When Leaders Call Good Evil: The Alarming Strategy Behind Marjorie Taylor Greene's Attack on the Pope
When Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an image of Pope Francis alongside a comment about “evil,” it was easy to brush it off as yet another incendiary post from a politician who thrives on controversy. But that would be a mistake. Beneath the surface lies something far more deliberate and dangerous: a calculated strategy to erode trust in traditional moral authorities and consolidate loyalty to a radical, self-serving political ideology.
At first glance, Greene's post might seem like an expression of outrage against the Catholic Church, a jab at perceived corruption, or even a personal disdain for the Pope's political views. Yet if you dig deeper, a more troubling pattern emerges. Greene is not merely expressing personal discontent — she is waging psychological warfare.
Undermining Moral Authority
For centuries, institutions like the Catholic Church have served as global moral anchors, imperfect but vital forces offering guidance on right and wrong to millions. By suggesting that the Pope himself is aligned with “evil,” Greene isn't just attacking one man or one institution. She is working to sever a vital moral tether that binds individuals to something larger than themselves. In the void left behind, she and others like her aim to install a new order — one where allegiance is not to principle, tradition, or even faith, but to a political movement masquerading as divine truth.
This is a classic move of would-be authoritarian movements: discredit and dismantle the old moral authorities so that new, politicized authorities can rise in their place. It is not about faith; it is about control.
The Dog Whistles Embedded
To her core audience, Greene's “evil” post carries layers of meaning.
First, it taps into deep-seated conspiracy theories often nurtured in the far-right ecosystem — including beliefs that the Vatican is part of a globalist, satanic cabal seeking world domination. These conspiracies, popular among QAnon circles, paint religious leaders, international organizations, and political figures as villains in an apocalyptic battle between good and evil.
Second, the post signals disdain for “globalism.” Pope Francis has been outspoken on issues like climate change, refugee rights, and economic inequality — positions that many on the far right equate with socialism or leftist ideology. By labeling the Pope “evil,” Greene discredits not only the man but also the moral imperatives he advocates: compassion, stewardship, and justice.
Third, it creates a loyalty test. If her followers are willing to believe that even the Pope is evil, there is virtually no figure they will not abandon if Greene or her movement demands it. It is a methodical cutting away of external influences until only the movement's voice remains.
A Dangerous Vacuum
When traditional institutions are torn down without careful, principled reform — when they are demonized wholesale — the resulting vacuum does not lead to freedom. It leads to the rise of opportunists who fill the void with fear, anger, and blind loyalty.
By calling the Pope “evil,” Greene is not just expressing skepticism. She is laying the groundwork for a new moral hierarchy where goodness is defined by political allegiance, not by ethical or spiritual standards. It is a chilling reversal of centuries of societal development, one that opens the door to extremism dressed up as righteousness.
Setting the Stage for Greater Conflict
This move also prepares her base for the next phase: open rejection of any authority that challenges their political aims. Judges, religious leaders, teachers, scientists, even family members — all can be cast as “evil” if they do not conform. It is a strategy designed to escalate division, to pit citizen against citizen, and to justify increasingly extreme actions in the name of a self-declared holy war.
If institutions like the Vatican can be so easily recast as villains, it follows that any call for moderation, compassion, or restraint can be dismissed as satanic subversion. This is not politics. It is the weaponization of faith for authoritarian ends.
A Call to Awareness
We cannot afford to be numb to these tactics. We cannot afford to shrug off such posts as mere outrage-bait. They are warnings — clear signals of a movement intent on dismantling the foundations of shared morality and replacing them with a volatile mixture of grievance, power, and uncritical devotion.
When leaders start calling good evil, history teaches us that true evil often follows.
Recognizing the tactic is the first step. Calling it out is the second. Refusing to surrender our moral compass to political opportunists must be the third.
Our future depends on it. #DemocracyMatters