Priest tells CNN Jesus was 'a Palestinian Jew'

Father Edward Beck, a priest who has made various appearances for mainstream media outlets throughout the years, joined CNN on Christmas day to link the "story of Christmas" to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Beck was asked about the "pain and suffering" that occurs during the holiday season and how he would respond to those who may feel "hopeless." 

"I think the message of Christmas is that God enters into it with us and we're not alone in it," Beck explained. "What I'm so struck by is that the story of Christmas is about a Palestinian Jew—how often do you find those words put together? A Palestinian Jew born into a time when his country was occupied, right? They can't find a place for her to even give birth, his mother. They're homeless. They eventually have to flee as refugees into Egypt, no less. I mean, you can't make up the parallels to our current world situation right now." 

"And so in some way, that is who we believe God becomes born into that situation and yet, that very man, Jesus, says love one another, love your enemies," continued Beck. "There is hope. There is light in the darkness. I'm attesting to that. So somehow that God enters that experience of suffering and that struggle and is actually born into it. That is what is so miraculous about this celebration for me."  

Beck drew massive controversy on social media for his remarks, with many users expressing their disagreement with his views on X, including radio host and West Coast editor for The Post Millennial Ari Hoffman.

New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz said of Beck's words, "This is embarrassingly wrong," according to Fox News.

Beck, who the National Catholic Reporter notes is a "well-known CNN contributor" was removed from a diocese in New York in October 2021. Beck decried the move at the time. 

Beck refused to welcome those to his church who chose not to take the Covid vaccine.
 

Speaking to CNN in 2021, he discussed how it is more like Jesus to demand parishioners be vaccinated or not accept them into the flock. "There's no supply chain shortage of love and compaasion. I think what we're tying to say to people is you have a social responsibility, if you do gather," he said, to require vaccination. He said he did not agree with churches that did not require vaccination of the faithful for entry.