On November 1, President Trump made a statement on the White House.gov website, about All Saints Day. The message, issued via the White House, was notably Catholic in tone. The Statement:
On All-Saints’ Day, the First Lady and I join Christians across our Nation in celebrating the saints who have gone before us and now share in the glory of God. Their examples remind us that the strength of our country rests in the goodness of its people—and that through faith and virtue, our Nation can endure in liberty and truth.
From our earliest days, the United States has drawn inspiration from holy men and women whose witness shaped our people and deepened our faith. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the United States, has long been honored as a symbol of grace for our country. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini poured out her life in service to the most poor and needy among us; Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton formed generations through her schools of faith and learning; and Saint John Neumann led his flock with humility, courage, and unrelenting devotion. Their example, and those of all the saints, demonstrates that faith transforms nations as surely as it transforms hearts.
Our country has long cherished the freedom of religion that allows faith such as theirs to flourish. My Administration is committed to defending this sacred right, upholding the freedom of every believer to worship, speak, and live according to their beliefs. We are standing firm against those who seek to persecute or marginalize people of faith, protecting churches, schools, and communities from religious discrimination, and ensuring that Christian values maintain their rightful place at the center of American life. As we remember the perfect example of Christ and the legacy of His saints, we renew our promise to live as one Nation under God, defending liberty, seeking justice, and striving always toward the good that His truth reveals.
Tomorrow, on All Souls’ Day, Christians will remember all those who have entered the eternal sleep of peace. Today, the faithful honor the saints who light the path toward Christ and call our Nation to holiness. May their example guide our Republic forward in faith, hope, and freedom.
Religion News Service described it as Trump going "full Roman Catholic," noting that most U.S. Protestants don't formally observe the day or venerate saints this way, making it an odd statement. The question of who wrote it points to Melania, JD Vance, or more likely, John Barron as potential authors.
As Protestants, we reject the Catholic system of declaring someone a “capital-S” Saint after death, miracles, etc. Virtually all Protestants (99+%) say praying to Mary or the saints is unbiblical and detracts from Christ as the sole mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). We believe that the moment someone is justified by faith, they become a saint (Philippians 4:21; Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; 1 Cor. 6:2). All converted Christians are saints; dead believers are asleep in Christ, and not to be contacted.
Despite its nod to religious freedom, what do I think of the tone of this 318-word statement? What is my opinion of him referring to The Blessed Virgin Mary as Patroness of the United States? I don’t need 300-words. I can sum it up in three words,
“That’s unbiblical nonsense”
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“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says” (1 Corinthians 14:33-34).
