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Diana DeGette Thinks Bishops "Shouldn't Have Input" UPDATE

By Joseph Lawler on 11.17.09 @ 4:42PM

UPDATED 3:15, November 18

The Hill's Michael O'Brien reports that Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairwoman of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, while discussing the viability of the Stupak Amendment, claimed that the Catholic bishops and other religious groups should not have a say in the health care debate.

She also said that religiously-affiliated groups like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which had pushed for the Stupak provision, should be shut out of the process.

"Last I heard, we had separation of church and state in this country," she said. "I've got to say that I think the Catholic bishops and all of the other groups shouldn't have input."

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins responded with a press release calling DeGette's words "religious bigotry."

Apart from whether DeGette is a religious bigot, it's clear she is a constitutional ignoramus.

UPDATE:

Apparently The Hill misquoted DeGette. She said "I think the Catholic bishops and all of the other groups should have input." Obviously that changes her point entirely.

Although the line about the separation of church and state was not a misquote, so the point that she is a constitutional ignoramus still stands.

View all comments (10) | Leave a comment

Bruce| 11.17.09 @ 5:32PM

"Apart from whether DeGette is a religious bigot, it's clear she is a constitutional ignoramus."

That seems to be a common malady within the party of tolerance.
/snark

Pete| 11.17.09 @ 6:00PM

That lady is as hideous as she is stupid. From what I have read, she has re-districted 'just right' within Denver to stay in office.

Richard Baker| 11.17.09 @ 6:35PM

Stupid Lady (D-CO) should try and find the words or idea of separation of church and state in the Constitution. Oh, I forgot. Her ilk think the Constitution is low grade toilet paper. Regardless, Mr. Jefferson's 1802 letter has been taken out of context and idiots like this see what isn't in the Constitution. The Bishops have every right as citizens to express their beliefs whether this moron likes it or not. Some college gave this woman a degree? Sic Semper Tyrannis.

Maureen| 11.17.09 @ 7:31PM

And if the Bishops decide to close down all their hospitals because they can't morally practice medicine if this bill passes? Doesn't the Catholic church have about 600 hospitals, with 15% of all US admissions -- and a much greater percentage in the inner cities? Do you really want to lose 600 hospitals over night, DeGette? Think maybe the Bishops know way more about health care than you do about the 1st amendment???

BD57| 11.17.09 @ 8:02PM

I don't know that she's a bigot - she probably is, but that's not the issue for me.

I'd wager she considers any opposition to her position illegitimate - when it's the bishops, she says "separation of church and state"; if the opposition is secular, she says "misogynist."

She's a perfect example of "Shut up, she explained."

Russ| 11.17.09 @ 8:18PM

Oh, really? "Does that mean on issues in which she almost certainly agrees with the church, like immigration, that they should have no input? How would she institute such a ban on input? Would she try to impose a limit on the ability of the church to communicate with it's members about it's positions? It seems to me that the Obama administration and it's supporters are totalitarians. They would silence dissent, jail dissenters and institute a dictatorship if they could find a way to do it.

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Jim Hlavac| 11.18.09 @ 12:09AM

Agree with them or not, at least the Church pays its own way with voluntary donations. As for "tax breaks" or "tax exempt" -- from the likes of this woman we should all get tax breaks and exemptions so as to cut the funds out from under her pie in the sky (in your face) plans -- in which she wants to criminalize us if we don't join her in the destruction of the country.