7 years ago I got in a long argument with a coworker and boss at a Catholic org who claimed Colbert was a force for good in the Church. It stunned me then, and it is purely unthinkable that one would hold that position now
Charles Ryder: “They seem just like other people.”
SB: “My dear Charles, that’s exactly what they’re not ... It’s not just that they’re a clique — as a matter of fact, they’re at least four cliques all blackguarding each other half the time — but they’ve got an entirely different outlook on life; everything they think important is different from other people. They try and hide it as much as they can, but it comes out all the time.”
I enjoyed the essay and will, likely, enjoy the ensuing comments. I think that much of the "elite" class you mentioned were far less interested in Stephen the Prophet than they were in Stephen the Martyr. The hyperbolic eulogies about how he was sacrificed to appease the president are eye-rollingly bad. Based on the amount of money his show was losing every year, President Trump was a convenient scapegoat.
The fact that Mr. Colbert's views are in direct conflict with Catholic teaching is easily overlooked because those same views are shared by a large contingent of our Catholic brothers and sisters. Yes, of course, we are all sinners and I am firmly established in that group, too. As I repent of my judgmental nature, I do hope to see some of my beige brothers and sisters in line for Confession.
Thank God for the Jesuits...you people are all righteous asses who don't live the tenets of the Gospel. I miss Pope Francis and pray that Pope Leo continues his in his legacy and calls out your judgy, pious BS. Colbert is the real deal. A great man.
No, that would be unfair of me. Your interpretation is your own, that is entirely personal and you are entitled to it. My reference to the tenets of the NT Scripture is that, thematically, all four gospels are undeniably focused on love, humanity, salvation, and compassion. I truly believe Stephen Colbert lives by those principles. We should celebrate his evangelism of those WWJD tenets, not label them as "beige". You're calling out, not welcoming in.
There it is, Patrick. You are simply being righteous, based on your belief set, taken from your interpretation of the Bible and morality. Being gay is not debaucherous nor is being pro-choice suggesting that every woman go out and abort an unwanted pregnancy. But it seems you have proclaimed dominion over Biblical interpretation.
I appreciate you and your article. I enjoy your work in general. Yet, I can't help but wonder who is the 'we', the 'us' referred to and where the delineation takes place to becoming an 'elite'? Also, who is not part of 'the system or machine'?
"Ultimately, we need to be aware of this rhetorical move—this pretension that our elite Catholics are somehow just like us. They are entrenched in the system and part of the machine."
The main commonality and brotherhood I discern is that most of us can claim to belong to the sinners group. Lol 😆
7 years ago I got in a long argument with a coworker and boss at a Catholic org who claimed Colbert was a force for good in the Church. It stunned me then, and it is purely unthinkable that one would hold that position now
Sebastian Flyte: ”I wish I liked Catholics more.”
Charles Ryder: “They seem just like other people.”
SB: “My dear Charles, that’s exactly what they’re not ... It’s not just that they’re a clique — as a matter of fact, they’re at least four cliques all blackguarding each other half the time — but they’ve got an entirely different outlook on life; everything they think important is different from other people. They try and hide it as much as they can, but it comes out all the time.”
Bro said bereft lmao
Spot on, Patrick.
I enjoyed the essay and will, likely, enjoy the ensuing comments. I think that much of the "elite" class you mentioned were far less interested in Stephen the Prophet than they were in Stephen the Martyr. The hyperbolic eulogies about how he was sacrificed to appease the president are eye-rollingly bad. Based on the amount of money his show was losing every year, President Trump was a convenient scapegoat.
The fact that Mr. Colbert's views are in direct conflict with Catholic teaching is easily overlooked because those same views are shared by a large contingent of our Catholic brothers and sisters. Yes, of course, we are all sinners and I am firmly established in that group, too. As I repent of my judgmental nature, I do hope to see some of my beige brothers and sisters in line for Confession.
Thank God for the Jesuits...you people are all righteous asses who don't live the tenets of the Gospel. I miss Pope Francis and pray that Pope Leo continues his in his legacy and calls out your judgy, pious BS. Colbert is the real deal. A great man.
Does advocating for abortion and sodomy count as “living the tenets of the gospel”
Or did he encourage debauchery? Shut up.
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/05/22/a-history-of-steven-colberts-lgbtq-allyship-as-last-late-show-airs/
Does Colbert advocate for abortion? Never heard him say that
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/stephen-colbert-overturning-roe-shows-we-dont-live-in-a-democracy/
No, that would be unfair of me. Your interpretation is your own, that is entirely personal and you are entitled to it. My reference to the tenets of the NT Scripture is that, thematically, all four gospels are undeniably focused on love, humanity, salvation, and compassion. I truly believe Stephen Colbert lives by those principles. We should celebrate his evangelism of those WWJD tenets, not label them as "beige". You're calling out, not welcoming in.
There it is, Patrick. You are simply being righteous, based on your belief set, taken from your interpretation of the Bible and morality. Being gay is not debaucherous nor is being pro-choice suggesting that every woman go out and abort an unwanted pregnancy. But it seems you have proclaimed dominion over Biblical interpretation.
Well glory be to you, brother.
So you’re judging me as unrighteous based on your interpretation of the Bible.
Is that not the same thing?
Shut up nerd
I appreciate you and your article. I enjoy your work in general. Yet, I can't help but wonder who is the 'we', the 'us' referred to and where the delineation takes place to becoming an 'elite'? Also, who is not part of 'the system or machine'?
"Ultimately, we need to be aware of this rhetorical move—this pretension that our elite Catholics are somehow just like us. They are entrenched in the system and part of the machine."
The main commonality and brotherhood I discern is that most of us can claim to belong to the sinners group. Lol 😆
My main problem is with people who are clearly upper class or clearly part of an institution denying that they are.
There’s nothing wrong with being a part of an institution or being upper class, but in the past the elites and the upper class didn’t hide themselves.
We knew exactly who they were and so when there were problems, the lower classes could critique them and push back.