Politics

Arizona priest says he wouldn’t give Biden communion: ‘Over my dead body’

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2021

Staff Writer

An Arizona priest has vowed to never give President Joe Biden communion until he publicly repents for his sins.

Rev. William Kosco of St. Henry Catholic Church in Buckeye, AZ delivered a sermon on Feb. 7 condemning Biden’s views on abortion and telling parishioners “his ideas are not welcome here.”

“You are welcome here even if you’re pro-abortion but your ideas are not welcome here, and they will be given no quarter,” Rev. Kosco said.

“The same with Joe Biden. He’s a Catholic. He’s a member of the family. If for some reason he would be in Buckeye on a Sunday, Joe Biden is welcome to come to mass here. His ideas are not welcome here.”

Kosco went on to say that he would not give Biden communion until he publicly repents.

“And if you ask me a follow-up question: Would you give him communion? No. Over my dead body. Not until he repents. He’s a public figure. He needs to publicly repent, and we need to pray for his conversion.”

Biden is a the second Catholic president in U.S. history. He often cites Saint Augustine and hymns in his speeches and carries a rosary that belonged to his son Beau.

Many Catholic priests have said that Biden cannot be offered communion due to his support of same-sex marriage and abortion.

“We just recently elected a Catholic President, and he is Catholic, he is baptized, he is a member of the family. We just elected a Catholic President who is diametrically opposed to all of the basic, moral principles that are proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church. Not only abortion, and the sanctity of human life, but the sanctity of marriage and this gender silliness,” Kosco said.

“How in the world did that happen?” Kosco questioned. “A Catholic! I’ll tell you if he wasn’t Catholic I probably wouldn’t be so upset. He’s a member of my family.”

While his church enjoys 501(c)(3) tax exempt status as non-political, he continues his attack on Biden. pic.twitter.com/xtEJhCf5pS
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 20, 2021

Watch the full sermon here.

Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy

Politics

Controversial Remarks by Progressive Lawmaker Sparks Intra-Party Clash over Hamas’ Alleged Sexual Violence

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2023

Alexander Carter

In a recent television appearance, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal stirred controversy and faced intense criticism from fellow Democrats for her remarks seemingly downplaying reported sexual violence by Hamas terrorists against Israeli women.

The contentious comments come amid disturbing accounts of rape and brutal assaults following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, with prominent Democrats expressing outrage and demanding unequivocal condemnation.

According to reports from Fox News, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida called for a forceful denouncement of sexual violence and condemning any attempt to create moral equivalence between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The accusations of rape and sexual assault have sparked concern about the well-being of Israelis still held hostage by Hamas.

During her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Jayapal faced scrutiny for not outright condemning Hamas for the alleged acts, instead emphasizing the broader impact of war on women.

Furthermore, the comments drew swift criticism, with Representative Ritchie Torres of New York insisting on the need for unequivocal condemnation of sexual violence against Israeli women.

Despite Jayapal’s history of advocating against sexual violence, her recent remarks have led to a significant intra-party clash, with Democrats challenging the notion of finding a balance or moral equivalence in addressing such sensitive matters.

The controversy underscores the complexities that arise when lawmakers navigate geopolitical conflicts while upholding principles of justice and human rights. As tensions escalate within the party, the incident highlights the broader challenges of maintaining a unified front on contentious global issues.