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Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Yes, Stephen Colbert once said quote about US being 'Christian nation that doesn't help the poor'
Claim: Talk show host Stephen Colbert once said, "If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition ... and then admit that we just don't want to do it." Rating: An alleged quote attributed to late night TV host Stephen Colbert circulated on social media in late July and early August 2025, purporting that the comedian made a cutting remark about the state of Christianity in the United States. The quote has been shared on social media for years, as evidenced by a post on X (archived) from 2022. In the wake of CBS announcing the end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," however, users on social media started sharing the alleged quote once more on platforms like BlueSky (archived), Threads (archived) and Facebook (archived). The alleged quote in question states: If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition ... and then admit that we just don't want to do it. Some users agreed with Colbert's alleged sentiment and shared the statement alongside an image of Colbert sitting at a desk, adding, "It's time to reiterate what the teachings of Jesus or prophets/revered enlightened leaders of any religion were actually saying to help humankind evolve. It's about love and inclusion. Not hate, violence, or power." The quote above was correctly attributed to Colbert. The comedian said it during a Christmas-themed episode of "The Colbert Report" that aired on Comedy Central on Dec. 16, 2010, with featured guests comedian Amy Sedaris and musician Paul Simon. The segment in which the quote appeared was titled, "Jesus was a Liberal Democrat." It's worth noting that "The Colbert Report," which ran on Comedy Central from 2005 to 2014, featured Colbert playing a satirical characterization of himself as a conservative commentator. However, we must also note that episodes of "The Colbert Report" are no longer available on any streaming services, and clips posted to YouTube are primarily limited to 2014, the show's final year before Colbert moved on to host "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS. Nonetheless, there is substantial reporting about the quote from the time it aired, as well as an audio clip of the moment on YouTube that was published on Sept. 21, 2011. As such, we are confident in attributing the quote in question to Colbert despite a lack of visual evidence online. Business Insider reported on the segment at the time, citing it as the latest in an ongoing war of words between Colbert and (real) conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly over Jesus' teachings. The article cited a summary of an upcoming episode of O'Reilly's show that read, "Colbert … Jesus … and the poor. The late night comic is now a theologian — and attacks Bill in the process! But does he have his Biblical facts straight?" A writer for State of Formation, an "online forum for emerging religious and ethical leaders," discussed the segment on Dec. 20, 2010: It makes an argument that as both a religious and a political liberal I am all too happy to hear. It is Stephen Colbert — a person universally known and, among my generation in particular, almost universally esteemed and, yes, respected — calling out those who profess to be Christians yet espouse policies that further neglect or oppress those in the lowest income brackets. Beneath (and also because of) its satirical aim, this is a powerful argumentative blow to some on the religious and/or political Right. Further, a writer for the alternative newspaper Portland Mercury discussed the segment the day after it aired and stated: What really got me was a piece that brilliantly satirizes an issue near and dear to my heart: the inherent hypocrisy of Christianity in the West. Since this is Blogtown and not Obvious Theology 101 I know I don't have to spell this s*** out; we all know that the basic tenants of Christ's teachings (give away all your money, judge not lest ye be judged, divorced people are committing adultery, etc.) are ignored by pretty much everyone, especially those who claim to be Christians. Finally, TV Tropes also listed the quote as Colbert's, though it denotes it as attributable to "the character" rather than "the person." Snopes reached out to Colbert's representatives to see if they can provide the episode featuring the quote and will update this article if we hear back. - YouTube. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025. "Amy Sedaris/Paul Simon." The Colbert Report, directed by Paul B. Cummings, 16 Dec. 2010. Bow, Dave. "Stephen Colbert Agrees: Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat." Portland Mercury, Accessed 4 Aug. 2025. Katovitch, Celie. "The H. Clearly Stands for Hussein": Jesus H. Christ, Theological Honesty, and Stephen Colbert. 20 Dec. 2010, "Stephen Colbert." TV Tropes, Accessed 4 Aug. 2025. "Stephen Colbert And Bill O'Reilly Are Fighting Over Whether Jesus Was A Liberal." Business Insider, Accessed 4 Aug. 2025. "Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Is Canceled by CBS and Will End in May 2026." AP News, 17 Jul. 2025,
The Independent
05-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
‘Needy' cat returned to shelter after surviving Los Angeles wildfire finds a new home
A seven-year-old cat who was found in the aftermath of California 's Eaton Fire has finally found a forever home. Art, a gray tabby, was rescued by Pasadena Humane during a chaotic time. The shelter was trying to house as many pets as they could find in the aftermath of the destructive Eaton Fire, which killed at least 18 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings in January. The blaze was one of the most destructive in the state's history. When no one came to retrieve Art for more than a month, the shelter thought he may be a stray and put him up for adoption, KTLA 5 reports. Art was first adopted in the spring by someone in the San Gabriel Valley area. But after three months Art's new owner returned him to the shelter. Kevin McManus, director of communications for Pasadena Humane, said the owner thought Art was too 'needy.' 'The adopter described him as 'needy,' but part of that neediness was his desire to play, and play a little bit more roughly than she had bargained for,' he told KTLA 5. McManus says the owner 'made the right decision.' 'We are committed to trying to make the best match between the animals and the families looking to adopt,' McManus said. 'Because with more information, it helps us greatly to find a better fit the next time.' On June 5, Art was put back up for adoption. '[Art] was returned to the shelter for being too needy,' Pasadena Humane wrote on Facebook. 'But we know that's actually a positive trait to a lot of adopters!' 'If you're looking for a Velcro kitty who always wants to be the center of attention (and will show off his perfectly fluffy belly to make sure that happens), seven-year-old Art is probably the cat for you,' the post continued. Within a day, Art found a new home. Kiri Celiceo commented on the Pasadena Humane's post revealing she adopted Art soon after seeing the post. 'When my husband and I saw this post we knew straight away we had to take Art home,' she wrote. 'I've had cats all my life and have been without one for a couple of years so it was high time to welcome a new one into our lives.' 'He's settling in extremely well and we are so happy to give him all the loving he wants/needs,' she added. The Pasadena Humane shelter . Dia DuVernet, president and chief executive of Pasadena Humane, told Reuters they originally took in many pets for temporary shelter. But as more people lost their homes they had to keep the pets for longer. 'We're also starting to see people who brought their animals for what we thought would be temporary shelter, but they don't have homes to go back to, and so it's turning into a longer-term sheltering situation,' she said in January.
