In an interview with Washington D.C. Cardinal Wilton Gregory for Monday’s 3rd Hour Today show, co-host Al Roker gushed over the Catholic Church leader’s “most prominent parishioner” in President Joe Biden. However, the Democrat’s pro-abortion agenda was barely mentioned and ultimately brushed aside by the morning show host.
“In November, Wilton Cardinal Gregory became the first African-American ever appointed as cardinal in the Catholic Church,” Roker explained at the top of the segment. He then noted that he was particularly excited to be able to speak to the Cardinal about Biden: “As someone who was raised Catholic, it was a special honor to talk to him about this historic title, our nation’s racial divisions, and having just our second Catholic president as his parishioner.”
That’s really no surprise given Roker’s longtime infatuation with Biden, including acting like an adoring groupie for President along the parade rope line on Inauguration Day.
“It’s that spirit of dialogue that Cardinal Gregory says he hopes to have with his most prominent parishioner, President Joe Biden,” Roker touted later in the segment. He wondered: “As President Biden starts to lead, do you expect to, perhaps, lend him any words of advice?” In his response, Gregory only vaguely alluded to possibly having disagreements with Biden:
I am the Archbishop of Washington, he is a Catholic who lives in Washington. I’m his archbishop. He’s not going to be on speed dial, and I hope I’m not on his speed dial, but there will be moments when I will be able to speak to him about faith, about the works that he’s trying to accomplish, that we can be supportive of, but also areas where we’re not gonna agree. But I am going to always try to do it in a respectful way.
The taped interview ended at that point, with Roker briefly describing:
In fact, among those areas of disagreement, the Church’s stance on abortion. In fact, on Inauguration Day, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issuing a statement, saying some of Biden’s policies would, quote, “advance moral evils.”
Despite acknowledging how the President’s agenda flew in the face of Church teaching, Roker quickly sought to downplay and dismiss the obvious conflict: “Cardinal Gregory told me he thought the statement was, quote, “ill-timed,” and reiterated that the Church and the President agree on many other things. But again, the bottom line, dialogue.”
In January, the Today show engaged in a similar effort to gloss over how Biden’s pro-abortion positions put him at odds with the Church, suggesting his support for the killing of unborn children made him more in-touch with American Catholics.
The leftist media have no problem demonizing conservatives for their commitment to faith, but then eagerly try to portray Democrats as devout despite their policies violating central religious tenets.
Roker’s chat with Cardinal Gregory about Biden was brought to viewers by Amazon and Colgate. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a transcript of the February 15 exchange:
9:13 AM ET
AL ROKER: Now to our special series, Changemakers, celebrating Black History Month. In November, Wilton Cardinal Gregory – I'm sorry – In November, Wilton Cardinal Gregory became the first African-American ever appointed as cardinal in the Catholic Church. As someone who was raised Catholic, it was a special honor to talk to him about this historic title, our nation’s racial divisions, and having just our second Catholic president as his parishioner.
(...)
9:17 AM ET
ROKER: It’s that spirit of dialogue that Cardinal Gregory says he hopes to have with his most prominent parishioner, President Joe Biden. Last month, the two standing side by side, remembering the lives taken by the coronavirus.
CARDINAL WILTON GREGORY: Harmony is a balm that seeks to comfort and strengthen us as a single people.
ROKER: What message were you trying to convey?
GREGORY: I was just inviting our nation to identify with the fact that if we’re going to heal, we have to remember that we have to heal together.
ROKER: As President Biden starts to lead, do you expect to, perhaps, lend him any words of advice?
GREGORY: I am the Archbishop of Washington, he is a Catholic who lives in Washington. I’m his archbishop. He’s not going to be on speed dial, and I hope I’m not on his speed dial, but there will be moments when I will be able to speak to him about faith, about the works that he’s trying to accomplish, that we can be supportive of, but also areas where we’re not gonna agree. But I am going to always try to do it in a respectful way.
ROKER: In fact, among those areas of disagreement, the Church’s stance on abortion. In fact, on Inauguration Day, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issuing a statement, saying some of Biden’s policies would, quote, “advance moral evils.” Cardinal Gregory told me he thought the statement was, quote, “ill-timed,” and reiterated that the Church and the President agree on many other things. But again, the bottom line, dialogue.
SHEINELLE JONES: I thought that was –
ROKER: It was really just an honor to sit and talk with him, just a terrific man of faith. Helps you get back into your faith, as well.
JONES: That was a phenomenal interview.
(...)
