Open Letter from Catholics to President-Elect Donald J. Trump
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Mr. Donald J. Trump
Trump Tower
725 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Dear President-Elect Trump,
On behalf of the members of CatholicVote.org and all Catholics of good will, we wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations on your electoral victory and election to the Office of the Presidency.
As you know, Catholic voters across the country, particularly voters in the Upper Midwest and so-called ‘Rust Belt,’ overwhelmingly rejected Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine’s vision for America, in numbers not seen in a decade or more.
The voting preference of Catholics, however, was bigger than any person or campaign. Catholics joined millions of Americans in rejecting the top-down, government-first, technocratic smugness that has for too long infected our political and cultural elite. In doing so, these voters rejected the corporatist arrogance that too often looked down on everyday people. These Americans have been pleading for a more just economy, respect for their cultural and social mores, and the liberty to pursue the American dream in faith and freedom. Until now, they have been ridiculed and mocked, or largely ignored.
During your campaign, we witnessed your unprecedented appeal to Catholic voters, including your multiple media appearances on EWTN, along with your personal letters to Catholic groups including CatholicVote. You boldly offered very specific promises including:
- Defunding Planned Parenthood,
- Nominating pro-life justices to the Supreme Court,
- Signing new legislation to protect religious liberty, including the First Amendment Defense Act, and
- Supporting greater access to school choice — especially for children trapped in failing schools.
As Catholics reflect on this election season and work to heal and unify our country, we continue to be grateful for the promise you made to Catholic voters:
“As President, I promise that I will protect the rights of Catholics to live their faith, to serve their communities, and to act on their beliefs without fear. This approach one would think is just common sense. And I don’t care if people call it politically incorrect.”
Catholic voters also welcomed your willingness to champion the “forgotten” men and women of America’s working class. As you plan your agenda, there are several policy proposals that we hope you will continue to prioritize. These include policies that expand the child tax credit and those that provide tax incentives for maternity leave and childcare.
Other priorities include health care reform that is truly affordable, accessible, and respectful of the rights of conscience. We must also rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and remove strident Obama-era regulations on businesses that discourage hiring and growth, thus punishing working class Americans.
Your backing of these policies, combined with your pledges to protect life and religious liberty, enabled the Trump-Pence ticket to win Catholic voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin — giving you the necessary votes to deliver victory.
On the difficult issue of immigration, we recognize your desire to secure our borders, safeguard our citizens, and protect American workers. Properly applied, there need not be a conflict between a fair and just enforcement of our immigration laws, including a wall or fence, and the priority of treating every person, including families, with dignity. We urge you to implement these policies in a way that carefully includes each of these priorities.
Catholic social teaching has consistently prioritized the health and wellbeing of the family. And for good reason. St. John Paul II famously wrote: “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” We pray and hope that your administration will weigh every public policy decision in the wisdom of these words.
As you embark on this historic transition, Catholic voters across the country and the members of CatholicVote wish you the best of success as you assume this awesome responsibility.
We thank you for demonstrating respect for Catholic voters and for the crucial role the Catholic Church has played in building our country.
We look forward to working with you to advance the cause of life, family, and freedom — which would truly make America great again.
May God bless you and your family.
Brian Burch, President
CatholicVote.org
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