David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
@daviddecosse.bsky.social
I'm Director of Religious and Catholic Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, the Jesuit university in Silicon Valley. Keen interests in the moral and theological dimensions of politics and policy.
The USCCB is in a hole and, with Coakley's election, decided to keep digging. No objection here if Pope Leo makes a forceful intervention, voids the election, and gets the bishops back on track with the faith confirmed by the judgment of the whole church.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/depr...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/depr...
The depressing result of the US bishops' conference presidential election
The vote for a new president of the U.S. bishops' conference was close. Close and deeply disappointing. In choosing Archbishop Paul Coakley, the bishops had to overlook the disrespect he demonstrated ...
www.ncronline.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
The USCCB is in a hole and, with Coakley's election, decided to keep digging. No objection here if Pope Leo makes a forceful intervention, voids the election, and gets the bishops back on track with the faith confirmed by the judgment of the whole church.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/depr...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/depr...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
This kind of wealth is the epitome of obscenity.
To put this in scale, Elon Musk's salary from Tesla alone could fund the SNAP program for the entire country into 2034.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk scored a resounding victory on Thursday as shareholders approved a pay package of as much as $878 billion over the next decade, endorsing his vision of morphing the EV maker into an AI and robotics juggernaut.
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 AM
This kind of wealth is the epitome of obscenity.
Excellent piece by Elizabeth Bruenig that lays out clearly the present and growing tension between the affirmation of universal dignity and the demand to welcome the stranger at the heart of Catholic faith and MAGA's ICE-drenched-nationalism.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Catholic Church and the Trump Administration Are Not Getting Along
The religion’s call to radical love can’t countenance this much cruelty.
www.theatlantic.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Excellent piece by Elizabeth Bruenig that lays out clearly the present and growing tension between the affirmation of universal dignity and the demand to welcome the stranger at the heart of Catholic faith and MAGA's ICE-drenched-nationalism.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Justice Gorsuch keeps saying to use the "plain language" and the "plain language" of the relevant statue doesn't use the word "tariff." Not a good look to try to find a way around the plain language, your Honor.
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Justice Gorsuch keeps saying to use the "plain language" and the "plain language" of the relevant statue doesn't use the word "tariff." Not a good look to try to find a way around the plain language, your Honor.
Justice Alito sounds like a lawyer for the Trump Administration - raising stuff not in the Solicitor General's argument and trying every angle to justify these tariffs.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Live Updates: Key Justices Show Early Skepticism of Trump’s Tariff Power
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Justice Alito sounds like a lawyer for the Trump Administration - raising stuff not in the Solicitor General's argument and trying every angle to justify these tariffs.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
One year ago tonight, I couldn’t sleep. Tonight, I can. Mamdani, Spanberger, Sherrill, and more: Good folks stepping up to take back this country. We celebrate tonight. Back to work tomorrow.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 AM
One year ago tonight, I couldn’t sleep. Tonight, I can. Mamdani, Spanberger, Sherrill, and more: Good folks stepping up to take back this country. We celebrate tonight. Back to work tomorrow.
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Mamdani: "Yes, aunties."
November 5, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Mamdani: "Yes, aunties."
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Also of broader note: Leo says "many people who have lived for years and years not causing problems have been deeply affected by what's going on right now."
That appears to be a reference to the large number of immigrants detained in the U.S. who have no criminal record.
That appears to be a reference to the large number of immigrants detained in the U.S. who have no criminal record.
Oh — the situation has escalated.
Pope Leo has spoken out: says "spiritual rights" of detainees should be respected and calls on the "authorities" to allow "pastoral workers" in.
"Jesus says very clearly … we're going to be asked, how did you receive the foreigner?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=taCi...
Pope Leo has spoken out: says "spiritual rights" of detainees should be respected and calls on the "authorities" to allow "pastoral workers" in.
"Jesus says very clearly … we're going to be asked, how did you receive the foreigner?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=taCi...
November 4, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Also of broader note: Leo says "many people who have lived for years and years not causing problems have been deeply affected by what's going on right now."
That appears to be a reference to the large number of immigrants detained in the U.S. who have no criminal record.
That appears to be a reference to the large number of immigrants detained in the U.S. who have no criminal record.
Very important to note: Catholicism does NOT require baptism to be saved, as this article incorrectly states and as operates as a background framework for Vance's comments. Understanding this undermines the "be baptized or bust" approach of the Christian right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/u...
Vance Says He Hopes His Wife Embraces Christianity, Setting Off Backlash
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Very important to note: Catholicism does NOT require baptism to be saved, as this article incorrectly states and as operates as a background framework for Vance's comments. Understanding this undermines the "be baptized or bust" approach of the Christian right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/u...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Two Illinois Guardsmen claim to have sworn an oath over orders, stating that they will not turn on their city
November 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Two Illinois Guardsmen claim to have sworn an oath over orders, stating that they will not turn on their city
Ian McKellen at the Cambridge Union reading from Shakespeare's play "Sir Thomas More" on welcoming strangers...a text for our times:
youtu.be/ffCl8jPTgmQ?...
youtu.be/ffCl8jPTgmQ?...
Sir Ian McKellen | The Strangers | The Cambridge Union
YouTube video by Cambridge Union
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Ian McKellen at the Cambridge Union reading from Shakespeare's play "Sir Thomas More" on welcoming strangers...a text for our times:
youtu.be/ffCl8jPTgmQ?...
youtu.be/ffCl8jPTgmQ?...
Thank you, Bishop Bullock of South Dakota and the De Smet Jesuit Community...
www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/10...
www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/10...
Bishop, Jesuits reject Hegseth decision to honor soldiers who massacred Lakota at Wounded Knee
“If we deny our part in history, we deepen the harm,” wrote Bishop Bullock and the Jesuit priests in their message. “We cannot lie about the past without perpetuating injustice and moral blindness.”
www.americamagazine.org
October 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Thank you, Bishop Bullock of South Dakota and the De Smet Jesuit Community...
www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/10...
www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
The dialogue is a whole other thing but the bit about "fuck you shoot me I'll die for this shit" and the reaction is the crux here, from Gandhi's time on down, no authoritarian in history ever knows how to respond to this and it's why it beats them whenever deployed
"Man goes scorched earth on ICE agents kidnapping people in his hometown."
Source:
old.reddit.com/r/PublicFrea...
Source:
old.reddit.com/r/PublicFrea...
October 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The dialogue is a whole other thing but the bit about "fuck you shoot me I'll die for this shit" and the reaction is the crux here, from Gandhi's time on down, no authoritarian in history ever knows how to respond to this and it's why it beats them whenever deployed
It seems incorrect in this WashPost story to call these people to be repatriated "alleged drug runners" since there is 0 evidence to support such claims. More accurate to say "the persons to be repatriated survived the US military attack on a vessel."
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. to repatriate survivors of drug boat strike to Colombia, Ecuador
It is unclear if the two surviving alleged drug smugglers have any links to Venezuelan criminal organizations.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
It seems incorrect in this WashPost story to call these people to be repatriated "alleged drug runners" since there is 0 evidence to support such claims. More accurate to say "the persons to be repatriated survived the US military attack on a vessel."
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pope Leo's reflection on God's presence in the poor is one more moment for the Catholic Church in the US to engage the theological depth of his argument and let go of the reflex to first and only consider these matters in terms of arguments about capitalism.
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te of the Holy Father Leo XIV on Love for the Poor (4 October 2025)
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION DILEXI TE OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV TO ALL CHRISTIANS ON LOVE FOR THE POOR [ Multimedia ] _____________________
www.vatican.va
October 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Pope Leo's reflection on God's presence in the poor is one more moment for the Catholic Church in the US to engage the theological depth of his argument and let go of the reflex to first and only consider these matters in terms of arguments about capitalism.
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
This is disturbing stuff: Reform of the Insurrection Act is clearly needed but, for now, is it too late?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/o...
Opinion | Here’s What Trump Could Unleash by Invoking the Insurrection Act
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This is disturbing stuff: Reform of the Insurrection Act is clearly needed but, for now, is it too late?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/o...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
While I respect the new Pope as I do all Popes I am a little confused why he is talking about new religious ideas about helping the poor and welcoming migrants and not traditional religious ideas like becoming rich
October 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
While I respect the new Pope as I do all Popes I am a little confused why he is talking about new religious ideas about helping the poor and welcoming migrants and not traditional religious ideas like becoming rich
A great piece that offers an economic vision for a winning coalition in US politics.
newrepublic.com/article/2011... via @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2011... via @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A great piece that offers an economic vision for a winning coalition in US politics.
newrepublic.com/article/2011... via @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2011... via @newrepublic.com
Amen for this beautiful Paul Baumann remembrance of a great soul and good friend, Pat Jordan. Deo gratias for your beautiful life, Pat, and every consolation to your family. @commonweal.bsky.social
www.commonwealmagazine.org/paul-baumann...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/paul-baumann...
A Great Soul
"I worked with Patrick Jordan at Commonweal for more than twenty years. Pat was one of the most decent people I have ever known."
www.commonwealmagazine.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Amen for this beautiful Paul Baumann remembrance of a great soul and good friend, Pat Jordan. Deo gratias for your beautiful life, Pat, and every consolation to your family. @commonweal.bsky.social
www.commonwealmagazine.org/paul-baumann...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/paul-baumann...
Love this doc from Pope Leo on love for the poor: "Lives can actually be turned around by the realization that the poor have much to teach us about the Gospel and its demands. By their silent witness, they make us confront the precariousness of our existence."
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te of the Holy Father Leo XIV on Love for the Poor (4 October 2025)
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION DILEXI TE OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV TO ALL CHRISTIANS ON LOVE FOR THE POOR [ Multimedia ] _____________________
www.vatican.va
October 14, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Love this doc from Pope Leo on love for the poor: "Lives can actually be turned around by the realization that the poor have much to teach us about the Gospel and its demands. By their silent witness, they make us confront the precariousness of our existence."
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
Reposted by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher
Amen
Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”
October 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Amen
Thiel's anti-Christ is really just anti-libertarian: A vast government that limits the lonely freedom of the uber-wealthy. But the anti-Christ of the Gospels is the one who denies that Christ became a fully human being: poor, bound to all, loving beyond death.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s private lectures: Warnings of ‘the Antichrist’ and U.S. destruction
In leaked recordings of private lectures by tech billionaire Peter Thiel he argued that “the Antichrist” is likely to take the form of a critic of technology.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Thiel's anti-Christ is really just anti-libertarian: A vast government that limits the lonely freedom of the uber-wealthy. But the anti-Christ of the Gospels is the one who denies that Christ became a fully human being: poor, bound to all, loving beyond death.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
"Authoritarian regimes need civil society — the realm of people and organizations outside government control — to acquiesce to their rule."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | Where Trump Is Vulnerable and How to Act on It
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:31 PM
"Authoritarian regimes need civil society — the realm of people and organizations outside government control — to acquiesce to their rule."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social on hope and "Lord of the Rings": "'For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.'”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/o...
Opinion | There’s a Path Out of This Divide
www.nytimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social on hope and "Lord of the Rings": "'For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.'”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/o...
This guy is very good. Very well said, Mr. Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani calling it a genocide on The View and getting applause.
October 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This guy is very good. Very well said, Mr. Mamdani