Speaker of the House John Boehner announces his “good news” about Pope Francis I coming to address a joint session of Congress, but neglects to acknowledge his sheer hypocrisy.
Today Speaker of the House John Boehner announces Pope Francis I has accepted his invitation and will become the first pope ever to address a joint session of the United States Congress.
The pontiff will visit Washington D.C. and speak on September 24. He will also tour Philadelphia and New York City.
Boehner, a Roman Catholic, had extended the invitation in March of last year, in a glaringly hypocritical statement.
“Many in the United States,†Boehner said in his invitiation, “have embraced Pope Francis’ reminder that we cannot meet our responsibility to the poor with a welfare mentality based on business calculations. We can meet it only with personal charity on the one hand and sound, inclusive policies on the other.†[Bolding ours]
Boehner also applauded the Pope’s “social teachings, rooted in ‘the joy of the gospel,’†aligning himself with “those who champion human dignity, freedom, and social justice.â€
The Speaker’s claims are stunning given the Republican party’s agenda to deny health care, welfare, food stamps, unemployment insurance payments, domestic violence protections, and so many other vital concerns to the American people, all while proclaiming to be “pro-family.”
Watch Boehner’s announcement from today: