During Monday’s episode of The Situation Room on CNN, co-host Pamela Brown and CNN religion commentator Father Edward Beck teamed up to attack War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Christian terms throughout his tenure, especially during the recent conflict in Iran. Fr. Beck called Hegseth “unqualified” and pushed Christians, especially Catholics, to rethink their alignment with Trump Administration policies pertaining to defense and immigration.
Notably, Brown recently completed a documentary on “The Rise of Christian Nationalism,” which lost most of its attention base due to the Iran conflict.
The segment was in response to comments from Pope Leo XIV that called for the end of war and said God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.”
CNN religion commentator Fr. Edward Beck was dismayed at Sec. @PeteHegseth‘s use of religious language and said “Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.” pic.twitter.com/CiGNJt7NPk
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
When asked about a compilation of Hegseth’s use of religious phrases, Fr. Beck — who was Chris Cuomo’s favorite priest in his CNN days — showed his dismay and went in at Hegseth:
Well, it’s really significant because Pete Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.
The priest and the host failed to explain that some of Hegseth’s martial language comes directly from King David in the Psalms. There in the Bible is war and God preparing his chosen ones for battle. But this is CNN, so here comes the “Christian Nationalism”:
So, I think one of the positions here is actually rooted in the New Testament. And the other one is Christian Nationalism, which in my opinion is a contradiction in terms. So, I think it’s really very interesting that the two are pitted against each other, and the pope is kind of taking it on, you know, heads on.
Brown, alike to her anti-Christian documentary, invoked the “critics” in another question to Fr. Beck:
And the Pentagon has defended Secretary Hegseth invoking religion and his public statements by saying he is simply embracing his personal faith and the country’s history as a Christian nation. That’s what they say. But some critics argue that his language could divide what is supposed to be a secular military. What do you think, Father Beck?
On The Situation Room, CNN contributor Fr. Edward Beck also connected the crucifixion of Jesus to the Iran war.
“…So, this is the worst possible moment for Christian to justify war. This is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an innocent man” pic.twitter.com/TI0wXQdoDO
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
The military is religiously neutral — allowing religious freedom — that doesn’t mean it’s “secular” in that no one should pray in the military or speak in religious terms. Fr. Beck connected the war back to the crucifixion of Christ, as if the U.S. should let itself be crucified in some sense by Iran?
Well, I think that this is Holy Week, right? So, this is the worst possible moment for Christian to justify war. This is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an innocent man.
(…)
So, in this very week, when Christians are reacting and reenacting Jesus entering Jerusalem nonviolently, like heading toward crucifixion rather than conquest, you have American political and military leaders invoking his name to justify airstrikes.
Fr. Beck also called Hegseth “unqualified” and questioned Catholics and Christians who support Trump Administration policies as people having “issues with trying to allow Christian scriptures to justify their positions.” https://t.co/pJtINCLe71 pic.twitter.com/nuF7FcwVbW
— Nick (@nspin310) March 30, 2026
Brown asked about the uniqueness of the first American pope’s involvement in politics. In response, Fr. Beck questioned if Christians and Catholics who support the “unqualified” defense secretary are truly following scripture.
So, this is a real, I think, moment of conscience, not only for all Christians, especially for Catholics, because your pope is on one side of the question and unqualified defense secretary, I mean that’s just not my opinion, that’s the opinion of American generals, is on the other side.
So, I think Christians have to ask, in particular, Catholics, who do you align yourself with? Where do you stand? Do you accept the pope saying: Jesus is nonviolent? This war is immoral? Or do you look at people who really are having very difficult, I think, issues with trying to allow Christian Scriptures to justify their positions.
It’s not like there is any violence in the Bible or anything.
So we’re supposed to accept this is a totally unbiased priest who gave his unbiased opinion on the unqualified defense secretary. Only on CNN.
The transcript is below. Click “expand”:
CNN’s The Situation Room
March 30, 2026
10:49:47 AM Eastern
PAMELA BROWN: Happening now, Christians around the world are preparing for Easter this Holy Week, Pope Leo’s first at the helm of the Catholic Church. The pope raised eyebrows yesterday during his Palm Sunday Mass when he rejected attempts to co-opt God as justification for war. Many are viewing those remarks from the first U.S. born pontiff as aimed at members of the Trump Administration.
[Cuts to video]
POPE LEO XIV: [Voice Translated to English] Brothers and sisters, this is our God, Jesus, prince of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.
[Cuts back to live]
BROWN: Joining us now to discuss is CNN religion contributor and Roman Catholic Priest, Father Edward Beck. Nice to have you on, Father Beck. How do you read those comments from the pope?
FR. EDWARD BECK: Well, I think he’s quoting scripture and not playing politics. I mean this is Isaiah chapter one, where the prophet is telling Israel with hands of blood that God turns away from their prayers because of their violence.
So, the pope is really standing in like a 2700th year old tradition of religious leaders telling the powerful that your piety is hollow if your hands are bloody. So people have, like, accused Pope Leo of meddling in politics. He’s not, he’s simply being steeped in the oldest job description, really, in the Hebrew prophetic tradition.
BROWN: Let’s play some sound from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has discussed religion and war in recent briefings and interviews, to give us some context around these comments from the pope. Let’s watch.
[Cuts to video compilation]
SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH: Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans and break the teeth of the ungodly. By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish.
Blessed be the lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.
May the lord grant unyielding strength and refuge to our warriors.
The Providence of our almighty God is there protecting those troops. And we’re committed to this mission.
[Cuts back to live]
BROWN: So, talk about the significance of that language, especially when discussed in the context of this conflict with Iran.
FR. BECK: Well, it’s really significant because Pete Hegseth is praying for overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy at a Christian worship service.
I mean, the pope comes back with, what about gethsemane? I mean, Jesus rebukes the disciple who draws the sword. I mean, Jesus of the gospel refused the sword even to save his own life.
So, I think one of the positions here is actually rooted in the New Testament. And the other one is Christian Nationalism, which in my opinion is a contradiction in terms. So, I think it’s really very interesting that the two are pitted against each other, and the pope is kind of taking it on, you know, heads on.
BROWN: And the Pentagon has defended Secretary Hegseth invoking religion and his public statements by saying he is simply embracing his personal faith and the country’s history as a Christian nation. That’s what they say. But some critics argue that his language could divide what is supposed to be a secular military. What do you think, Father Beck?
FR. BECK: Well, I think that this is holy week, right? So, this is the worst possible moment for Christian to justify war. This is the week when the church commemorates a state sanctioned execution of an innocent man. I mean, the pope said that Christians in the region may not even be able to celebrate Easter.
As you know, on Palm Sunday, just yesterday, a cardinal was blocked from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday.
So, in this very week, when Christians are reacting and reenacting Jesus entering Jerusalem nonviolently, like heading toward crucifixion rather than conquest, you have American political and military leaders invoking his name to justify airstrikes.
And so I just think it’s really interesting that the first American pope is rebuking American power, military power. That’s historic. It’s never happened before.
BROWN: Yeah. And he’s doing it with that. And he’s also been critical of the immigration crackdowns from this administration. Tell us more about just how unusual that is from a pope, let alone an American pope.
FR. BECK: Well, it’s unusual because first of all, this first American pontiff is telling the American government that their conduct is incompatible with the gospel. So, you have a pope who knows American politics. Knows the ethos of the people here. Maybe like roughly 20 percent, right, of the U.S. are American Catholics.
So, this is a real, I think, moment of conscience, not only for all Christians, especially for Catholics, because your pope is on one side of the question and unqualified defense secretary, I mean that’s just not my opinion, that’s the opinion of American generals, is on the other side.
So, I think Christians have to ask, in particular, Catholics, who do you align yourself with? Where do you stand? Do you accept the pope saying: Jesus is nonviolent? This war is immoral? Or do you look at people who really are having very difficult, I think, issues with trying to allow Christian scriptures to justify their positions.
BROWN: All right. Father Beck, thank you for coming to offer your perspective. We appreciate it.
(…)
