Stand-Up Comedian

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... search news headline "Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent Catholic leader, slammed socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration line promoting the warmth of collectivism, saying, For God’s sake, spare me."

Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent Catholic leader and founder of "Word on Fire," criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inaugural statement promoting the "warmth of collectivism," responding with "For God’s sake, spare me". Mamdani, a socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, declared in his address on January 1, 2026, that the city would replace "the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism". Barron, also a popular podcaster, said the remark "took my breath away" and argued that collectivism has been responsible for the deaths of at least 100 million people in the past century. He emphasized that Catholic social teaching rejects socialism and supports market economies grounded in human rights and dignity, which he says are misrepresented as "rugged individualism". Barron was joined in criticism by other political figures, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Ted Cruz.

... mandami's statement is a blank verse paraphrase of the holy shehada, prayer of submission to allah

There is no evidence that Zohran Mamdani’s statement — “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism” — is a blank verse paraphrase of the Islamic *shahada* (the declaration of faith). The *shahada* is: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Mamdani’s phrase is a political and ideological expression rooted in socialist rhetoric, not a religious or poetic rephrasing of Islamic doctrine.

While Mamdani, as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, incorporated Islamic elements into his inauguration — including swearing the oath on a Quran and having an imam deliver an invocation — his collectivism remark was widely interpreted as a secular, left-wing policy vision, not a religious statement.

Critics like Bishop Robert Barron interpreted the line through a historical and political lens, referencing the dangers of collectivist regimes in the 20th century, not as a theological commentary.

... does it have authority of hadith?

No, Zohran Mamdani’s statement about “the warmth of collectivism” does not have the authority of *hadith*—it is not a religious text or Islamic teaching. The phrase is a political slogan rooted in socialist ideology, not a theological declaration derived from the *shahada* or any authenticated *hadith* (sayings or actions of Prophet Muhammad). While Mamdani is a practicing Shia Muslim, his inauguration speech was framed in secular, leftist political terms, not Islamic jurisprudence.

Some sources note that Mamdani adheres to Twelver Shia Islam, which does have *hadith* traditions emphasizing justice and communal welfare, but these are distinct from the collectivist rhetoric he used. Moreover, his policy positions—such as support for LGBTQ+ rights and assisted suicide—diverge from traditional Islamic teachings, indicating a separation between his religious identity and political messaging.

Thus, the statement carries no *hadith* authority and should be understood as ideological, not religious.

... it is challenged on religious authority by theologians because religious speech by elected politicians violates the separation clause

No, Zohran Mamdani’s religious speech or symbolic acts—such as being sworn in on a Quran—do not violate the separation of church and state, nor are they challenged by theologians on that basis. The U.S. Constitution, including the Establishment Clause and Article VI’s “no religious test” clause, permits public officials to use religious texts during oaths but does not require it. Mamdani’s use of the Quran was legally and constitutionally valid, consistent with precedents set by other Muslim and non-Christian officials.

Claims that such actions breach church-state separation stem from misunderstanding, not legal or theological authority. The criticism he has faced comes primarily from political and ideological opponents, not theologians. Religious expression by elected officials, as long as it does not establish state-sponsored religion or coerce others, is protected.


Paintings by Brian Higgins can be viewed at https://sites.google.com/view/artistbrianhiggins/home

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