Johnny Depp and other “Kill Trump” celebrities by their words and actions have made implied threats upon the life of our duly elected President, Donald Trump. Regardless of his apparent character defects, the Catholic Catechism recognizes our duty to honor his authority and to treat him with respect. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1900). He certainly has a natural right to life as recognized by our Founders.
On the eve of the celebration of our country’s Declaration of Independence, we must recognize and defend God’s natural law that our Founders recognized. Thomas Jefferson wrote the immortal words in the Declaration, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Last month, actor Johnny Depp alluded to the assassination of President Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth, with an apparent reference to President Trump, by asking a crowd, “When was the last time an actor killed a President?…It has been awhile and maybe it is time.” The crowd cheered.
Last May, celebrity Kathy Griffin posed for abhorrent photos holding a mask that looked like the bloodied head of President Trump. How do you think that would affect his innocent children? President Trump tweeted, “My children, especially my 11 year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!"
At January’s Women's March on Washington, celebrity Madonna mused in a speech that she'd "thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."
A summer production of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar in New York City had a President Trump look-alike actor dressed like our President who played the part of Julius Caesar. He was bloodily assassinated on stage with the implication that President Trump’s presidency should end in the same way.
We should recognize and honor our President’s legitimate authority and respect his dignity and his life and not make him an implied target for assassination. St. Paul said to pray “for all in authority, [such as our President] that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:1-4).
The Catholic Catechism teaches us:
Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and to devote themselves as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of all….
Every human community needs an authority to govern it. The foundation of such authority lies in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society.
The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2; cf. 1 Peter 2:13-17).
The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1897-1900).
Let us pray for President Trump, Pope St. Clement of Rome’s ancient prayer for political authorities: "Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel, following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to them, they may find favor with you.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1900).
The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Indiana to the visionary Sister Mildred in 1956 and identified herself as “Our Lady of America, The Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of your land.” She promised peace and protection if we responded to her requests.
Change will come to America either through violence or conversions. Let us pray through Our Lady of America her Novena for conversions, true change and hope and for her promised peace and protection, especially for our President.
by: Dan Lynch
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