“As president, Trump is destroying the United States. He has poisoned our political culture, setting citizen against citizen, celebrating conflict and even violence. He unites his base by stoking hatred of perceived enemies. His inflaming of partisanship has made a calm discussion of politics impossible, even among friends and neighbors.”

This is just one paragraph of a full-on literary assault on the current US President, Donald J Trump – by one of the US Catholic church’s foremost intellectuals, Thomas Reese SJ – published this week by the US National Catholic Reporter.  He calls for Trump to be blocked by the electorate by non-violent protest.

“He is enriching himself, his family and his cronies while president.

“He has even corrupted religion, where pastors can lose their pulpits if they are not enthusiastic supporters of Trump, driving away those who want their churches to be free of partisan politics.

“He has undermined the justice system by pardoning insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and violently attacked police. Pardons are also handed out to political supporters and donors.”…

“Meanwhile, Trump is threatening our national security by undermining NATO and alienating allies around the world. He does not care about international law or human rights. Ukraine is not his problem, and he is practically inviting China to invade Taiwan before he goes out of office.

“Trump has been a disaster for the United States, and we still have three more years to go. He will go down in history as the worst president ever. But he alone is not to blame. We elected him. And we are sitting back uninvolved unless what he does affects us personally. We get the government we deserve.

“The country must unite and block the stupidity and tyranny of Trump. Universities must unite and speak with one voice in support of academic freedom. Scientists must speak against the use of bad science for political and economic agendas. Law firms must develop a backbone. All races, ethnic and religious groups must not let him divide us into warring factions. Christians must affirm we have only one king: Jesus.

“At the ballot booth and in the streets, we must show that nonviolent collective action is still alive in America. What is at stake is the soul of our nation.”

To read the complete NCR protest against Trump by Thomas Reese, click here.