Following are NCR reader responses to recent news articles, opinion columns and theological essays with letters that have been edited for length and clarity.
Cardinals' statement and the USCCB
I am disappointed but not surprised that Archbishop Coakley did not sign onto the rebuke of Trump's bellicose rhetoric concerning Greenland (NCR, Jan. 19, 2026). The only rebuke came from Cardinals Cupich, McElroy and Tobin who have been outspoken advocates for peace and social justice but are not speaking for the USCCB itself.
This failure does not allow the Catholic hierarchy in this country to be on record opposing Trump's action which potentially will ruin the NATO alliance. If our church does want to martial Catholic opinion to support peace and the integrity of NATO the body of bishops needs to rise to the occasion.
I believe the Catholic population is as polarized as the country at large and many of the faithful do not follow the arguments of the bishops unless they dovetail with their own beliefs. However, if the body of bishops, through their elected leaders, advocate for the necessary high ground response to Trump's belligerence they might instigate a greater popular reaction that could save our country from an historically malevolent decision.
CHARLES LE GUERN
Mount Holly, North Carolina
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JD Vance
Thank you for publishing "Catholic Vice President Vance takes to social media to justify killing of Renee Good" (NCR, Jan. 8, 2026). The vice president seems to flaunt his Catholic identity, as John Grosso notes. If Vance were more subtle about his faith, it might be easier to reconcile his lack of humility and compassion regarding the tragic death of Renee Good. While humility can be underdeveloped among politicians, his initial response lacked credibility due to its simplistic narrative and defensive tone.
Vance doubled down in his social media post, which lacked authentic compassion and instead used divisive language. He expressed concern towards law enforcement while quickly blaming others, inflaming the situation and endangering both ICE and local communities. There was no genuine compassion for Renee Goode and her loved ones, and at the very least, he should have refrained from name-calling.
It would have been better to see him advocate for a transparent investigation into this tragedy. The justice system may not be perfect, but it is essential for addressing crime. It takes time and effort to find justice and peace, and what happened to Renee Good must be understood to improve our systems.
As vice president, Vance wields significant power, and his social media messages can quickly spread hate and division. By identifying as a Catholic, he highlights the need to confront the dark side of religion and power, which often contradicts Jesus's teachings. I hope NCR continues this critical dialogue in its opinion pages and investigative work.
KAREN CHENIER
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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ICE and foreign policy
As your editorial "With Venezuela, Trump dares us to confront what we've become" notes: "Perhaps most frightening is the administration's establishment of what is turning into an increasingly unbridled paramilitary force" (NCR, Jan. 7, 2026) The use of force on Americans who are racially profiled or who dare to participate in resistance rallies parallels administrative threats to use military force on nations that are sovereign, but perceived as hostile to American interests.
This administration's militarized approach to this nation's problems is a threat to the rights of people to protest injustice without fear of weapons and brutality from armed uniformed enforcers. This administration's foreign policy speaks to an unrestrained self-understanding of presidential power that fails to recognize human rights, the rules of engagement in international relations and the effect of threatening rhetoric that rings hollow but strikes fear.
We are not a nation at peace as demonstrators in U.S. cities face militarized force to disperse protesting crowds. But the crowds will not be deterred. Instead, they will grow as menacing forces disrupt peaceful neighborhoods, racially profile innocent people and use weapons to threaten public opposition. Peaceful voices will not be stilled for as long as this administration threatens to suppress dissent and punish the resisters who call for justice, freedom and the right to protest.
(Sr.) LENORE NAVARRO DOWLING
Los Angeles, California
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