US Catholics express unease over Trump's public disputes with Pope Leo
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Donald Trump's ongoing public disagreements with Pope Leo are causing concern among some American Catholics, a significant voting demographic. Trump has criticized Pope Leo on various issues, including Iran and immigration, and recently called the pontiff "weak." Pope Leo, born in Chicago, has stated his moral obligation to speak against war. Some Catholics, like 88-year-old Jim Supp, expressed anger over Trump's questioning of the Pope's theological views and a deleted AI-generated image that appeared to depict Trump as a Christ-like figure, which 68-year-old John O鈥橞rian considered "blasphemy." Pope Leo has also warned about AI abuse without directly referencing Trump's post. Traditionally, US presidents have avoided strong criticism of popes to maintain support from American Catholics. However, Trump has not followed this tradition, despite winning the 2024 election with a majority of Catholic votes. The Middle East conflict has been a point of contention, with Pope Leo condemning Trump's threat to attack Iranian civilization as "unacceptable," to which Trump responded by calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." This public sparring could pose a vulnerability for Republicans in the upcoming midterms. Anthony Clark, a policy fellow, acknowledged Trump's good intentions but noted his imprudence in approaching controversial topics. Others, like 22-year-old Carolina Herrera, respected Pope Leo for standing his ground against the administration. Whi
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The North East Stakeholders Forum for Sustainable Development has praised President Bola Tinubu for approving an N80 billion fund for flood control interventions across Nigeria. The forum, in a statement signed by National Chairman Murtala Jalingo and Secretary-General Danladi Bawa, described the intervention as timely and crucial for mitigating flood impacts in vulnerable communities, especially with warnings of increased flood risks due to persistent rainfall. They expressed confidence that the funds would be judiciously utilized to address the threat of flash floods. The group also commended Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission HYPPADEC, for his proactive measures and commitment to service delivery. They highlighted HYPPADEC's annual flood preparedness campaigns and various intervention projects in Gombe and Taraba states, including the provision of life jackets, operational boats, solar streetlights, boreholes, desilting of drainages, construction of classrooms, and support for indigent students. The forum noted that HYPPADEC, under Yelwa, has focused on improving residents' lives rather than solely on institutional development. This commendation comes as Nigerian authorities warn of severe flooding risks in low-lying and flood-prone areas due to heavy rainfall.
Nigerian economic managers, industry leaders, development partners, and business figures convened in Lagos for the 14th BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria 2026, themed 'From Stability to Shared Prosperity.' The event focused on transforming Nigeria's macroeconomic stability into inclusive economic growth through sustained reforms, increased private sector investment, and enhanced coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Taiwo Oyedele, assured investors of Nigeria's new phase of economic stability. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of BusinessDay, highlighted the forum's role in policy dialogue and commended the CBN for its Central Bank of the Year Award. Dr Oyedele stated that Nigeria has successfully navigated the difficult phase of restoring macroeconomic stability and must now focus on converting these gains into inclusive prosperity. He outlined three pillars for the government's economic agenda: improving productivity, optimizing public revenue, and promoting inclusion. The government aims to measure shared prosperity through reductions in multidimensional poverty, growth in real income per capita, and declining inequality, reaffirming its commitment to building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Dr Oyedele also noted the impact of tax reforms, including free registration for 250,000 businesses and financial support throug
Dr. Abiodun Oluseye, Rector of the Ogun State Institute of Technology OGITECH, Igbesa, reflected on the institution's 20-year journey, highlighting its growth from 52 students and two departments to over 10,000 students across 38 departments and 51 courses. He emphasized his administration's focus on development, staff welfare, and infrastructure, including modern classrooms, a new library, and a laboratory complex. Dr. Oluseye also detailed the establishment of a robotics and innovation center, where students assemble and fly drones, and the institution's commitment to providing value-added certificates alongside traditional diplomas. He stressed the importance of technical education for national development, advocating for more polytechnics and increased funding, while addressing challenges like discrimination against polytechnic graduates and land encroachment. The Rector praised the National Education Loan Fund NELFUND for its positive impact on student access to education, noting that about 200 OGITECH students have benefited, with 400 more on a waiting list. He also mentioned OGITECH's use of e-voting for student elections and a mobile application for timetables and communication, showcasing its ICT-based approach. Dr. Oluseye affirmed the institution's zero-tolerance policy against anti-social vices and lecturer misconduct, ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment.