U.S. Catholic Cardinals Call for Moral Compass in Foreign Policy

In an unusual and pointed intervention, three leading U.S. Catholic cardinals have publicly called on the Trump administration to guide its foreign policy with a moral compass. The joint statement from Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., represents a significant voice from the American Catholic hierarchy entering a heated political debate, warning that current approaches are adrift and risk causing immense human suffering.

The Core of the Cardinals' Warning

The cardinals' central argument, as detailed in their statement and subsequent interviews with The Associated Press, is that U.S. foreign policy lacks a coherent moral vision. They contend that without this foundation, the national debate is trapped in "polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests." Cardinal McElroy starkly summarized the situation, stating, "Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy." The cardinals fear this direction undermines America's global standing and its capacity to be a force for peace and human dignity.

Specific Policy Concerns Raised

The statement is not merely a philosophical critique but addresses concrete administration actions. The cardinals explicitly point to three issues as raising "basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace": the U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove Nicolás Maduro, repeated threats by President Trump to acquire Greenland from Denmark, and the ongoing context of the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, they criticize significant cuts to foreign aid administered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which they view as a retreat from global humanitarian responsibility.

Inspiration from Papal Teaching

The cardinals drew direct inspiration from a major foreign policy address delivered by Pope Leo XIV to diplomats at the Vatican just days before their statement. In that speech, the first U.S.-born pope denounced the use of force to assert national dominion, arguing it was "completely undermining" the post-World War II international order. While Pope Leo did not name specific countries, the context clearly included recent U.S. actions. Cardinal Cupich noted that the papal address gave the American cardinals the theological and ethical language to "piggyback on" in formulating their own critique, grounding their concerns in the broader teaching of the Church.

A Broader Pattern of Ecclesiastical Critique

This statement marks the second time in recent months that the U.S. Catholic leadership has publicly challenged Trump administration policies. In November, the entire U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned the administration's immigration enforcement tactics, including mass deportations and the "vilification" of migrants. The conference's president, Archbishop Paul Coakley, was consulted on the cardinals' latest statement and supported its emphasis on papal teaching. This pattern indicates a growing willingness among church leaders to assert Catholic social doctrine on matters of state policy, particularly concerning human dignity and the common good.

The Call for a Return to Moral Foundations

Beyond criticism, the cardinals propose an alternative framework. They renounce war "as an instrument for narrow national interests," asserting it should only be a last resort. Instead, they advocate for a foreign policy that "respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance." Cardinal Tobin articulated the needed moral compass, stating, "It can't be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others... The real argument isn't just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good." The cardinals insist their aim is not partisan but to encourage the U.S. to reclaim its ethical leadership globally.