Since it is Sunday, we may have some more news related to the Catholic Church. Back on April 5, Bishop Robert Gross invoked President Joe Biden’s name during a speech at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Saginaw, Michigan. But the bishop did not sanction any kind of campaigning. He was instructing the flock on how forgiveness is at the heart of true Christianity and urging them to let go of anger and resentment toward others. Seemingly out of the blue, he decided to single out the president as an example, asking the faithful how many times they’ve been angry with Joe Biden. He said that if anyone harbors a grudge against Biden, they should admit it and get over it. He then said he wasn’t angry at Biden personally… “He’s just an idiot.” He then clarified the comment that Biden “doesn’t understand the Catholic faith.” (Fox News)
Reflecting on his own feelings toward Biden — who has embraced a public relationship with Catholicism and supported abortion, gender ideology and other policies contrary to church teachings — the bishop said he pitied him.
“I have no anger at the president. I feel sorry for him. I’m not angry at him, he’s just stupid,” Grass said.
The comment drew renewed laughter from the audience, though Bishop remained serious.
“It’s not stupid in a derogatory way, it’s stupid in a sense […] He doesn’t understand the Catholic faith.”
To be fair to Bishop Gross, he later apologized for calling Biden an idiot. He said he “should have chosen more specific words.” I’m not sure which term would be more “accurate” or correct in this situation, but it’s natural that a bishop would apologize for potentially offending someone. He said he didn’t mean to be “insulting” to the president.
Joe Biden makes a big deal about being Catholic when giving speeches, or at least when it suits his convenience to do so. However, you’d be hard-pressed to tell based on the way he rules. On issues from abortion to gender identity, he is completely out of step with the message from the church The Pope called her “incoherent” on abortion. And Biden’s sympathy for the poor may not go further than words unless the poor in question are illegal aliens.
Then there’s Biden’s repeated claims that he often attended a black Baptist church when he was younger. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course (assuming it’s true), but if you buy all his claims, it doesn’t seem like he spent that much time attending Catholic mass.
Of course, we don’t elect presidents based on their beliefs, or at least we’re not supposed to. But that doesn’t mean voters can’t take into account things like morality and the presence of devotion. However, we should also remember that simply being a good Christian (or whatever religion you prefer) does not guarantee competence or capable leadership. Jimmy Carter was perhaps the most faithful, God-fearing man to occupy the Oval Office in the modern era, but he was mostly a disaster as a president. And yet, as I have discussed with Ed Morrissey on many occasions, he was also rational Our best former president. He was constantly getting his hands dirty there and working to help the homeless, finding time almost every week to teach Sunday school.
Let’s just say I don’t expect this kind of behavior from Joe Biden in the post-presidential years. I’d love to be wrong and cheer for him if that’s the case, but his work history — contrary to words — doesn’t suggest it. Then again, he’s clearly robbed Jimmy Carter of the title of worst president. Perhaps he will surprise us on this score as well.
