Ohio Catholic Bishops Blast Vance For Racist Lies

September 21, 2024 Republicans, Trump Lies

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

The Catholic Conference of Ohio, which represents bishops from diocesan groups across the state, published a letter Thursday asking for the public to treat Haitian immigrants in Springfield with respect and dignity, warning against “unfounded gossip” and “scapegoating.”

“Today, our nation is divided by partisanship and ideology, which blind us to the image of God in our neighbor, especially the unborn, the poor, and the stranger,” the letter reads. “These negative sentiments are only exacerbated by gossip, which can spread quickly across social media with no concern for the truth or those involved.”

Bishops from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Steubenville, Youngstown, Parma and Canton signed the letter, released in anticipation of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 29.

The National Catholic Reporter reports:

Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, had begun spreading the rumor — believed to have been introduced on social media — even as his staff was informed by Springfield officials that it was “baseless.”

Vance, who also alleged that communicable diseases had spread due to the migrants’ presence — The Wall Street Journal later reported the claim was contradicted by county health records showing communicable diseases at their lowest since 2015 — insisted in a CNN interview that he had received “firsthand accounts from my constituents” about the pet-eating claims.

But Ohio’s bishops pointed to the Letter of St. James’ warning that the “tongue is a fire,” with the New Testament writer warning the faithful to consider “how a small fire can set a huge forest ablaze.”

The full letter can be viewed at the link below.



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