Bishop Stika: Biden Not Catholic

Church Militant ^ | August 25, 2020 | Kristine Christlieb

[ebb tide]

Bishop Stika: Biden Not Catholic

Bishops vote via social media

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (ChurchMilitant.com) - Another Catholic bishop is calling Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden a fake Catholic.

Bp. Rick Stika and Bp. Thomas Tobin

Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tenn. has joined the ranks of American bishops who think it's dishonest for former vice president Biden to promote his Catholic faith as a campaign selling point. In a tweet on Friday, Stika expressed his incredulity.

"Don't understand how Mr. Biden can claim to be a good and faithful Catholic as he denies so much of Church teaching especially on the absolute child abuse and human rights violations of the most innocent, the not yet born," Stika wrote.

He went on to reference Biden's "sidekick," Kamala Harris, calling her an "anti-Catholic bigot."

He then concluded with support for President Trump. 

"So sad for this team. But also, I never thought the current President was all that pro-life but he is anti-abortion as well as helpful in religious liberty," Stika observed.

Earlier this month, Bp. Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, got in a shot at Biden. Also taking to Twitter, Tobin used a tongue-in-cheek tone to question the presidential hopeful.

I never thought the current President was all that pro-life but he is anti-abortion as well as helpful in religious liberty.Tweet

"Biden-Harris. First time in awhile that the Democratic ticket hasn't had a Catholic on it. Sad," Tobin tweeted.

Tobin's tweet brought Fr. James Martin off the bench. He tweeted back in Biden's defense.

"Mr. Biden is a baptized Catholic. Thus, he is a Catholic," Martin asserted.

News Report: Biden Hurts God
 

Bishop Joseph Strickland didn't directly deny Biden his Catholic bona fides but made his position clear to Catholics familiar with his ministry. 

The Democratic Party platform, basically, is abortion anyone, anytime, anywhere — no restrictions, no regulations.Tweet

"CATHOLICS PLEASE VOTE with a well formed conscience & choose candidates who respect life, morality, marriage, family & our basic freedoms. It is critical that we keep eternal truths at the forefront as we vote. Study the issues & choose candidates who respect FAITH," Strickland encouraged.

Bp. Joseph Strickland

Since Harris isn't Catholic, her faith is not being measured by the bishops, but Catholics are very troubled by her hostility to Christianity, specifically to Catholic practice. 

Strickland elsewhere specifically named Harris. He tweeted:

"Catholics take note....reminds me of another candidate calling us 'the deplorables' ... we need to be awake to this ... Kamala's Anti-Catholic Assault Previews Her Potential Administration," the Texas bishop tweeted.

Writing for the Catholic League in August as the organization's president, Bill Donohue pointed out the "problem" Harris will have with Catholics. He said her "problem" goes beyond the Church's pro-life position. Donohue then referenced Harris' questioning of Brian Buescher when he was a nominee for the federal bench.

"[Buescher's] offense? His affiliation with the Knights of Columbus. She objected to his membership in the Knights because it is pro-life. Of course it is — it is a Catholic entity. In short, her real target was the Catholic Church," Donohue wrote.

Kellyanne Conway, White House senior counselor, who is Catholic, earlier this month also expressed her concern about Harris.

"She is for abortion in the ninth month, and if she's not, I want her to say that today," Conway told reporters at the White House. "The Democratic Party platform, basically, is abortion anyone, anytime, anywhere — no restrictions, no regulations."

[Sergio]

bkmk

[MarkL]

That's OK, since he's just a place-holder for Harris, who's make it no doubt that she will NEVER allow a practicing Catholic on to the Supreme Court, or realistically, any court.

Mark

[Marchmain]

‘Aug 22, 2020 · Bishop Stika has been a vocal advocate for the right to life and has repeatedly called out the Democrat Party for its anti-life platform. In early 2019, the bishop slammed Democrats as “the party of infanticide” for their blocking of anti-infanticide legislation in the Senate.’

-Breitbart

[elbook]

.

Ex-Communicate Biden who sides with the Devil in all things.

.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Bishop Richard Stika is my Bishop, Diocese of Knoxville, TN. He did not bring up the border/migrant issue or any other issue in this particular tweet,or series of tweets. He praised Trump for both his anti-abortion and pro-religious-liberty stances.

And he absolutely scorched both Biden and Harris for their over-the-top extreme pro-abortion enthusiasm.

It's true Bp Stika has criticized Trump on other issues in the past, but in this instance he was pure pro-Trump and anti Biden/Harris.

So I'm proud of him.

I think we should go to his Twitter @BishopStika and let him know about it, too. He needs support. He's being trashed by the Catholic Left.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Just for accuracy's sake: Bishop Stika did not criticize Trump in this tweet string. He praised Trump and was flat-out anti Biden/Harris.

I like it when he comes on like a pro-life flamethrower.

[ebb tide]

Bishop Richard Stika is my Bishop, Diocese of Knoxville, TN. He did not bring up the border/migrant issue or any other issue in this particular tweet,or series of tweets.

Then for what other reason would Bishop Stika state:

I never thought the current President was all that pro-life but he is anti-abortion as well as helpful in religious liberty.
(emphasis mine)

And Stika certainly is not staying out the immigration hype:

The Immigration Issue from a Bishop’s Perspective

I have said before, and I will say it again, Congress and all of our leaders, past and present, have failed in many respects in dealing with this issue (illegal immigration).

[piusv]

I agree with ebb re: his “emphasis”. However, the bigger issue is Bishop Stika’s pro-religious liberty position. It is not a Catholic position. He, along with so many other Novus Ordo bishops, agree with the heretical teachings of Vatican II on this topic:

https://sspx.org/en/religious-liberty-contradicts-tradition

[Mrs. Don-o]

"I have said before, and I will say it again, Congress and all of our leaders, past and present, have failed in many respects in dealing with this issue (illegal immigration)."

I'd certainly agree with that. Illegal immigration is to be stopped. Stopped, that's it. Our *legal* immigration, is, for the most part, a set of just laws. And the enforcement --- enforcement entails *force^ when need be --- of just laws, is social justice.

[Mrs. Don-o]

In the American political conext, Religious Liberty is the struggle to secure for the Catholic church the liberty She needs to carry out Her mission.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yeah, I get your Big Picture approach, ebb, but I still think it’s somewhat tiresome that you never even let Bishop Stika get away with doing the right thing.

[ebb tide]

I posted the article, didn't I?

Here's another one: Trump admin asks Supreme Court to restore ban on at-home use of abortion pills

I really don't see the reason for the bishop's slight that "I never thought the current President was all that pro-life".

What was the reason for that? Could you ask him, Mrs. Don-o?

[piusv]

The Catholic Church doesn’t need the State’s approval to carry out Her Mission...especially when it means false religions are also given the approval to carry out their missions.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The Church does not need the State’s approval but the Church deserves, and can claim the State’s protection. Reference Constantine, Charlemagne, and Louis IX.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Bishop Stika has never yet answered a question nor a letter of mine, of over a dozen in the past 8 years or so. But one can sometimes get a tweet-back, so you could ask him yourself. Do you have a Twitter account? It’s @BishopStika.

[piusv]

Those who agree with Vatican II’s false teaching on religious liberty aren’t looking for protection of the Catholic Church’s rights because they are also fighting to protect the so-called “natural rights” of those who follow false religions. The Catholic Church has never taught that those who follow false religions have a natural, human right to do so.

Again:
https://sspx.org/en/religious-liberty-contradicts-tradition

[Red6]

Finally.

The church is supposed to lead, instruct, provide a community for believers...

It should not just a cloak anyone can put on as convienient.

Biden makes sure to be seen with his ashes on his forehead, wearing his faith on his sleeve, but then votes or talks for abortion, for homo issues, feminism, globalism... It’s about time that the church distances itself from him and his athiest ideas.