September 11, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Francis challenged President Trump on his pro-life views in a new interview, questioning whether Trump is actually pro-life because of his immigration stances.
Aboard the papal plane on September 10, Pope Francis criticized the U.S. president over his plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA allows children of illegal immigrants who were illegally brought into the country to remain and apply for work permits.
“I have heard the President of the United States speak,” said Pope Francis as translated and reported by the National Catholic Reporter. “He presents himself as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-lifer, he should understand that the family is the cradle of life and you must defend its unity.”
He was answering a Mexican journalist's question.
“Removing young people from their family is not a thing that bears good fruit, neither for the young person nor the family,” the pope continued, admitting “he has not studied the specifics of the DACA program,” according to NCR.
“Young people today need to re-find their roots,” Pope Francis continued. “And anything that goes against this robs them of hope.”
According to NCR, Pope Francis suggested “young people who become detached from their roots and lose hope in the future” might choose suicide. It's unclear whether he was implying that the “roots” of those benefitting from DACA are their home countries or the United States.
During the same press conference, Pope Francis said there's a “moral responsibility” for people to do what they can to halt “climate change.”
“If someone is a bit doubtful … ask the scientists,” he said. “They are very clear. They are not opinions on the fly. They are very clear. Then, decide and history will judge the decisions.”
Some of the scientists and “experts” with whom the pope closely collaborates are abortion supporters.
In April 2017, President Trump signed into law the first piece of federal pro-life legislation in more than a decade. It prevents states from being forced to fund abortion giant Planned Parenthood. It allows states to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Title X money.
Shortly after being inaugurated, Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits U.S. funding from going to abortion-committing and committing groups like International Planned Parenthood.
Pope Francis questioned Trump's faith during his campaign. Trump called this comment, which was also seemingly prompted by his immigration stances, “disgraceful.”
The pope's comments about protecting “the family,” which he called “the cradle of life” are interesting because in a new book-length interview, he signaled support for legal recognition of same-sex “civil unions,” which the Church officially says must be met with “clear and emphatic opposition.”