Steve Bannon Blasts Catholic Bishops’ Support of DACA: ‘They Need Illegal Aliens to Fill the Churches’

In an excerpt from Steve Bannon’s upcoming appearance on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the former White House Chief Strategist slams the Catholic Church for their response to the Trump administration’s decision earlier this week to phase out the Deferred Action for Chidhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“The Catholic Church has been terrible about this,” Bannon told Charlie Rose during a discussion about DACA’s end. “To come to grips with the problems in the Church, they need illegal aliens, they need illegal aliens to fill the churches.”

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“I totally respect the pope and I totally respect the Catholic bishops and cardinals on doctrine,” Bannon told Charlie Rose. “This is not about doctrine. This is about the sovereignty of a nation. And in that regard, they’re just another guy with an opinion.”

The U.S. Bishops posted a statement to Twitter Tuesday, condemning the decision to end DACA.

“The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education,” the statement read. “Dreamers, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you.”

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Bannon also said that he doesn’t agree with the decision to end DACA, but he “understands how [Trump] struggled with it, I understand how he’s giving the possibility of a legislative thing. And he said even last night in a tweet — even in a tweet, he would rethink it. Trust me, the guys in the far right, the guys on the conservative side are not happy with this.”

You can watch the full excerpt above, and watch “60 Minutes” on CBS this Sunday for Rose’s full interview with Bannon.