Former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon condemned the Catholic Church's stance on immigration in an interview with Charlie Rose, saying they have an interest in illegal immigration to get "aliens to fill the churches."
When Bannon praised Trump for rescinding the Obama-era DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program that protects young illegal immigrants from deportation, Rose brought faith into the mix.
He noted Cardinal Timothy Dolan's opposition to Trump's DACA decision. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is one of the most senior and popular American figures in the Catholic Church.
"Can I remind you a good Catholic, Cardinal Dolan, is opposed to what's happening with DACA," Rose said.
"The Catholic Church has been terrible about this," Bannon said. "The bishops have been terrible about this."
"You know why? Because unable to really—to come to grips with the problems in the Church, they need illegal aliens, they need illegal aliens to fill the churches," Bannon said. "It's obvious on the face of it ... They have an economic interest in unlimited immigration, unlimited illegal immigration."
Bannon stressed his respect for the Catholic Church's hierarchy on doctrine but not on their views on immigration because it was not doctrine.
"This is not about doctrine," Bannon said. "This is about the sovereignty of a nation."
Bannon's full interview with Rose will air Sunday on 60 Minutes.