The bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, whose territory includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, has waded into the fractious relationship between Washington and the Vatican.
In a social media statement this month, Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez called on first lady Melania Trump to advocate for a “compassionate solution” to a funding dispute over a program for children.
In another, he declared he stood “firm alongside” Pope Leo XIV against “attacks” from President Donald Trump.
In the latest one, issued April 15, the bishop supported Archbishop Thomas Wenski. The Miami prelate reported last week that the Trump administration had arbitrarily slashed federal funding for a Catholic Charities program that aided children from Cuba and Haiti brought to the United States for safe harbor.
“I respectfully appeal to the First Lady, Ms. Melania Trump, to help bring about a just and compassionate solution on behalf of so many needy young boys and girls,” Rodríguez wrote in his message.
The end to funding for the Residential Services for Unaccompanied Children program was seen as a retaliation for Wenski’s call for humanitarian treatment of immigrants in America in accordance with Catholic Church policies and doctrines rooted in Gospel teachings.
During her tenure as first lady, Melania Trump has promoted causes focused on children’s wellbeing. Her “Be Best” campaign has addressed issues like cyberbullying, and she has augmented her advocacy by addressing improved educational opportunities for fostered youth.
An immigrant herself, the first lady has not been publicly vocal about her husband’s immigration crackdown, however. During the first Trump administration, she raised eyebrows by sporting a jacket with “I Really Don’t Care. Do U?” written on the back when traveling to a Texas detention center housing migrant children.
In an earlier statement, on April 13, the bishop rejected “vigorously” what he termed the “disrespectful and violent attacks” the president “has directed against” the pope.
“These attacks also constitute a grave violation of the religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and, as such, harm the rights of American Catholic faithful,” Rodríguez wrote.
The president this month lambasted the American-born pontiff saying Leo was “weak” on crime — with no explanation — and “terrible for Foreign Policy.” The latter reference followed the pontiff’s criticisms of war in general and particularly the employing of Christianity by the Trump administration to justify the war with Iran.
“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” Trump wrote on social media.
The president also posted a belligerent threat to Tehran laced with profanities on Easter morning. Trump also has posted AI-generated images, widely deemed offensive, of himself either with Jesus Christ or performing a healing miracle in the manner of Jesus while dressed in clothing Christ is often depicted in.
Trump subsequently deleted the latter posting but dismissed widespread criticism of the image by saying he was depicted himself as a “doctor.”
The pope held his ground in saying he had “no fear” of the Trump government and would continue to uphold Catholic beliefs and the Gospel.
Rodríguez became Palm Beach diocese bishop in February
Pope Leo chose Rodríguez to serve as the sixth bishop of the diocese that spans the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast and into Okeechobee County in December. The church installed Rodríguez to the post in February.
One of the prelates that presided at the ceremony was Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who served as the Holy See’s de facto ambassador to the United States at the time.
It was later reported that Pierre was called to a meeting at the Pentagon in January in which U.S. officials berated the Vatican’s international comments and policies and issued a veiled threat at the Holy Father.
Pentagon officials denied the story, which was first reported by The Free Press news site.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach bishop appeals to Melania Trump amid Vatican dispute
Reporting by Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
