Don’t You Hate It When People Mock the Catholic Faith? (Or… Do You?)

+JMJ+ Don’t you just hate it when people mock the Catholic Church?

When they reduce sacred traditions to no more than pomp and circumstance?

When they openly reject core teachings and still claim to represent the faith?

Yeah, me too.

Except it seems some people seem to only hate it selectively.

Before we move on, I want to say that I recognize that sometimes the wisest response is silence especially when it seems like everyone and their mother is rushing to make a public statement about the latest news. I wrestled with whether to add my voice, knowing it’s not strictly necessary. In light of some of the more extreme reactions, I felt compelled to offer a few thoughts, and hopefully I have done so with balance and perspective.

Now let's all take a breath and talk about the latest “scandal” that seems to be consuming everyone’s outrage.

This week, the White House shared an AI-generated image of President Trump dressed as the pope. It was rather typical of the Trump-era—theatrical, attention-grabbing, and definitely worthy of an eye-roll. In the context of the Pope’s death and an impending conclave, it clearly struck a nerve. Many Catholics exploded with righteous indignation. Newsfeeds have been lit up with pearl-clutching dramatics and breathless cries of sacrilege.

But let’s be honest:

Where is all this moral outrage for actual scandal?

Let’s just say it plainly:

Donald Trump is not Catholic. He can’t be pope. He knows that. The image was fake and clearly meant as a joke. It was likely a tongue-in-cheek response to a recent offhand comment where he quipped that he’d like the job and then went on to "endorse" Cardinal Dolan of New York.

Was the image in poor taste? Sure.

Was the timing bad? Absolutely.

Was it blasphemous or sacrilegious? Come on.

I’m not someone who feels the need to defend Donald Trump at all costs. He’s clearly a flawed man, and there were aspects of his presidency I didn’t agree with. I try to speak up when necessary and give credit where it’s due. However, it’s hard not to notice that some people seem determined to view him in the worst possible light, no matter what he does. That’s a rather puzzling stance especially coming from Catholics who speak so often about extending grace and mercy.

As many Catholics mourn the death of Pope Francis for various reasons and in different ways, our focus should be on praying for the conclave and discerning what lies ahead for our Church. Instead, we’re letting an AI-generated image hijack our attention. Instead of drawing hearts toward heaven, our newsfeeds are filled with screeching hot takes about a ridiculous photo.

If you’re really offended by the AI image of President Trump as pope, don’t keep sharing it. Stop feeding the frenzy.

Our culture is addicted to outrage, and some people have the need to be offended (especially when Donald Trump is involved). At this point, his mere name and existence is a trigger for some people. To some, he can do nothing right. Then again, to others he can do nothing wrong. It’s important to maintain a good balance and not allow ourselves to be completely blinded when someone does something cringe-worthy. 

I’m not suggesting we completely dismiss poor taste or ignore timing. We are in a sacred and sensitive time for our church. A bit of levity might be more tolerable another time, but right now it does feel a bit tone-deaf.

Still—it’s not the scandal of the century.

You want to talk real mockery?

Let’s go there.

Where was the fury when Joe Biden—a self-professed “devout Catholic”—spent decades publicly rejecting Church teaching, championing abortion, and pushing policies that mutilate children in the name of “identity”?

Where was the hysteria when Kamala Harris, as California’s Attorney General, refused to prosecute known pedophile priests?

Where was the indignation when the White House lit up in rainbow colors? Or when Transgender Day of Visibility replaced Easter Sunday on the official White House calendar?

What about the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony that mocked the Last Supper? 

How about Hollywood and the Met Gala that has so openly mocked the Catholic Church?

Where were the cries of scandal when the recent film Conclave mocked the sacred role of the papacy, turning it into a woke political circus?

Where’s the outrage over adults dressing as “naughty nuns,” “naughty priests,” bishops and cardinals every Halloween?

Where’s the offense when people dress up their pets as the pope?

Where’s the scandal when actual bishops in Germany publicly defy Church teaching?

Where was the widespread outrage when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan mocked the Eucharist with a Dorito in October of 2024?

Where was such anger and outrage when the Biden Administration sent a swat team to Mark Houck’s home? Or when 23 pro-lifers were given disproportionate prison sentences?

Where was the outrage over the attacks on Catholic Churches and pregnancy care centers?

Where’s the anger when the Vatican continues to display the art of a known predator like Marko Rupnik?

There was some outrage, yes, but I don’t recall this amount of anger and hyperventilation especially on social media.

After years of silence in the face of real abuse, mockery, and betrayal, this—this—is the moment we decide to come together and proclaim that the Catholic faith must be defended?

I get it—Trump is a world leader. He should show more class in a situation like this (rather, his advisors and whoever is in charge of his social media should use more discretion), but if an AI image of Trump in papal garb offends you more than the active betrayal of the faith by clergy and politicians, then it may be time to re-examine what truly scandalizes you.

Is this an issue of an intentional lack of respect and reverence? Or is it a crisis of selective outrage? 

Yes, cringe at the image. Shake your head. Let’s hope whoever is in charge of the White House social media pages simply missed the mark on the humor, say a prayer for them, and then move on.

Pray for the Church. Pray for our next pope. Fast. Speak truth when it matters in an appropriate way. Let’s do our best to not create drama and drain our spiritual energy on issues like this. This isn’t the hill to die on. There are real battles to fight. Let’s not miss them because we’re too busy policing pixels.

Holy Spirit, guide us!