Steven M. Gonzalez

CCHS '10 / FIU '15 / Theta Chi / Roman Catholic / RTs are not endorsements 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[Knights of Columbus @KofC]

Statement From Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly:

In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States. The Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls.

The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division, but to unity, not to conflict, but to peace. In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction.

At the same time, we recognize that faithful Catholics can and do engage vigorously in the public square, and that nations have a right and duty to safeguard the security of their own people — always in accordance with the demands of justice and the pursuit of peace. The Church does not ask Catholics to withdraw from civic life, but to engage with and elevate it — bringing to our civic dialogue the light of truth, respect for the dignity of every human person, and a steadfast concern for the common good.

Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering. The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself. Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular policy judgments, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously.

As Knights, we are called to be men of unity, as followers of Christ and patriotic citizens. I encourage all Knights of Columbus to pray for the Holy Father, to pray for civic leaders, and to pray for peace and those working to achieve it. And let us recommit ourselves to charity in our public discourse. May we be known not for echoing the divisions of our time, but for healing them. In a moment of tension, the path forward is not louder conflict, but deeper fidelity — to truth, to charity, and to the Gospel.

[Steven M. Gonzalez @stevenmgonzalez]

When do we kick Spain out of NATO?

[Pedro Sánchez @sanchezcastejon]

Hoy, con el presidente Xi Jinping he constatado que el vínculo entre España y China sale reforzado tras este viaje oficial.

En un mundo cada vez más incierto, España apuesta por una relación UE-China basada en la confianza, el diálogo y la estabilidad.

Debemos seguir avanzando hacia un orden multipolar construido desde el respeto y el pragmatismo.

[Kelsey (Wicks) Reinhardt @catholickelsey]

There is no doubt that President Trump’s post insulting Pope Leo crossed, again, a line of decorum that plays an important part in diplomacy and sets the temperature for interactions between the two. Calls for an apology are well founded.

But we also need to reasonably evaluate the Vatican-vs.-Trump narrative: too many people are trying to turn a public disagreement into a grand showdown between the two.

That is false, and Catholics should reject it.

Archbishop Paul Coakley and Pope Leo himself, this morning, made the key point clear: the Pope is not a politician, not a partisan operator, and not a rival to the President of the United States. He is the Vicar of Christ. His role is to speak moral truth, defend human dignity, and call leaders to pursue peace.

The President needs to hear that in a way he understands.

Of course, some of the Pope’s statements may sound out of step with the tone, assumptions, or priorities of American politics. Fine. That does not mean he is “anti-American.” It does not mean he is attacking the United States. And it certainly does not mean Catholics should be manipulated into choosing between the Church and their country.

The Pope also needs to understand that many Americans view his interventions as overtly political and aligned with one side of the political spectrum. Catholics who have been paying attention note that no such condemnation of the loss of life through abortion ever came from Rome to Catholic President Joe Biden during the last pontificate, despite that evil ending millions of lives.

Enter Ambassador Brian Burch. As the founder and first president of CatholicVote, and now as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Burch is uniquely positioned to serve as a credible bridge between Washington and Rome. He understands the convictions, language, and concerns on both sides, and that gives him an especially important role at a moment when honest mediation, fair translation, and cooler heads are urgently needed.

What American Catholics should oppose is the deliberate effort to manufacture a large-scale confrontation between the Vatican and the United States, between Pope Leo and President Trump, or between fidelity to the Holy Father and love of country. Parts of the media are pushing that narrative. So are identifiable bad actors, including some inside the Church. They want conflict. They feed on confusion. And they benefit from division.

Catholics should be smarter than that.

There is no reason this disagreement should become a larger rupture. But it will if reckless voices keep treating every papal statement as a partisan attack and every political disagreement as proof of betrayal.

Once again, we must delineate between moral principles and the realm of politics.

But for now, let’s pray for wisdom for both leaders. And do not let others manufacture a conflict that does not have to exist.

[Bishop Robert Barron @BishopBarron]

The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful. They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree. I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration–Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others–might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place. This is far preferable to the statements on social media.

I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith. It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology.

[Gilbert Dabari @SkyVirginSon]

With all due respect to the Office of the President, this post contains several claims that are factually inaccurate and theologically misguided, and as a Catholic I feel compelled to respond.

1. The Pope was not elected to please any president.

Pope Leo XIV was elected by 133 cardinals from across the world in a sacred conclave, on the fourth ballot, on May 8, 2025. 

The Holy Spirit guides the conclave, not American politics.

To suggest that “if I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican”  is not only historically ignorant but theologically offensive to every Catholic on earth.

2. He was not an unknown outsider.

Pope Leo XIV served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, one of the most powerful roles in the Vatican, responsible for selecting bishops for dioceses worldwide. 

He was one of the most qualified candidates in the College of Cardinals.

3. He is deeply rooted in service, not politics.

An Augustinian missionary who worked for decades in Peru, Pope Leo XIV dedicated his life to the poor and the Gospel long before any political figure noticed him. 

His name honors Leo XIII, the Pope who championed workers’ rights and the poor during the Industrial Revolution, a tradition of Catholic Social Teaching that predates any modern political party.

4. The Pope’s role is prophetic, not partisan.

When the Pope speaks on peace, nuclear weapons, immigration, or the dignity of nations, he is fulfilling the mission of Christ, not opposing any government.

His first words as Pope were “Peace be with you all,”  echoing the Risen Christ (John 20:19).

A Pope who is silent on injustice would be failing his divine mandate.

5. Demanding a Pope “get in line” with a president contradicts 2,000 years of Church history.

From St. Peter before Nero, to St. Thomas More before Henry VIII, to John Paul II before Soviet communism, the Church has never existed to validate earthly power.

“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

As Catholics, we pray for all leaders, including President Trump.

But we stand firmly with our Holy Father.

Habemus Papam. And he answers to God alone.

[Rep. María Elvira Salazar @RepMariaSalazar]

Medea, you defend a murderous dictatorship from the comfort of luxury, handing out cookies to innocent children for propaganda videos while real Cubans suffer hunger, blackouts, prison, and death for demanding freedom.

Díaz-Canel is not a president, he is the puppet of a criminal regime built on repression and fear. I know that because I represent hundreds of thousands of families who fled that tyranny and still carry its scars. I have spoken with survivors whose legs were torn apart by sharks crossing the Florida Straits, with families who lost loved ones fleeing Cuba, and with relatives of victims murdered by the regime while trying to save fellow Cubans at sea.

You are complicit in defending a regime that has destroyed countless lives, and when that dictatorship falls, the world will know who took blood money to whitewash its crimes.

[Matt Gaetz @mattgaetz]

If NATO entered the fight I’m not sure which side they’d be on.

[LosPichyBoys @LosPichyBoys]

El hecho que la Habana este llena de politicos DEMOCRATAS en estos momentos mamándoselo a Canel es una prueba mas que este partido ha sido el traidor mas grande que ha tenido el exilio cubano y la causa de la libertad de Cuba . No se puede votar por esta gente JAMAS!!

Por esto somos ORGULLOSAMENTE REPUBLICANOS . 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

China’s decision to detain or otherwise impede Panama-flagged vessels engaged in lawful trade destabilizes supply chains, raises costs, and erodes confidence in the global trading system. The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying.
https://t.co/PMS0KqLWtF

[Rick Scott @SenRickScott]

Pam Bondi is a great friend and one of the best lawyers I’ve ever met. She did an incredible job as Florida’s Attorney General when I was Governor, and she has been an incredible U.S. Attorney General.

Ann and I are proud of all Pam has accomplished to make America safe again and restore the rule of law.

Thank you, @AGPamBondi!

[Mostly Peaceful Memes @MostlyPeaceful]

“Your honor, my client is American because he committed his crimes in America”

[Steven M. Gonzalez @stevenmgonzalez]

When do we kick Spain out of NATO?

[CBS News @CBSNews]

Spain's leftist government has closed Spanish airspace to U.S. planes carrying out missions against Iran, in addition to denying Washington use of its bases, the defense minister said Monday. https://t.co/2TMVQTI6iQ

[Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47]

.@POTUS on the so-called 'No Kings' gatherings: "I'm not a king. I work my ass off to make our country great — that's all it is. I'm not a king at all." 🔥

[Julio Rebull @JGRebull]

These sympathizers/supporters of the regime in #Cuba have no shame.

They stay at a 5 star hotel that never lost power.

They get on a fully fueled air conditioned tour bus and ride around taking pictures of the suffering Cuban people as if they were animals at a zoo.

Never ask about the 1000+ political prisoners.

Attend a concert that had all the power and fuel they needed.

They try to blame the suffering on the USA but history proves that the situation in Cuba has a root cause: a failed communist system that spent money on enriching the ruling elite and oppressing its people and ignoring the Soviet era critical infrastructure.

[Steven M. Gonzalez @stevenmgonzalez]

Great news for the TSA employees who show up and aren't getting paid because Radical Left Democrats in Congress would rather see Americans suffer than see the @POTUS and our country succeed.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country

[Theta Chi Fraternity @ThetaChiIHQ]

Statement from Theta Chi Fraternity CEO Michael Mayer on Missing Brother, Jimmy Gracey (Alpha Phi/Alabama).

[Ninoska Perez C @NinoskaPerezC]

“Infernales recuerdos” de que otra forma se piden describir 67 años de barbarie? Epitafio para una revolución fracasada. Ninoska Perez Castellón Diario las Americas #cuba https://t.co/36JN9b5AFc

[Jorge Mas @Jorge__Mas]

Prescient…True words 26 years later!!!… Cuba’s freedom is coming…the rebirth of a nation that will be a model of prosperity under a freely elected democracy…The will and voice of the Cuban people will finally be heard… Capitalism will break the chains of misery imposed by communism and failed socialist economic models…Adelante cubanos!!!! Con fe y Dios

[ESPN Insights @ESPNInsights]

BAM'S RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT:

🔥 Made 36 FTs, most in NBA history
🔥 First Heat player to attempt 40 FG in a game
🔥 Joins Wilt Chamberlain as only players with 20 FG and 25 FT in a game
🔥 Passed Kobe for second-most points in NBA history

[ESPN Insights @ESPNInsights]

10,000 career points for Bam Adebayo 🔥

He joins Dwyane Wade as the only players to reach 10,000 points with the Heat franchise 👏