by Jay Shepard
Catholic Democrat politicians are certainly devout, but I am not talking about their religion. Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Xavier Becerra, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrew Cuomo and others talk often about their Catholic faith. The supportive media regularly refers to them as Devout Catholics. But are they?
I will leave the question of their faith to those that the Church has authorized to make such judgments. Those like Archbishop of Kansas City Naumann, who said, “The President should stop defining himself as a devout Catholic,” and “When he says he is a devout Catholic, we bishops have the responsibility to correct him,” Archbishop Naumann went on to say “he (Biden) cannot define what it is to be a Catholic and what Catholic moral teaching is. He is usurping the role of the bishops and confusing people.”
My concern is with their devotion.
Merriam-Webster defines devout as devoted to a pursuit, belief or mode of behavior.
These Democrat politicians are certainly devoted to their beliefs. They pursue their beliefs with religious intensity. America’s most prominent Catholic Democrat politicians reserve their devotion to progressive socialist ideals. They are without a doubt devout progressive liberals.
These leaders seem intensely devoted to unrestricted legal abortion, a practice that is perhaps the ultimate and most widespread dehumanization of others in our era. Their advocacy of this intrinsic evil runs counter to Catholic teaching (CCC2270 thru 2275).
They want to codify Roe v. Wade, to reverse the Hyde Amendment and use taxpayer dollars to fund elective abortion procedures. Biden has also called abortion “an essential health-care service” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Climate change has become the Holy Grail for those worshipping the redistribution of wealth. They have now established an incremental approach to enacting their full Green New Deal agenda.
John Kerry even admitted that if the United States had zero carbon admissions it would not make any real difference to the climate. The only real difference it would make is to give the government more tax dollars and more power.
The carbon taxes that have been proposed are simply another attempt at social engineering that impose another regressive tax on hard-working, over-stressed middle-class families.
Next bring on Racial Equity — because racial equality does not provide a large enough list of victimizers. Equity allows for an unending tirade against white privilege, white supremacy, and racism whether it is there or not.
By using the terms structural and systematic racism, the zealots of this progressive religion get to accuse with no evidence.
It now appears that they are also devoted to a new progressive interpretation of the Bill of Rights as well.
Their new First Amendment might read: Congress shall make laws: Prohibiting religion in public or any practice of religion that relates to God, Abridging the freedom of speech if we don’t like what you have to say, Limiting the freedom of the press to media that support our liberal agenda; and Restricting the right of the people to peaceably assemble except in support of progressive ideology. The Cancel Culture gets to decide.
These Catholic leaders claiming to believe in the transcendent One God are actually practicing their own religion and believe that they, themselves are greater gods. The religion that they subscribe to is any that gives them power and makes them feel good.
Today, the leadership is devoutly religious. Unfortunately, they worship the little greater god that they have empowered themselves to be. Totally Devout. No Doubt.
This post is republished from NewsMax. Jay Shepard is the former Vice-Chair of the RNC and currently serves as the National Committeeman for Vermont to the RNC. Delivered invocations at both the 2016 and 2020 Republican National Conventions. He is also a media advisor on U.S. Senate, U.S. Congressional, and Gubernatorial races. He is an ACEK Board Member and national messaging consultant. Read Jay Shepard’s Reports on Newsmax.
Categories: Commentary
So many of the people here cling to the lie that socialism means totalitarianism. This simply plays into the hands of those such as Marxist extremists who seek to influence and control people and eliminate any ideas of moderation.
The bishop is in a minority. Anyone may claim to be devout. It is then a debate that is not to be answered by an authority. That is, indeed, authoritarianism.
Excellent article!
Truly devout Catholics recognize that, while Biden, Pelosi, and other high-profile Catholics of their mindset may believe themselves to be devout, their overt and very public sins and sinful agendas belie their misguided beliefs.
Of course, having a Pope who cannot seem to fawn over them at every opportunity only confirms them in their delusions about true Catholicism while sending terrible, conflicting signals to Catholics worldwide.
It seems they’re more concerned with pleasing the world than our Triune God.
They are no worse than countless Catholics over the course of history. Their professed religion would not seem to be the primary issue.
Nor are they as saintly, good and decent as were (and continuously) far more Catholics throughout the course of history. It cuts both ways, my friend.
So what? I point out Inquisitions, conquistadores, etc.
“So what”? Seriously…?
You are subjective, quite selective when it comes to history you choose to advocate. Clearly, you focus on that which supports what I am beginning to suspect is an anti-Catholic bias. Acknowledging only the elements of history that fit your narrative, herein we specifically speak of Catholicism, is, to say the least, intellectually dishonest.
So, interpreting the narrative you’re developing, you also view the history of the USA, Canada, European nations, other religions, etc. as consisting only of negatives?
Mr. Sexton, please read my response to Ms. Henry. And don’t put words in my mouth. nor call me to foolish not to realize the paradoxes and ugliness of human history.
I’ve no concern with your discussions with anyone else, just our dialogue. As for putting words in your mouth, you made your own statements under this thread which remain here for everyone to read.
Yes, they are. And free to be misunderstood by those who don’t care to think about it.
I’m not going to re-type my response. You may search for it here.
……Just a HANDFUL of groups that possessed a number of unscrupulous, illegitimate, immoral, unsavory, deceitful, contemptuous, lawless individuals at times over the millennia:
African-Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics, Protestants, Jews, your aforementioned Catholics, Australians, Politicians (much GREATER than average), Gang-members, Parents, Serial Killers, Teachers, Native-Americans, Islamist’s, Vermonters, Californians, Satanists, Dog owners, Cat owners, Chinese, the Communist Chinese Party, Canadians, Buddhists, Bicyclists, Former Child Celebrities, Celebrities, Physicians, Lawyers, (up there with politicians) Current USPS carriers, Saints, etc………..
But nice try in again fingering Catholics and/or Christians for the ills of this world. Not EVEN.
Ms. Henry, I did no such thing! If you’d read carefully and been honest, what I said is that there have been immoral Catholics, etc. I’m well aware that each and every human grouping is variegated all over the spectrum. I have an Invisible Disability. A similar syndrome took my mother’s life. Agencies wouldn’t help me, trying to force me into mental health. The only help I received, last time I was homeless, was from a Catholic based program. It was founded by Medical Missionary Nun, and Ploughshares Activist, Sr. Margaret McKenna. She lives adjacent to the main bldg., a house used as offices. I was allowed a key to this bldg., while sleeping in my van.
My idea, in case you didn’t understand, is that it’s futile to criticize people over whether they are or aren’t true to their religion.
“So what”? Seriously…?
You are subjective, quite selective when it comes to history you choose to advocate. Clearly, you focus on that which supports what I am beginning to suspect is an anti-Catholic bias. Acknowledging only the elements of history that fit your narrative, herein we specifically speak of Catholicism, is, to say the least, intellectually dishonest.
So, interpreting the narrative you’re developing, you also view the history of the USA, Canada, European nations, other religions, etc. as consisting only of negatives?
It won’t be long until an event will collect all of your attentions and reveal more than any of us thought we knew. It will penetrate the core of our existence. In the meantime there are far more important small fires that need to be extinguished – the subjects that inhabit the VT Capitol need a new set of marching orders other than those from their handlers with influence! So get ready! Might seem like an old cliché but united we stand – divided we fall.
I agree. I vehemently disagree with much of the politics here but agree that the situation in VT is deteriorating.
We don’t need the predominance of any single Party. And that is what we seem to have.
What is most interesting about this post (aside from begin right on target) is that it generated such a long list of responses. Nothing seems as big a lighteing rod in Vermont then bringing up the subject of religion – esp the Catholic one. Well done Jay