Friends,
It finally came out in the Department of Justice files.
Steve Bannon wrote to Jeffrey Epstein in June 2019 saying: “Will take down Francis. The Clintons, Xi, Francis, EU – come on brother.”
Epstein fully encouraged him.
They wanted to destroy Pope Francis for speaking out about migrants. Bannon promised to make Epstein an executive producer on a documentary exposing Vatican scandals.
This is what Christian Nationalism looks like in practice — a conspiracy with a convicted pedophile to silence the Pope for saying things like “a person who thinks only about building walls and not building bridges is not Christian.”
Now we have Pope Leo, the first American Pope, and MAGA is melting down again.
Bannon called him “the worst pick for MAGA Catholics” before he was even elected. Laura Loomer labeled him “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist.”
But Pope Leo is standing firm, calling the treatment of immigrants in the U.S. “extremely disrespectful,” and the Vatican condemned the violence in Minneapolis as “unacceptable.”
He told Catholics that saying you’re pro-life while supporting the inhumane treatment of immigrants doesn’t make sense. He urged Americans to listen to the bishops condemning ICE violence.
The Pope is refusing to visit the United States in 2026. He’s going to Latin America instead, to the homelands of the people Trump is deporting.
Here’s what this all means for what comes next.
Hundreds of clergy are flooding into communities, standing between ICE agents and their neighbors, including us here at Vote Common Good. It’s been incredible to see Catholic bishops, evangelical pastors, Episcopal bishops, rabbis, and faith leaders of all kinds forming what they call “spiritual shields” outside businesses and places of worship targeted by ICE.
The polling shows this split is breaking MAGA’s back. Trump’s approval rating on immigration fell to 40 percent. Two-thirds of Americans say ICE has gone too far.
This is the fight we’re built for. Faith voters are walking away from MAGA Christianity. Catholics are listening to their Pope instead of Steve Bannon. Everyday people stand with the common good.
Turning this into victories in November takes resources. It means keeping organizers on the ground, running ads that show the contrast, and showing faith voters what it means to vote their values.
Your contribution right now funds that work.
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They can’t claim to follow Jesus while plotting with Jeffrey Epstein. They can’t call themselves pro-life while shooting protesters. MAGA Christianity can’t survive this split.
But together, we can build for the common good.
In this together,
Doug
Vote Common Good inspires people of good conscience to wake up, stand up, and speak up against MAGA politics and Christian Nationalism. We have a proven record of success moving faith voters away from radical candidates and inspiring them to vote their values for the common good. Please consider a contribution today.