Colbert Promotes Jimmy Carter's Left-Wing Take on Christianity

Stephen Colbert boosted Jimmy Carter's new book on the 26 March 2014 edition of The Colbert Report – a mere day after the former president blamed the Catholicism, as well as the Southern Baptist Convention, for the abuse of women across the globe. Carter offered a toned-down version of this eyebrow-raising argument: "If you're a male religious leader, and you want to stay in unchallenged power and not have women challengers, then you can pick some of those things that...St. Paul said."

The Democrat also claimed that he would consider joining the Catholic Church if they would ordain women:

JIMMY CARTER: I'm thinking about it. You know, if pope – I have two provisions to be a Catholic: if Pope Francis stays on in office, and when a female Catholic priest asks me to join her church. (audience cheers, applauds, and chants "Jimmy!")

STEPHEN COLBERT: Well, those are your demands; those are your demands. (Carter and Colbert laugh) Okay. Jimmy Carter has drawn a line in the sand. (audience laughs)