NH GOP House Leader Calls Catholic Bishop A "Pedophile Pimp"

At issue is the state of New Hampshire's budget, which the Bishop criticized for providing insufficient, funds for the needy. Quoted in the Monitor's follow-up, Bennencourt used far more measured and diplomatic language:

Bettencourt, a Republican from Salem, said in an interview that he posted the Facebook message because he believes McCormack failed to protect children when he worked in Massachusetts under Cardinal Bernard Law. He said he was not calling McCormack himself a pedophile.

“Bishop McCormack was assigned, when he worked under Cardinal Law, reassigning priests who they had knowledge were sexually abusing children,” Bettencourt said. “What he did is he shuffled them from church to church, knowing that they had this history.”

Bettencourt, a Catholic who said he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s group, said in the interview that “I just really took exception to his questioning the things that we tried hard to do, which is to make sure that we cared for those who couldn’t care for themselves.”

Frankly, I rather resent being scolded on my morality by a organization that just paid out $250,000,000 to settle 700 cases of abusing and raping children, cases that will never be prosecuted.

This can't sound like the Heavenly Choir to the ears of the National Organization of Marriage (NOM).  NOM is little more than a front group for unholy alliance of the Roman Catholic and Mormon Church, so they can play politics with the civil rights of LGBT Americans without acquiring the unseemly appearance of looking like they are funneling millions of dollars into playing politics with LGBT Americans civil rights. They are trying desperately to hide that fact, despite several judgments in Washington and Maine compelling them to disclose their donors (they have yet to comply).

Regardless, this attack on their real bosses, can't improve NOM's relationship with Bettencourt, the GOP Leader tasked with repealing marriage equality. It appears the relationship is already seriously strained. NOM worked hard in the 2010 elections to put an end to the marriage equality currently enjoyed by the NH citizens. And they are not happy about the foot dragging that's going on over there. They have already started attacking their allies. NOM bombarded Bettencourt's district with mailers in January alleging Bettencourt:

“stand[s] with [Democratic] Governor Lynch and does not support traditional family values.’’

At the end of the day the political process is not well-served when people speak in such inflammatory rhetoric as Bettencourt did on his Facebook page. And such behavior is certainly beneath the dignity one might expect of any party leader. And, seeing as the Republicans assembled the budget, even without having read it, I have full confidence the Bishop is probably correct, it probably does put the poor and needy in danger. Because, that's what the GOP does best: steal from the poor to give to the rich.

The Bishop is fighting the good fight for once, if his concern for the less fortunate is rather selective. Bishop McCormick is however, a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB recently lobbied the Department Housing and Urban Development not to adopt non-discrimination policies for LGBT Americans. Some less fortunately, like the gay and homeless, don't need help as much as others, I guess.

That said, I am going to pop some corn, and sit back enjoy the show. Hard to know whether to cheer for Godzilla or Mothra in this throw-down between the Catholic Church and the Republican Party. So long as they're not aligned, I'm happy. Hopefully the Chuch will decide to get out of the politics business and task their millions to helping the poor.

When the dust settles, I hope the poor still have a safety net, and the gays can still get married.

[GOP] Speaker of the House William O'Brien said he shares Bettencourt's feelings, but said he would have phrased them in a more genteel fashion.