Pope Francis says to Americans, ‘You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil’; Pew: more religious favor Trump, atheists/agnostics favor Harris

Donald Trump Kamala Harris
(Official White House Photos)

Pope Francis commented about the US election:

Pope Francis: U.S. presidential election a choice between ‘the lesser evil’

Pope Francis said that American voters face the choice between “the lesser evil” in the U.S. presidential election during an in-flight press conference Friday on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia.

Speaking aboard the papal plane, a chartered Singapore Airlines flight, on Sept. 13, the pope encouraged Catholics to vote with their conscience.

“In political morality, in general they say that if you don’t vote, it’s not good, it’s bad. You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil,” he said.

“What is the lesser evil? That woman, or that man?” he continued, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent, former president Donald Trump. “I don’t know. Each one, in his or her conscience, must think and do this.” 09/13/24 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/259283/pope-francis-in-flight-press-conference-us-presidential-elections-harris-trump-catholic-vote

Actually, no, one does not have to vote.

Christians should not vote for evil.

Remember that the Bible warns:

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2)

There will be at least two crowds voting for evil according to Pope Francis.

And, of course, the “lesser of two evils” is still evil.

The Bible warns:

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).

That applies to both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Pope Francis is correct that the USA election is a choice between evil ones.

Now, let’s look at some of what the scriptures teach are to be traits of godly leaders starting with something God had Moses write:

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. (Exodus 18:19-21)

Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump are leaders who could be called “men of truth,” nor do they truly endorse God’s laws and statutes nor do they hate covetousness.

Notice something else from the Bible:

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God. (2 Samuel 23:2-3)

Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump are just nor do they intend to rule in the fear of the true God.

Hence, they are not people that Christians should endorse.

That said, race and religious views affect voting.

Donald Trump was raised Presbyterian, but now considers himself a nondenominational Christian. Kamala Harris claims to be a Baptist who grew up with a Hindu mother (https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/12/12/2024-us-presidential-race-guide-to-the-candidates-and-their-faith).

Regarding religion and this election, Pew Research recently conducted a poll. Here is some information about it:

Religion and Elections in the USA: Pew Research Reveals How Each Candidate Is Supported …

Trump Has The Strong Support of Evangelicals

Former President Donald Trump continues to be favoured among conservative religious voters. An overwhelming 82% of white Protestant Evangelicals have expressed their intention to support him if the elections were held today. …

White Catholics have also kept faithful to Trump, with 61% favouring him, and 58% of non-Evangelical white Protestants follow the same tendency. However, there is a notable difference within these groups according to the frequency of their church attendance: those that participate actively in religious services show greater support for Trump, compared with those that don’t attend church regularly.

Kamala Harris and the Support of Religious Minorities

On the other hand, Kamala Harris, who is leading the Democrats after Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race, enjoys solid support among various religious groups that traditionally favour the Democrats. Harris has been able to attract crucial voters, such as black Protestants (86%) atheists (85%) and agnostics (78%), consolidating a diverse and progressive base. https://zenit.org/2024/09/13/religion-and-elections-in-the-usa-pew-research-reveals-how-each-candidate-is-supported/

Kamala Harris’ strident support for abortion appeals more towards atheists, whereas Donald Trump’s less strident abortion positions are less offensive to many of the religious.

Of course, voting for Kamala Harris or voting for Donald Trump will not save the US.

The Psalmist wrote:

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. (Psalm 146:3)

Related to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, we have the following video:

14:24

Trump vs Harris vs Scripture

Are Donald Trump and Kamala Harris qualified to be President of the United States according to its Constitution? Does the adulterer Donald Trump’s record as a businessman who declared bankruptcy multiple times and who was once President of the USA make him the best choice? Does Kamala Harris’ political positions, one or more were related to adultery, and then later being Vice-President make her the best choice? What about their positions on adultery and LGBTQ matters? Do either of them meet the biblical requirements to be leaders? Could they both be evil? Should Christians put their faith in leaders or in Jesus and His Kingdom? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these points.