House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s favorite Bible passage, one she has shared again and again over the past 11 years, speaks of serving others and ministering to those who can’t help themselves. She has shared this passage on Earth Day to convince others of the need to combat global warming, and more recently quoted it again when speaking about immigration:
“The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, ‘To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.'”
This sounds fantastic and all, but there’s just one problem — no part of the Bible says this. According to Slate magazine, Pelosi has repeatedly “quoted” this made up passage when speaking about endangered species, immigrants, Catholic schools and more.
When asked to clarify, Pelosi indicated that she thought the passage was from the Old Testament, but could not state definitively where. This makes sense, because this is not an actual Bible passage.
“I can’t find it in the Bible but I quote it all the time,” the Speaker said.
According to the Congressional Record, Pelosi has shared this passage more than 10 times from the House floor alone. Her first incidence of faux-Biblical quoting was in 2002, and was even called out for the inaccuracy of her statement and source in 2008, but continues to pull this passage out when she feels the situation calls for it.
“I can’t find it in the Bible but I quote it all the time, and I keep reading and reading the Bible. I know it is there someplace,” Pelosi said, speaking to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities last week. “It’s supposed to be in Isaiah, but I heard a bishop say to minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.”
The Speaker continues to insist this passage does in fact come from the Bible, despite not being able to locate it in any version – and despite being told by religious leaders and scholars that it is not an accurate quote or passage.
“It’s in there somewhere in some words or another, but certainly the spirit of it is there,” Pelosi said. “And that we all have a responsibility to act upon our beliefs and the dignity and worth of every person.”
Professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Claude Mariottini, called the passage “fictional,” saying: “It is not in the Bible. There is nothing that even approximates that.”
Pelosi seems convinced that repeating the passage and calling it Biblical will be enough to convince others that the quote is real, despite evidence to the contrary.
~ Liberty Planet
