(DailyVantage.com) – The Michigan Catholic Bishops’ Conference has strongly condemned Governor Gretchen Whitmer for a video in which she seemingly mocks the Catholic sacrament of the Eucharist, calling the act “offensive” and blasphemous. The video, shared on Instagram, shows Whitmer placing a Dorito chip on the tongue of a kneeling woman in a gesture that mirrors the Catholic practice of Holy Communion. Whitmer, wearing a Harris-Walz hat, then looks into the camera without expression, fueling further criticism.
Paul A. Long, president of the Michigan Catholic Conference, expressed the outrage of many Catholics, stating that Whitmer’s actions imitated “the posture and gestures of Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist, in which we believe that Jesus Christ is truly present.” He emphasized that the skit was more than distasteful; it was deeply offensive to Catholics and others of faith. Long further criticized the growing trend of disrespect toward religious practices, warning that such acts degrade civility and respect toward people of faith.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue also condemned the video, accusing Whitmer of displaying “anti-Catholic bigotry.” He rejected Whitmer’s team’s defense that the skit was part of a social media trend, noting that typical TikTok videos don’t involve people kneeling or receiving food on the tongue. Donohue insisted that Whitmer’s act was an intentional derision of Holy Communion and should not be dismissed as harmless.
Both Long and Donohue urged public officials to return to a standard of respect and civility toward religious practices, with Long pointing out that Michigan is home to a religiously diverse population. The video has sparked widespread backlash, with critics calling for Whitmer and her team to recognize the offense caused to Catholics and people of faith across the country.
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