In his open letter endorsing Donald Trump for President, excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò spoke for himself, not for the leadership and the “people of God,” who are the Catholic Church.

On July 5, 2024, The Vatican deemed Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò responsible for causing a split or schism in the Catholic Church because he questioned whether Pope Francis is really the pope and challenged important church decisions made during the Second Vatican Council. Vatican II was the last Ecumenical Council of the Pope, bishops, Cardinals and special invitees throughout the world gathered to decide on important matters of doctrine, practice and governance (October 11, 1962, to December 8, 1965.) The decisions made during Ecumenical Councils are considered authoritative because they represent a collective discernment by those who hold teaching authority within the Church.

Following his excommunication, Archbishop Viganò’s is no longer a episcopal offiicial in good standing and his public statements do not represent the positions of the Catholic Church in any way on any subject.

On October 22, 2024, supporters of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò published a paid open letter in the Sun Gazette, among many other places, urging American Catholics to prioritize his understanding of their faith in the upcoming elections and endorsed Donald Trump as the candidate whose views he preposterously asserts coincides with Catholic values and echoes Church beliefs. He compares Trump to Kamala Harris, claiming without evidence and on his own behalf, that her policies go against the teachings of the Church and harm society. In his October 22, 2024 open letter, Viganò sounds more like a partisan pundit than a principled prelate.

Following its usual practice, the Vatican has not published a response to Vignano’s open letter. However, the Vatican maintains a clear stance against endorsing specific political candidates during elections. Today, as a matter of policy, the Vatican’s instead encourages ethical participation in democratic processes while providing guidance based on genuine Catholic teachings regarding social justice and moral responsibility.

Archbishop Viganò opens his letter with the words: “Dear Faithful American Catholics,” an odd greeting from someone whom the Pope has officially designated as unfaithful to the teachings of the Catholic. Church. Trump and Viganò are indeed two birds of a feather. In John 17;21, Jesus uttered his most fervent wish: “I pray that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Trump and Viganò have one thing in common: contrary to Jesus wish for unity they are both dividers—-Viganò of the Catholic Church; Trump of the United States of America.

I long for a time when Christian Nationalists prioritized their faith in Christ over their national identity, and the question “Is the Pope Catholic?” was regarded as so self-evident that it required no answer.

TIM MANNELLO

Williamsport

Submitted by email