Colbert the Committed Catholic

Stephen Colbert: the funny man, political commentator, and a faithful member of the Roman Catholic Church. You never would have guessed it, but he has even taught Sunday school classes to elementary age children. It actually makes sense that a man with such strong political opinions would be just as religious.

He’s gone so far as to pronounce his spirituality publicly. He recently went to Fordham University where he and the New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan hashed it out. According to both Huffington Post, there were thousands of students waiting for the discussion to start.

Oddly enough, he is often seen poking fun at conservatives and at the Catholic Church. He has said that the church is a place that teaches God’s love, so why would he ridicule it? Think about his show. He invites a lesser known guest, shreds their arguments to bits, and shakes their hand in thanks for their insight.

In reality, Colbert just makes fun of the serious parts of life– that’s humor. He laughs at religious officials who put their egos in such high esteem, and the woes and debates between Republicans and Democrats. He goes so far as to make himself the butt of religious jokes. And in response to his critics he says, “If Jesus doesn’t have a sense of humor, I’m in huge trouble.”
Aren’t we all?

As comical as he makes his conservatism out to be, it is plain to see that he does lean a little to the right on his show. In this way he gives a silent nod to his faith without being too blatant.

However, Colbert never shows us one side of the coin. He invites both Republicans and Democrats to his line-up without bias. His guests are always treated respectfully and are forced into a little bit of laughter. Through this, Colbert really walks the walk of faith by spreading God’s love toward all people.

All the clues were there, all there was to do was to put the puzzle together. Senior Daniel Riley, a fan of Colbert’s, agrees. “It’s pretty obvious that he’s religious, watch one show and you’ll figure that out,” he said. “It’s just harder to tell what religion specifically.”

It’s true; his involvement with the church goes unnoticed. But he is involved. He goes to Mass, he’s taught Sunday school lessons, and he’s debated the new translation of the Third Missal.

So, for all the fans who thought he was just a funny personality, he has another layer: his religion. He’s a diligent member of the Roman Catholic Church and he’s proud of it. Next time you watch his show, have a laugh. After all, we’re hoping God has a sense of humor, too, right?