Fox News’ Shep Smith is not at all amused by critics who claim that Pope Francis’ frequent remarks on climate change and poverty are little more than “political” commentary.
The Fox anchor’s comments came Wednesday after his colleague Bill Hemmer noted that the pope, who is currently in the United States for his first visit, is an “equal opportunity offender.”
The pope is scheduled to deliver an address Thursday morning to a joint session of Congress, and early reports indicate that he will touch on hot button issues, including immigration and income inequality. For many right-wing commentators, this proves that Francis is not only a bit of a left-winger, but that he is also abnormally concerned with politics.
But Smith isn’t having any of that, saying that care for the poor and compassion for displaced refugees are anything but “political.”
“I don’t know what we expect to hear from an organization’s leader like the pope of the Catholic Church, other than protect those who need help,” Smith said. “These seem like universal truths that we should be good to others who have less than we do, that we should give shelter to those who don’t have it.”
He wondered what it means for a person to find themselves on the side of an issue opposite the pope.
“These were the teachings in the Bible of Jesus,” Smith said. “People who find themselves on the other side of that message should consult a mirror, it seems like. Because I think that’s what we’re supposed to do as a people, whatever your religion.”
(h/t Mediaite)
