Latest news with #NewYorkStateCatholicConference
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
NYS lawmakers set vote to make assisted suicide legal despite controversy
ALBANY – State lawmakers are 'likely' to pass a bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide next week –despite controversy over the legislation, the Senate Democratic leader said Thursday. The measure — which would allow people with six months or less to live to be prescribed a cocktail of drugs to end their lives — would be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk after approval by the state legislature in a vote that could come as soon as Monday. 'I do believe there are the votes and it is likely it will come to the floor,' Senate Democratic Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins told reporters. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) said the Medical Aid in Dying Act will likely be brought up for a vote before the end of session next week. Hans Pennink 'Ultimately, the majority of the conference felt comfortable with providing options for people during difficult end of life times,' the Westchester County legislator said. A source familiar said the vote is likely to be scheduled for Monday and Stewart-Cousins' acknowledgement it is set for a vote indicates wide support in the Democratic caucus, which controls both houses of the legislature. Critics of the legislation – which include the Catholic church and disability rights groups, amongst others – argue the bill doesn't have adequate safeguards against abuse. 'We appreciate the Senator's desire to have a conversation about end of life care, but handing sick people a suicide cocktail is not compassion nor is it healthcare,' Bob Bellafiore, spokesperson for the New York State Catholic Conference told The Post. 'We know many Democratic senators have very deep reservations about this bill and they should be allowed to vote their conscience instead of toeing a party line,' he added. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, one of the Senators driving the effort to pass the bill, said the legislation is about 'honoring choice.' A source said Stewart-Cousins' acknowledgement the measure is set for a vote indicates wide support for it in the Democratic caucus. Hans Pennink 'Passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act affirms New Yorkers' right to make deeply personal end-of-life decisions. This legislation offers terminally ill individuals the autonomy to choose a peaceful and dignified passing, surrounded by loved ones,' Scarcella-Spanton said. 'It's about honoring choice, alleviating suffering, and treating people with the compassion they deserve. I'm proud to see that we have the support to get this landmark piece of legislation done,' Scarcella-Spanton added.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump says he 'had nothing to do with' apparent AI-generated pope image he posted online
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways President Donald Trump pleaded ignorance to an apparent AI-generated image depicting him as the pope that was posted to his and the White House's social media accounts, accusing the media of fabricating the backlash over the image. 'You mean they can't take a joke? You don't mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media,' Trump told reporters on Monday about the image, which shows him in papal clothing. 'No, the Catholics loved it.' He added: 'I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope and they put it out on the internet. That's not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI. But I know nothing about it.' Trump's Truth Social account and the White House's X account both posted the image on Friday night, sparking near-instant criticism from Catholics at home and abroad who said it was offensive. 'There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,' the New York State Catholic Conference wrote in a post on X the next morning. 'We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.' Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, told reporters on Sunday that the image was in poor taste. 'I hope he didn't have anything to do with it,' Dolan said about Trump. 'It wasn't good. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also weighed in. In a post on X, Renzi wrote in Italian that the image 'offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown.' Trump also suggested on Monday that he first saw the image 'last evening.' 'I think it's the fake news media that — you know, they're fakers,' he added. The purported AI image would not have been the first time Trump has suggested he should be pope. Earlier last week, when asked about the papal conclave, Trump said he was his own 'number one choice' for the head of the Catholic Church. As my colleague Steve Benen has pointed out, Trump has tried to evade responsibility for a litany of problems during his second term. From national domestic issues — like his immigration policy and the Signal group chat debacle — to smaller-scale controversies like the pope image, when faced with any degree of pushback, you can expect Trump to pass the buck. This article was originally published on
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump claims he had 'nothing to do with' AI image of himself as Pope amid backlash
Trump claims he 'had nothing to do with' a depiction of himself as the Pope that was shared on his and White House social media accounts, distancing himself from the AI-generated image Donald Trump has denied any involvement in publishing an AI image depicting him as the Pope - despite it being posted on his own social media account. The stunt has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders and members of the public as the Vatican looks to appoint a new leader following Francis's death last month. 'I had nothing to do with it,' Trump said while in the Oval Office. 'Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope, and they put it out on the internet. 'That's not me that did it, I have no idea where it came from - maybe it was AI. But I have no idea where it came from.' The image, which showed Trump in white papal robes and a ceremonial headdress, went viral over the weekend, sparking outrage among Catholics mourning the recent death of Pope Francis. The backlash intensified as critics called the post disrespectful and poorly timed, given that the Vatican is preparing for a conclave to elect a new pope. 'They can't take a joke,' Trump said when pressed on Catholic reactions, before quickly shifting blame. 'You don't mean the Catholics; you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it.' While Trump is not Catholic, his wife, Melania Trump, is. The president claimed she approved of the image. 'Actually, my wife thought it was cute,' he said. 'She said, 'Isn't that nice?'' When asked why the image had been shared on the official White House account and whether it diminished the platform's credibility, Trump gave no further explanation. 'Oh give me a break,' he said, before changing the subject. But Catholic leaders voiced serious concern. 'It's never appropriate to ridicule or mock the papacy,' said Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's Catholic bishops. The group later issued a direct rebuke on social media: 'There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.' Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, attempted to downplay the incident. 'I'm fine with people telling jokes,' he posted on social media, responding to a question about the image. Online reaction to Trump's remarks remained divided. While some users condemned the image and the president's response as insensitive, others defended it. "Even if it was a joke, putting [it] up on the official WH account is in bad taste," one user wrote. "Especially since the Pope just passed away." Another added, "'Melania thought it was cute.' They are both disgusting and disrespectful." Supporters, however, dismissed the criticism. 'It was a joke. Get over it,' one post read. 'God, these people will feign outrage over ANYTHING.'
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Can't take a joke?': Trump's bizarre response on his 'loved' AI viral image of him as Pope
President Donald Trump last week posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope, inviting criticism from all quarters. Now, the President has claimed that the image was loved by the Catholics. The image showed Trump in a white cassock and a Mitre hat with a large gold cross around his neck, with the White House's official X, formerly Twitter, account later republishing the photo. Trump has attracted criticism from some Catholics after posting an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump defends AI image of pope Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump faces criticism Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump recently shared an Artificial Intelligence image of himself as the pope. Trump, who days prior joked that he would 'like to be pope', posted the digitally doctored image of himself wearing a white cassock and papal headdress, with his forefinger raised, to his Truth Social platform late image was then reshared by the White House on its official X account. It came less than a week after Trump, who is himself not a Catholic, attended Francis's funeral last has now defended the AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope. Trump has attracted criticism from some Catholics after posting an AI-generated image of himself as the asked by a Fox News reporter about the backlash he received from Catholics about the photo during a National Football League (NFL) draft announcement in the Oval Office, Trump replied, "You mean they can't take a joke? You don't mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it. I had nothing to do with it. Maybe it was AI."The post reportedly was the topic of several questions during the Vatican's daily conclave briefing on Saturday, with local outlets calling it offensive, according to the Associated Friday, Vice President JD Vance, a practicing Catholic, also defended the photo and responded to Bill Kristol, a former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle, who asked on X, "Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?"Vance responded: "As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen."In a follow up question, the same reporter asked Trump on Monday, "The fact the pope image was put out on the White House account—does it at all diminish the substance of the official White House account?"The president responded by dismissing the question, "Give me a break. It's fine. You have to have a little fun, don't you?"The New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mocking the faith. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, took to X to criticise the picture."There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President," the group wrote."We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us."Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, now a senator for Florence, criticized the image in an X post, writing that it "offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around.""Republicans Against Trump," a group of GOP supporters who don't back the president, wrote in an X post Saturday: "More than a billion Catholics are still mourning the Pope's death, but Trump and his allies think it's the perfect time to mock their faith. Absolutely despicable."
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Give me a break': Trump brushes off Catholic backlash over AI Pope image
Donald Trump has dismissed criticism over an AI-generated image depicting him as the Pope, saying the backlash is being fuelled by the 'fake news media' rather than Catholics themselves. The US president shared the image on his Truth Social platform, where it was later reposted by the official White House X account. The image showed Trump in full papal attire, including a white cassock and bishop's mitre, and was posted during the official nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, who died on 21 April. The conclave to elect his successor is due to begin Wednesday. Asked by a reporter about Catholic backlash, Trump said: "Ohh, I see. You mean, they can't take a joke? You don't mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it." He went on to brush aside concerns about the timing of the image, joking: "Maybe it was AI... my wife thought it was cute. Actually, I would not be able to be married \[if I were the Pope]! It's the fake news media - they're fakers." — EricLDaugh (@EricLDaugh) When pressed on whether sharing such content from the official White House account diminishes its credibility, Trump snapped: "Give me a break. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo Somebody did it in fun." The image sparked outrage among Catholic groups and Italian commentators. The New York State Catholic Conference said, "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President… Do not mock us." Italy's La Repubblica accused Trump of "pathological megalomania," while former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the post 'shameful.' Despite the outcry, Trump's allies rallied to his defence. Far-right commentator Jack Posobiec, a practising Catholic, dismissed the uproar as lacking humour, writing: "We've all been making jokes about the upcoming Pope selection all week." Trump had joked just days earlier about becoming Pope himself: "I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice." His allies, including Senator Lindsey Graham, even played along, suggesting Trump as a 'dark horse candidate.'
