Catholic Democrats press Trump to disavow Puerto Rico remarks

The Catholic Democrats group has spoken out in support of Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan, the Puerto Rican prelate who demanded an apology from former President Donald Trump for offensive comments made during his Oct. 27 rally by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.

The independent nonprofit released a statement on Monday, just ahead of Election Day, urging more U.S. bishops to condemn rhetoric the organization described as “degrading.”

“One of the speakers at the event who presented himself as a ‘comedian’ remarked that Puerto Rico is ‘a floating island of garbage,’” they said.

“Although Donald Trump has said that ‘I have no idea who he is,’ he has not apologized or spoken any words of sorrow or regret.”

Nieves was among many Puerto Ricans who responded to the remarks from Hinchcliife, who appeared at Madison Square Garden for the rally with several other speakers. His derision toward the Latino and majority-Catholic Caribbean island garnered uniquely bipartisan censure.

Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida, a Cuban American and former resident of Puerto Rico, called his comments “racist” and not reflective of “GOP values,” sentiments echoed by fellow Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott.

“This joke bombed for a reason. It's not funny and it's not true,” he said.

“Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I've been to the island many times. It's a beautiful place. Everyone should visit! I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island."

On Oct. 28, Archbishop Nieves called for Trump to “personally apologize” for Hinchcliffe’s comments, noting that he made the request after consulting with his fellow Catholic bishops in Puerto Rico.

“I enjoy a good joke. However, humor has its limits. It should not insult or denigrate the dignity and sacredness of people. Hinchcliffe's remarks do not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred,” Nieves said.

“Hinchcliffe's remarks do not promote a climate of equality, fraternity and good will among and for all women and men of every race, color and way of life, which is the foundation of the American dream. These kinds of remarks should not be a part of the political discourse of a civilized society.”

As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has not commented on Hinchcliffe’s derogatory statements, which were made stateside in the territory of the Archdiocese of New York. The local archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, reportedly did not respond to media requests for comment.

The Puerto Rican bishops, who comprise their own episcopal conference independent of the USCCB, have been led since 2012 by Nieves, who is the island’s metropolitan.

Hinchcliffe’s hometown diocese, seated in Youngstown, Ohio, released a joint statement with his alma mater, Ursuline High School, on Oct. 29 strongly disavowing his words.

“There is no room in the Church of Christ, nor the world, for hatred of one’s brothers and sisters, or for any malice to be held in one’s heart against them,” they said. 

Dr. Anthea Butler, a Black Catholic Democrat who teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, said Catholics should consider Hinchcliffe’s remarks in light of recent comments from the Holy Father, who recently criticized Trump’s positions “against life.”

“I hope that the people of good will in our country, especially those who are Catholic, are paying attention to what happened at Madison Square Garden in the context of Pope Francis call for us to vote for ‘the lesser of two evils,’” said Butler, who is an adviser to the Catholic Democrats nonprofit. 

“Let us recall that in 2015, Pope Francis said that, ‘a person, who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.’”

Trump himself, who has avoided apologizing for any aspect of the MSG rally, instead appeared on Monday at a swing-state rally in Pittsburgh with Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the late Afro-Puerto Rican legend Roberto Sr., to receive his endorsement.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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