While many Christian leaders in the U.S. are appalled at the blasphemies of theMAGAmovement, they cannot stop them.Alan Austinreports.

THREE WEEKS into his second presidency, Donald Trump announced he hadhireda YouTube evangelist as senior advisor to theWhite House Faith Office.

The media release claimedPaula White-Cainhas been:

Sounds great. HasTrump made a good call at last after his long history of holding the Christian faith up to ridicule?

Sadly, no.

This Special Government Employee preaches the false doctrine known as theprosperity gospel, which asserts that folks who give money to their spiritual leader will receive even more money from god.

Just when you thought the Trump Administration couldn't be more shocking, along comes Donald's plan for the U.S. to turn the Gaza Strip into a resort.

Last week, White-Cainpromisedher followers miraculous healing, longer life and lots of money for the low, low price of US$1,000 (AU$1,588) payable to her by cheque, credit card or internet transfer.

Her emotionally manipulativeEaster messageended with this:

The shame this brings upon Christendom worldwide is not because another religious charlatan has been added at taxpayers expense to the clown-car of criminal grifters, conspiracy theory nutters and grasping billionaires comprising Trumps Administration. The embarrassment is that there has been no effective resistance from Americas established faith communities.

Yes, there have been token objections, as recorded byNewsweekandelsewhere, which the White House has easily brushed aside.

Shameful history of misconduct tolerated

Sadly, many episodes in church history are recalled with dismay and disgust by believers and non-believers alike.

These include thecrusadesin the Middle Ages,persecutionof scientists in the 16th Century, priests sellingindulgencesbefore the Reformation, acquiescence withslaverythrough much of the last two millennia,supportfor Hitler and the Nazis in the 1930sandsexual abuseof children in the 20th Century.

The dishonour in all these derives from both the intrinsic evil and the indifference of ecclesiastical authorities who should have stopped them.

Religious hypocrites exposed

Most Christians worldwide were appalled that so many American professing believers backed Trump overKamala Harrisin last years Presidential Election.

Throughout his life, Trump has been contemptuous of church teachings. This is evident in his multiple adulteries, the abortions he haslikely paid for, his divorces, his pride, his businessbankruptcies,multipleconvictionsfor business fraud and tax evasion, his adverse court findings for defamation,sexual assaultand personal injury, and his allegedtheftfrom a child cancer charity, in which a judge ordered him to pay US$2 million (AU$3,18 million) in settlement.

Kamala Harris was not only innocent of all these sins, but had regularlypreachedthe Christian gospel throughout her public life.

Donald Trump continues to preach hate as politically-motivated physical attacks surge across the USA Kamala Harris' proposed solutions show signs of hope.

The two main issues on which American evangelicals supported Trump over Harris were same-sex unions and killing babies via abortion and the IVF program. The latter requires fertilising multiple embryos, most of which are inevitably discarded.

Trumpassuredthese evangelicals that he was their guy and would end LGBTQ+ rights and abortion. So they overlooked his proven crimes and personal moral failings.

Of course, he dudded them spectacularly in February when heannouncedthat IVF would continue. Just last week, hebraggedabout expanding it further.

Did Americas evangelicals then disown him? Of course not.

Signs of hope

In a rare moment of enlightenment, Episcopalian (Anglican) bishopMariann Buddechallenged Trump personally at a January prayer service in theWashington Cathedralattended by the newly-installed President and his inner circle.

Her 15-minutesermonclosed with this plea:

The bishop highlighted gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent familiesacross the country who fear for their lives. She defended undocumented immigrant workers who are not criminals but good neighbours.

Predictably, Trump rejected the entreaty and angrilylabeledthe bishop a 'radical Left hard line Trump hater'.

Republican CongressmanMike Collinsresponded:

Effective action pursued

Christian churches may succeed, however, in defeating Trumps draconian attempts to eject non-White residents.

The United StatesConferenceof Catholic Bishops hassuedthe Trump Administration over its decision to reverserefugee resettlement, describing it as unlawful and harmful to families. This follows Pope Franciss passionateletterurging American bishops to resist Trumps malicious expulsions.

As Trump attempts to humiliate his ally, JD Vance waits to play his hand.

Other policy decisions which faith communities are actively opposing includedestroyingthe federal education department,slashingforeign aid,extendingthe death penalty andremovingprotections for the environment.

Success, if achieved, will take time.

Australia also implicated

Other countries, including Australia, have their own religious groups espousing agendas diametrically opposed to the tenets of their faiths.

TheGlobal Project Against Hate and Extremismlists two Christian organisations as hate groupsAustralian Christian LobbyandRise Up Australia, which are both included for hostility to LGBTQ+ and transgender people.

Fortunately, few countries have so many citizens as gullible andstupidas Americans. But the promise is certainly appealing... apersonal angel to smite our enemies could come in quite handy.

Alan Austinis an Independent Australia columnist and freelance journalist. You can follow him@alanaustin001.

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