Republicans are waging war on the Pope by supporting the death penalty, immigrants, and poor people.

Republicans are waging war on the Pope by supporting the death penalty, immigrants, and poor people.

So to hear Republicans speak, President Barack Obama is waging a "war on religion" because of regulations requiring religious-affiliated hospitals to cover contraception for their employees. While the vast majority of denominations are cool with that , the Catholic bishops are throwing a hissy fit. You see, they are opposed to birth control because it encourages sex, and sex is only for procreation.

Now most Catholics laugh at that nonsense, considering that 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women use birth control. Yet that hasn't stopped the out-of-touch bishops from pressing ahead, and it certainly hasn't stopped opportunistic Republicans from rallying to their defense, because, you see, opposing the bishops on this issue means a war on religion!

Wow. Got it. Problem is, under those standards, Republicans are waging quite the jihad of their own!

Unemployment benefits:



On Monday, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives urging them to focus on the economic security of workers at year's end. "When the economy fails to generate sufficient jobs, there is a moral obligation to help protect the life and dignity of unemployed workers and their families," Blaire wrote. "Therefore, I strongly urge you and your colleagues to find effective ways to assure continuing Unemployment Insurance and Emergency Unemployment Compensation to protect jobless workers and their families."

Republicans refused, shots fired!

Immigration reform:



The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) opposes "enforcement only" immigration policies and supports comprehensive immigration reform.

Republicans oppose comprehensive immigration reform and push "enforcement only" policies, shots fired!

Drivers licenses for immigrants:



The Catholic Church has been a staunch opponent of the movement to repeal the law that allows undocumented immigrants to earn New Mexico drivers licenses. Allen Sanchez, the Executive Director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed his speech from a similar rally in September. “I have a message,” Sanchez told the crowd. “Governor, Jesus was an immigrant!”

Republicans demagogue on the issue, shots fired!

Iraq War:



The capture of Saddam Hussein may help bring peace to Iraq, but it does not change the fact that "the war was useless, and served no purpose," a top Vatican official said [...] The cardinal said he hopes Saddam's capture "contributes to peace and the reconstruction of Iraq. But it would be illusory to think that it will repair the damage caused by that great defeat for humanity which war always represents."

Republicans CAUSED this war, shots fired!

Death penalty:



The Catholic bishops in the United States have been calling for an end to the use of the death penalty for more than twenty-five years.

Surely, Republicans will fight to prevent their taxpayer dollars from paying for executions, right? No? Shots fired!

Fact is, on all these issues, as well as poverty relief, the DREAM Act, and many others, Republicans are severely at odds with the Catholic Church. Yet there is no talk about a Republican war on religion. Why? Because that notion is idiotic.

Oh, and because Fox News and a bunch of Republican presidential pretenders aren't opportunistically fanning the flames.