campaign promises unfulfilled.
Tuesday, May 19 Report this
Valete
You disagree with me as to the Epstein files. Give me a break! The Democrats were engaging in activities on Epstein Island for years. The only reason Epstein Island had been in the news is because all the social elites were associated with Epstein in some way; that includes politicians, socialites, and yes, even liberals. The Epstein files will never be fully disclosed “not” because of Trump, but because of liberals like Clinton—who were in close association with Epstein and his sordid activities for many years. I am in favor of releasing the Epstein files; but the Democrats’ are not—unless they can redact the files, supposedly for legal or security purposes, to suit their political agenda.
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
Valete
Reen’ro, you’re a wiseguy, so I am going to give you the business. You’re slow off the draw mentally, Reen’ro. It takes you days to respond to my posts, whereas I respond to your posts immediately. I am quick off the draw. You are slow off the draw—poor, poor, little man; you are out of your league but too dumb to know it! I can put you in my left hip pocket anytime I choose!
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
fcannisi
Clearly, exposing Word Man as a false Christian hit him too close to the bone.
However, his last comment only proves my point. Real Christians turn the other cheek; fake ones, like Word Man, give people "the business".
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
krell1349
No, lets see the full Epstein files and really see who is it the most. Right now your man Trump is the number one man in the files. Let's have full disclosure.
Thursday, May 21 Report this
Valete
Real Christians fight fire with fire; turning the other cheek is a parable which you obviously do not understand, reen’ro!
Thursday, May 21 Report this
Valete
Evidently, Krell 1349, you are unaware that former Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that he had "no knowledge" of the Jeffrey Epstein files. ( I wonder why? )
Thursday, May 21 Report this
fcannisi
Word Man keeps proving that he hasn't a clue as to what it means to be a Christian. Turning the other cheek isn't some parable, it is the Gospel according to Matthew 5:39 quoting Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:
"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."
Word Man reminds me of a tee shirt I saw with the caption - "I'm a better Christian than you and I'm an atheist"
Friday, May 22 Report this