Bp. Stika: Biden Not Catholic

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

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.

"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.

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

"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.

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."

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