Pope Francis recently advised Roman Catholics to “vote for the lesser of two evils” in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, where Donald Trump is pitted against Kamala Harris. The Pope acknowledged that both candidates have moral flaws, pointing to Harris’ staunch support for abortion and Trump’s harsh rhetoric and policies on immigration. However, he expressed difficulty in determining which of these two positions represents the greater evil. As Christians, we can approach this dilemma through the lens of biblical teaching and moral clarity.

Immigration: A Biblical Duty to Welcome the Stranger

Pope Francis is right to remind us that the Bible calls believers to welcome the foreigner and treat them with compassion. The Old and New Testaments consistently show that God expects His people to be open and loving to immigrants. For example, Leviticus 19:34 commands: “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Similarly, in Matthew 25:35, Jesus commends those who welcome strangers, saying, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”

While Trump’s policies on immigration focus heavily on curbing illegal immigration and securing borders, his rhetoric has often crossed the line into vulgarity and inhumanity. Describing immigrants from certain nations as coming from “s—hole countries” or suggesting that Mexico is “sending rapists” are not the words of a leader striving to uphold the biblical imperative of treating all people with dignity. While Christians can agree on the importance of securing borders and enforcing immigration laws, it is difficult to condone language that dehumanizes others, especially when God commands us to “love our neighbor.”

The Atrocity of Abortion: Kamala Harris’ Extremism

However, while Trump’s language on immigration is reprehensible at times, the moral question of abortion dwarfs this issue in its gravity. As Pope Francis rightly stated, “To have an abortion is to kill a human being.” Psalm 139:13-16 teaches that God forms each child in the womb, and Jeremiah 1:5 makes clear that God knows and sets apart every person before they are even born. There is no more innocent and vulnerable human being than the unborn child.

Kamala Harris has demonstrated extreme positions on abortion, even supporting policies that allow abortion up until the moment of birth. Harris has consistently advocated for the protection and expansion of Roe v. Wade and has championed the removal of restrictions on late-term abortions. She even opposed legislation that would require medical care for infants born alive after a botched abortion attempt. This reveals an appalling disregard for life at its most fragile stage.

While Pope Francis may struggle to discern which issue is the greater evil, it is baffling that Harris’ unwavering support for the destruction of unborn children does not stand out as the clear moral abomination that it is. To deny the humanity of an unborn child is to deny the very essence of life itself. In comparison, Trump’s policies on immigration—however flawed one might think they may be—do not result in the systematic termination of innocent human beings.

The Balance of the Two Issues

It’s important to note again that Trump’s immigration policies primarily target illegal immigration. The reality is that a sovereign nation must have a well-regulated immigration system to ensure that the process is orderly, lawful, and beneficial for both the country and immigrants themselves. The Bible teaches submission to lawful authorities (Romans 13:1), and governments are entrusted with the responsibility to protect their citizens. Ensuring secure borders is a legitimate function of government.

In contrast, abortion is an unequivocal moral evil. The killing of an unborn child strikes at the very foundation of the sanctity of life, and no political issue can compare in magnitude to the loss of millions of innocent lives. Harris’ advocacy for the expansion of abortion rights places her on the wrong side of not only Christian teaching but basic human decency.

Conclusion

As Christians reflect on the upcoming election, it is clear that while immigration policies deserve careful consideration, the issue of abortion is far more critical. Trump’s vulgar rhetoric when discussing immigration policy pales in comparison to Harris’ extreme and dangerous stance on abortion. The choice between the “lesser of two evils” becomes clearer when viewed through the lens of protecting the most vulnerable among us—the unborn. Again, as Pope Francis himself has said, “To have an abortion is to kill a human being,” and no political platform that promotes such evil can be considered the lesser evil in any sense.