ROME – The Michigan Conference of Catholic Bishops has called out Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's mocking of the sacrament of the Eucharist, calling the sacrilege “offensive.”
A video posted to Instagram on Thursday shows Gov. Gretchen Whitmer placing a Dorito chip on the outstretched tongue of a kneeling woman, a gesture instantly recognizable as a Catholic communion custom. .
After giving “communion” to Canadian feminist Liz Plank (@feministabulous), Whitmer, wearing a Harris Waltz hat, stared blankly at the camera.
Paul A. Long, president of the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the skit specifically imitates “the posture and gesture of receiving the Eucharist of Catholics who believe in the true presence of Jesus Christ.”
“It's not just offensive or 'weird.' This is a well-known example of elected officials mocking religious people and their practices,” Long said on behalf of the bishops. , adding, “Whether or not it was intended to insult Catholics and the Eucharist, it had an unpleasant effect.” ”
“People in this state and across the country continue to voice their concerns and are tired of seeing standards of civility and respect for people of faith lowering every day,” he continued.
“Michigan is a religiously diverse state, including thriving communities of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim believers,” he concluded. “Now is the time for those in public office, their leaders, and their strategists to show some respect, civility, and appreciation for those who have found peace and fulfillment in their lives by worshiping God and serving their neighbors. It's time to return your feelings.”
On Friday, Catholic League President Bill Donahue said: hurt Whitmer “intentionally mocked the Eucharist and insulted Catholics across the country in her video,” the statement said.
“There is no other way than to understand this act as an expression of old-fashioned anti-Catholic bigotry,” Donahue wrote.
The Whitmer research team says it is a lie to say that she is simply “copying a popular trend on social media in which people feed off each other” and that it is “easy to disprove.” '' he said.
A typical TikTok video shows a person sitting at a table being fed (usually with a fork or spoon) by a friend, often in a restaurant.
“None of them are on their knees. None of them are receiving food on their tongues,” Donahue said.
“What Whitmer did was make a mockery of the Holy Communion. There is no room for her to deny the obvious,” he added.
Attention — Co-Chair Harris Walz: I've been calling for calming rhetoric, but President Trump is 'inflaming' him, but he can't 'blame only when it angers him.'
