Rep. Ted Lieu calls Catholic bishops 'hypocrites' for trying to deny Biden Communion over abortion

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

stance while ignoring Bill Barr's death penalty push

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California lashed out at US Catholic Bishops on Friday after they voted in favor of advancing a document that could block President Joe Biden from receiving Communion due to his stance on abortion.

The bishops overwhelming voted to advance the drafting of a "teaching document" that would admonish public figures who support abortion rights, with 74% voting in favor. Some hope the guidance will limit or deny Biden and other Catholics who support abortion rights from receiving Communion.

Lieu, who is also Catholic, called the bishops "nakedly partisan" and "hypocrites" over the move, drawing a comparison to another prominent Catholic in politics that has pushed agendas that run counter to the Catholic Church's teachings.

"Dear @USCCB: I'm Catholic and you are hypocrites. You did not tell Bill Barr, a Catholic, not to take communion when he expanded killing human beings with the death penalty. You are being nakedly partisan and you should be ashamed. Another reason you are losing membership," Lieu said in a tweet.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rep-ted-lieu-calls-catholic-030720496.html

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. That's a good point.

I didn't know asshole Barr was a catholic, although it doesn't surprise me.

I was thinking about the hypocrisy of their support of MF45, everything republiqon, and covering for their own priests who bugger children.

I don't see how anyone decent can be either a catholic or a republiqon considering what they stand for today.

[MagickMuffin]

3. Not only is he catholic he is the worse kind: Opus Dei

They are dangerous in their agendas for everyone else.

[Maraya1969]

50. I remember hearing that in God's eye all sins are the same - as in bad.

So if that is the case why don't they refuse communion to someone who is overweight since they obviously committed the sin of gluttony?

Just another observation of their hypocrisy.

Oh, and why don't they refuse communion for every GOP member who supports the death penalty, (maybe that was mentioned.....I can't remember)

[NickB79]

52. Yep. I went round with the priest on the equivalence of sin many times as a kid

Between that and my arguments with him over evolution, I'm pretty sure he wrote me off as Hell-bound by the age of 12 🤣

[belpejic]

4. America's right wing Taliqatholics,

Barr, Amy Boney Carrot, and the rest of the Catholic SC cabal included, seem to violate the pope's position on so many issues that it's a wonder they're not struck down by lightning each time they attempt to enter a Catholic church.

[FoxNewsSucks]

5. "it's a wonder they're not struck down by lightning"

That's just one example of why it's hard to believe God exists. There are never consequences for His enemies.

[Escurumbele]

43. Well put...plus, if there was a god, would he even care about religions?

One of these days people will realize the con job that religions are. People can be good without feeling guilty, and the worst part is that evil people who say they are christians feel no guilt about their crimes. They will kill one day, and go to church the next, just like the mafia, they would even go to the funerals of the people they had killed days before.

[Warpy]

33. Those theoretically celibate old men have a pathological

fear and dread of women that blinds them to most other concerns. You can see why, if women are off limits and they are straight men with normal male sex drives, of course they'd project all sin and corruption onto us.

It's the church that's sick, and this idiotic focus on abortion, which was well known and tolerated in ancient times and upon which Jesus never bothered to comment, is very telling about how sick that church is.

And they wonder why I left.

[hlthe2b]

2. It is nakedly partisan. The Pope thinks it won't come to an absolute ban, but I think he

underestimates the recalcitrance of US Bishops and their ugly embrace of the RW.

Lieu is right though. This will increase the rate of departure/disdain among the youth.

[shrike3]

7. Joe's home church has already said he won't be denied communion.

Wilton Gregory in D.C. has already said he won't be denied. This will likely have little effect on him or any other politician.

[ratchiweenie]

6. A bunch of pedophiles and rapists threatening Joe Biden for not being "moral" enough. The hypocrisy

is overwhelming.

[smirkymonkey]

14. +1000

Such a joke, isn't it? I hope the Catholic Church withers into oblivion.

[Blue_true]

47. Hopefully the Southern Baptist Convention withers first.

If you want to talk about rightwing, that group leads the way. It too is losing membership. They voted in a so-called “moderate” as the new president, he only believes that women are subservient to men and he has a harsh view on LGBTQ rights. Unfortunately, the group still has like 13 million members.

[smirkymonkey]

53. Absolutely agree with you there!

As a matter of fact, I would like to see all RW fundie, hate-filled religions wiped off the face of the earth.

[Cha]

19. Yes, & it's the law & a woman's

right to choose that Pres Biden is upholding.

[whathehell]

27. Your characterization of the RC Church as "bunch of pedophiles and rapists"

is discredited bullshit -- EVERY study done on the issue of pedophile priests has concluded that, not only are Catholic priests no more likely to molest children than the clergy of other religions, they're no more likely than men in the general population -- Most could molesters are married men.

https://www.newsweek.com/priests-commit-no-more-abuse-other-males-70625

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/do-the-right-thing/201808/separating-facts-about-clergy-abuse-fiction

[ret5hd]

30. Most married men don't have...

an international politically connected multi-billion dollar organization helping to hide their crimes.

[whathehell]

38. Neither do most criminals..

Somehow, it doesn't stop them from committing crimes.

[ret5hd]

41. Priests do, though.

[whathehell]

64. Penn State, Boy Scouts of America & Michigan State too?

[ratchiweenie]

44. Most men don't have power over large numbers of

impressionable young boys and lots of time alone with them.

[RevBrotherThomas]

57. While abuse statistics are comparable

...with ministers of other denominations and religions, the Catholic Church abuse scandals are 2-pronged; the abuse itself and the methodical and purposeful covering up of that abuse. The hierarchy put its reputation before the safety of the Church community by shuffling around known abusers, paying out bribes in exchange for silence, and gas-lighting victims.

The trust in the hierarchy's prudence and authority is rightfully diminished.

[whathehell]

61. Do you know of any institution, secular or non secular, that

has NOT tried to cover up their sex and pedophile scandals?

I agree, of course, on the hideous nature of the abuses and subsequent cover-ups, but 'circling the wagons' against the allegations seems to be a decided tendency among large institutions.

[SpankMe]

59. Um, let's calm the rhetoric just bit.

We bristled severely when the Orange Asshole® called Mexicans rapists and criminals. We, too, should avoid sweeping generalizations like this. It makes us look hypocritical, angry and petty.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. People wear crosses to convey they are Christian when their words and actions can not.

.

The larger the cross, the more of a hypocrite they are.

.

[crud]

12. my pillow guy...

that cross was an indicator to me that this was a con man. Long before he became trump idiot.

[whathehell]

39. Does it work the same way

with yarmulkes and other religions attire/iconography?

[TheBlackAdder]

42. It seems like it. No matter how pious a person pretends to be, their nature is revealed.

.

It sure seems like it. I live in a town that is roughly 40% Christian, 40% Jewish, and 20% other.

My family, neighbors and I catch the priests with girlfriends that stay the night, you could never tell the Rabbis were Rabbis, including the Hasidim ones. But, it's more the congregants who try to outdo each other with their piety. It's almost like those cliche mobster tropes. These folks put on a good show to the congregation, flaunt how devout they are while trashing other people's faiths, and yet they are the biggest reprobates and hypocrites you'd ever meet.


I call it The Tartuffe Effect -- The more pious & larger the cross one wears, the more of a fraud and hypocrite.

Tartuffe is a charlatan in Molière's play of the same name.

.

[Midnight Writer]

9. To be fair, these guys wouldn't have gigs if not for the death penalty.

Their symbol of faith, the Cross, is itself a method of execution.

[Blue_true]

48. The crucifixion of a "savior" predated Christianity.

Earlier religions had one god and legend of a crucified savior, I believe two directly predated Christianity (practiced during the centuries leading up to the formation of Christian theology.

[whathehell]

65. Huh?!

Um, no, that "symbol of faith" advocates for neither crucifixion or any form of the death penalty.

[Sherman A1]

10. I would like to see Representative Lieu

Introduce legislation to take away the tax exempt status of the Catholic Church. See how that “teaching document” sounds to those Bishops…….

[whathehell]

66. Tax exemption couldn't be taken.away ONLY from the RC Church

It would have to be all tax exempt houses of worship or none.

P.S. The opinion of these few bishops, is not that of the Pope; It's
not the official position of the Church.

[malaise]

11. I find the entire discussion hilarious

Ask the Catholic Church how it acquired its wealth over several centuries.
Ask the indigenous people of the world. The Catholic cnurch is one of the oldest corporations on the planet and they have more blood on their hands than all the blood banks on the planet combined.


I walked out of that hypocritical crap decades ago

[alwaysinasnit]

17. +1000

When a religious institution has it's own bank, most likely to hide it's wealth and business dealings, it is a racket covered by the trappings of a religion.

[malaise]

20. It has always been

[alwaysinasnit]

22. How true!

[cstanleytech]

13. Maybe its really time to revise the tax excemption to churches? The Constitution after all does not

give the churches that as its been merely a gift from the government as part of an unspoken agreement that the various churches would stay out of trying to control our politicians and our government.

[3auld6phart]

15. Hypocrite s

Too many of them are closeted hypocrites You dorks that are can go pound sand.
Phoney parasites.

[VMA131Marine]

16. The Episcopal Church would have no problem giving Biden communion

[zeusdogmom]

23. Neither would most ELCA churches (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America)

Our local congregation welcomes ALL to the communion table.

[yellowdogintexas]

28. Neither would the United Methodist Church

We also have an Open Table and all are welcome

[zeusdogmom]

37. Good. As it should be

[Quemado]

18. Another example of the hypocrisy.

I attended Mass today - first time since March 2020. I was really taken aback about what was said by the priest. The "homily" included references to the riots in 2020, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, arson, etc. All political statements intended to criticize the left. He never brought up mass shootings, the January 6 insurrection, the hundreds of thousands who died from Covid, or any other issue that would criticize the right. I go to church for religious reasons. If I want politics, I can get that in plenty of other places.

[unweird]

25. Regional Politics, maybe?

I escort my wife to mass and in Seattle and now here in Pittsburgh have never heard a homily that strayed into anything remotely against progressive politics. Of course my escort services would be quickly curtailed if I did hear such. I already have a chip on my shoulder with their history anyway.

[lindysalsagal]

31. Your attendance is your tacet approval: It makes you part of the problem.

Sorry, but it's a fact. If you want to vote your values, vote with your feet. Nothing else matters.

[Skittles]

63. THANK YOU

PASS THE PLATE FOR HYPOCRITES

[Blue_true]

49. But you will continue to go to that parish?

Sorry, your choice is part of the problem, IMO. You can have your religion without a priest spouting one-sided political nonsense.

[UpInArms]

55. When you heard that

Why did you not rise and leave?

[SWBTATTReg]

21. I agree w/ Lieu, that this action by these bishops points out exactly why the Catholic Church...

continues to lose membership by the tens of thousands (and probably more).

Again, for some reason, they (the Catholic Church) thinks that they have the right to tell people what to do w/ their own bodies, what to believe in, LBGT issues, etc., and ignored a major problem within their own clergy, w/ the raping/abuse of many young boys, by shipping the clergy guilty of such hideous acts to parts unknown across the globe. Why should anyone believe or trust the Catholic Church anymore?

[mainer]

24. Holding an opinion is worse than the actual sin

Biden's not performing abortions. He's not having an abortion. He's holding an opinion, and I guess that alone is a sin to the American Catholic church.

I found an interesting quote today in the Washington Post, that Italian Catholic clergy are shocked that the Americans would do this. They said that NO ONE in Italy is ever denied communion, for any reason. They never turn anyone away.

[Scottie Mom]

26. I ♥️ Ted Lieu!

Great letter!!! 👍

[lindysalsagal]

29. ...something about throwing stones in glass houses....I forget..

The catholic church has so much blood on its hands. In addition to the molesting and abusing pregnant women....

[niyad]

46. Thank you for the reminder of the Magdaline Laundries. People tend to forget that

Horror.

[mopinko]

56. one of the few things that make me glad i was born here and not ireland.

i had 12 yrs of catholic school, but it was the 60's in suburban america.
the nuns were ok, tho i found the whole thing creepy.
both schools i went to were new, and the blue collar alternative to the old, rich schools.
there was no hitting.

but my sister got pg at 16, and got booted out. thank ja there was no catholic 'home' to send her to.

[GoCubsGo]

32. Ted Lieu is correct

They are hypocrites of the highest order, and have been so for a long time. They have long failed to condemn Catholic Republican lawmakers for their pro-death penalty stances, as well as their pro-war stances, not to mention their perpetual war against the poor. Nary a peep from them every time the GOP has gutted social programs that aid pregnant women and poor children. "Hypocrites" doesn't even scratch the surface with these fuckers.

[Haggard Celine]

34. I want to know if paedophile priests are

allowed to take communion. I'm sure at least some of them are because for years they were sent all over the world and allowed to give communion when they conducted mass. If they refuse communion to a good man like Joe Biden and at the same time give communion to paedophiles, that ought to tell everyone what that church is worth.

[DBoon]

35. So these bishops are Ok with tearing families apart and putting children in cages?

Not a peep from them while the Trump regime did this to border crossers seeking asylum, which is their legal right.

[634-5789]

36. Hypocrites, and filty pedos.

[localroger]

40. The Vatican has already told them to cut the shit

These jerks are the Catholic Church's equivalent of people like Mitch McConnell, who have decided their leaders are illegitimate and their duties only worth following when they agree with what they are supposed to do. They are hoping for Pope Francis to be succeeded by someone more to their tastes who will back them in their political agenda. Meanwhile they make as much trouble as they think they can get away with in furtherance of their goals, which at the moment are not the Vatican's goals and they've been told as much.

[Johonny]

45. Many raised catholic, like I was, have no interest in the current American church

It does nothing for the working class, everything to push RW agenda. And of course, garbage pedophiles throughout the organization.

[Blue_true]

51. Not to mention.

They violently oppose contraception and abortion, but except for a precious few, they say nothing when catholic republicans in state legislatures are cutting housing and food assistance to poor families with small kids, or decimating school lunch programs that should provide EVERY kid a nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. They say nothing when republican catholic legislators vote to have guns spread all over our cities and towns.

They are beyond hypocrites, they are very dangerous extremists that represent a cancer in the body of society.

[Hekate]

54. I am so done caring what the bishops think. Ted Lieu, otoh, remains one of my favorite people.

Thank you, sir.

[speaknow]

58. If I recall Pope John Paul 2, told clergy to

get out of politics. I guess they just
can't stop so they should be taxed.

[mbusby]

60. Voltaire....

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

[OneCrazyDiamond]

62. This isn't just President Biden.

The Supreme court is majority Catholic. I think they are trying to influence any Roe v Way cases coming up.