US Church leaders promise to hold Trump to pro-life pledges

US Bishops and Church leaders have reacted to Tuesday's election result by congratulating Donald Trump on his victory and promising to hold his feet to the fire over his pro-life pledges, reports the Catholic News Service.

While most lay and religious leaders expressed hope that the President-elect would pay attention to their agenda, others were more decidedly downbeat, and still others counselled prayer.

President of the US Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, outlined an ambitious agenda in a post-election statement that congratulated Mr Trump and all election victors.

“The Bishops’ Conference looks forward to working with President-elect Trump to protect human life from its most vulnerable beginning to its natural end. We will advocate for policies that offer opportunity to all people, of all faiths, in all walks of life,” Archbishop Kurtz said.

He added: “We are firm in our resolve that our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees can be humanely welcomed without sacrificing our security. We will call attention to the violent persecution threatening our fellow Christians and people of other faiths around the world, especially in the Middle East.

"And we will look for the new administration’s commitment to domestic religious liberty, ensuring people of faith remain free to proclaim and shape our lives around the truth about man and woman, and the unique bond of marriage that they can form.”

Referring to a need to bridge the divides created in the country by such a contentious election, Archbishop Kurtz said: “Now is the moment to move toward the responsibility of governing for the common good of all citizens. I believe God will give us the strength to heal and unite.”

After Mr Trump clinched the Electoral College majority, Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston tweeted: “Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. May God grant you good health, wisdom, and courage during your presidency.”

“Regardless of who received our vote, now is the time to be reminded that the strength of our republic lies in our unity as fellow citizens and members of God’s holy family,” said Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Such relationships are the bedrock of our society and it is our sacred duty to foster them so that nothing divides us. When we live in such harmony, there will be true dialogue, and the exchange of ideas will occur in a civil and respectful manner.”