Throughout Monday’s episode of The Scenario Room on CNN, co-host Pamela Brown and CNN faith commentator Father Edward Beck teamed as much as assault Struggle Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Christian phrases all through his tenure, particularly throughout the latest battle in Iran. Fr. Beck known as Hegseth “unqualified” and pushed Christians, particularly Catholics, to rethink their alignment with Trump Administration insurance policies pertaining to protection and immigration.
Notably, Brown lately accomplished a documentary on “The Rise of Christian Nationalism,” which misplaced most of its consideration base because of the Iran battle.
The phase was in response to feedback from Pope Leo XIV that known as for the tip of struggle and mentioned God “doesn’t take heed to the prayers of those that wage struggle, however rejects them, saying, though you make many prayers, I cannot hear. Your palms are stuffed with blood.”
CNN faith commentator Fr. Edward Beck was dismayed at Sec. @PeteHegseth‘s use of spiritual language and mentioned “Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence towards those that deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.” pic.twitter.com/CiGNJt7NPk
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
When requested a couple of compilation of Hegseth’s use of spiritual phrases, Fr. Beck — who was Chris Cuomo’s favourite priest in his CNN days — confirmed his dismay and went in at Hegseth:
Properly, it is actually vital as a result of Pete Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence towards those that deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.
The priest and the host failed to clarify that a few of Hegseth’s martial language comes straight from King David within the Psalms. There within the Bible is struggle and God getting ready his chosen ones for battle. However that is CNN, so right here comes the “Christian Nationalism”:
So, I feel one of many positions right here is definitely rooted within the New Testomony. And the opposite one is Christian Nationalism, which for my part is a contradiction in phrases. So, I feel it is actually very attention-grabbing that the 2 are pitted towards one another, and the pope is sort of taking it on, you already know, heads on.
Brown, alike to her anti-Christian documentary, invoked the “critics” in one other query to Fr. Beck:
And the Pentagon has defended Secretary Hegseth invoking faith and his public statements by saying he’s merely embracing his private religion and the nation’s historical past as a Christian nation. That is what they are saying. However some critics argue that his language might divide what is meant to be a secular navy. What do you assume, Father Beck?
On The Scenario Room, CNN contributor Fr. Edward Beck additionally related the crucifixion of Jesus to the Iran struggle.
“…So, that is the worst doable second for Christian to justify struggle. That is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an harmless man” pic.twitter.com/TI0wXQdoDO
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
The navy is religiously impartial — permitting spiritual freedom — that does not imply it is “secular” in that nobody ought to pray within the navy or communicate in spiritual phrases. Fr. Beck related the struggle again to the crucifixion of Christ, as if the U.S. ought to let itself be crucified in some sense by Iran?
Properly, I feel that that is Holy Week, proper? So, that is the worst doable second for Christian to justify struggle. That is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an harmless man.
(…)
So, on this very week, when Christians are reacting and reenacting Jesus getting into Jerusalem nonviolently, like heading towards crucifixion reasonably than conquest, you’ve got American political and navy leaders invoking his title to justify airstrikes.
Fr. Beck additionally known as Hegseth “unqualified” and questioned Catholics and Christians who assist Trump Administration insurance policies as folks having “points with attempting to permit Christian scriptures to justify their positions.” https://t.co/pJtINCLe71 pic.twitter.com/nuF7FcwVbW
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
Brown requested in regards to the uniqueness of the primary American pope’s involvement in politics. In response, Fr. Beck questioned if Christians and Catholics who assist the “unqualified” protection secretary are actually following scripture.
So, it is a actual, I feel, second of conscience, not just for all Christians, particularly for Catholics, as a result of your pope is on one facet of the query and unqualified protection secretary, I imply that is simply not my opinion, that is the opinion of American generals, is on the opposite facet.
So, I feel Christians need to ask, specifically, Catholics, who do you align your self with? The place do you stand? Do you settle for the pope saying: Jesus is nonviolent? This struggle is immoral? Or do you take a look at individuals who actually are having very tough, I feel, points with attempting to permit Christian Scriptures to justify their positions.
It’s not like there may be any violence within the Bible or something.
So we’re supposed to just accept it is a completely unbiased priest who gave his unbiased opinion on the unqualified protection secretary. Solely on CNN.
The transcript is under. Click on “increase”:
CNN’s The Scenario Room
March 30, 2026
10:49:47 AM Jap
PAMELA BROWN: Occurring now, Christians around the globe are getting ready for Easter this Holy Week, Pope Leo’s first on the helm of the Catholic Church. The pope raised eyebrows yesterday throughout his Palm Sunday Mass when he rejected makes an attempt to co-opt God as justification for struggle. Many are viewing these remarks from the primary U.S. born pontiff as aimed toward members of the Trump Administration.
[Cuts to video]
POPE LEO XIV: [Voice Translated to English] Brothers and sisters, that is our God, Jesus, prince of peace, who rejects struggle, whom nobody can use to justify struggle. He doesn’t take heed to the prayers of those that wage struggle, however rejects them, saying, though you make many prayers, I cannot hear. Your palms are stuffed with blood.
[Cuts back to live]
BROWN: Becoming a member of us now to debate is CNN faith contributor and Roman Catholic Priest, Father Edward Beck. Good to have you ever on, Father Beck. How do you learn these feedback from the pope?
FR. EDWARD BECK: Properly, I feel he is quoting scripture and never taking part in politics. I imply that is Isaiah chapter one, the place the prophet is telling Israel with palms of blood that God turns away from their prayers due to their violence.
So, the pope is admittedly standing in like a 2700th yr outdated custom of spiritual leaders telling the highly effective that your piety is hole in case your palms are bloody. So folks have, like, accused Pope Leo of meddling in politics. He isn’t, he is merely being steeped within the oldest job description, actually, within the Hebrew prophetic custom.
BROWN: Let’s play some sound from Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has mentioned faith and struggle in latest briefings and interviews, to provide us some context round these feedback from the pope. Let’s watch.
[Cuts to video compilation]
SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH: Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the depraved plans and break the enamel of the ungodly. By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish.
Blessed be the lord, my rock, who trains my palms for struggle and my fingers for battle.
Might the lord grant unyielding energy and refuge to our warriors.
The Windfall of our almighty God is there defending these troops. And we’re dedicated to this mission.
[Cuts back to live]
BROWN: So, discuss in regards to the significance of that language, particularly when mentioned within the context of this battle with Iran.
FR. BECK: Properly, it is actually vital as a result of Pete Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence towards those that deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.
I imply, the pope comes again with, what about gethsemane? I imply, Jesus rebukes the disciple who attracts the sword. I imply, Jesus of the gospel refused the sword even to avoid wasting his personal life.
So, I feel one of many positions right here is definitely rooted within the New Testomony. And the opposite one is Christian Nationalism, which for my part is a contradiction in phrases. So, I feel it is actually very attention-grabbing that the 2 are pitted towards one another, and the pope is sort of taking it on, you already know, heads on.
BROWN: And the Pentagon has defended Secretary Hegseth invoking faith and his public statements by saying he’s merely embracing his private religion and the nation’s historical past as a Christian nation. That is what they are saying. However some critics argue that his language might divide what is meant to be a secular navy. What do you assume, Father Beck?
FR. BECK: Properly, I feel that that is holy week, proper? So, that is the worst doable second for Christian to justify struggle. That is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an harmless man. I imply, the pope mentioned that Christians within the area could not even be capable to rejoice Easter.
As you already know, on Palm Sunday, simply yesterday, a cardinal was blocked from getting into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday.
So, on this very week, when Christians are reacting and reenacting Jesus getting into Jerusalem nonviolently, like heading towards crucifixion reasonably than conquest, you’ve got American political and navy leaders invoking his title to justify airstrikes.
And so I simply assume it is actually attention-grabbing that the primary American pope is rebuking American energy, navy energy. That is historic. It is by no means occurred earlier than.
BROWN: Yeah. And he is doing it with that. And he is additionally been essential of the immigration crackdowns from this administration. Inform us extra about simply how uncommon that’s from a pope, not to mention an American pope.
FR. BECK: Properly, it is uncommon as a result of to start with, this primary American pontiff is telling the American authorities that their conduct is incompatible with the gospel. So, you’ve got a pope who is aware of American politics. Is aware of the ethos of the folks right here. Possibly like roughly 20 %, proper, of the U.S. are American Catholics.
So, it is a actual, I feel, second of conscience, not just for all Christians, particularly for Catholics, as a result of your pope is on one facet of the query and unqualified protection secretary, I imply that is simply not my opinion, that is the opinion of American generals, is on the opposite facet.
So, I feel Christians need to ask, specifically, Catholics, who do you align your self with? The place do you stand? Do you settle for the pope saying: Jesus is nonviolent? This struggle is immoral? Or do you take a look at individuals who actually are having very tough, I feel, points with attempting to permit Christian scriptures to justify their positions.
BROWN: All proper. Father Beck, thanks for coming to supply your perspective. We admire it.
(…)
