Discussing plans to build a federally funded public housing project named for the “Mexican saint” Juan Diego, 630 KHOW-AM host Peter Boyles during his January 31 broadcast speculated that Denver city officials “would blow a gasket” if planners instead decided to name the facility after “some Christian saint.” Boyles made his remarks during a discussion with Colorado Sen. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) and later with a caller.

Juan Diego was a Catholic layman who, according to tradition, in 1531 saw a vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe in his native Mexico. Pope John Paul II canonized him on July 31, 2002, making him a Christian saint.

In the same broadcast, Boyles asked a caller to “see what [the city council] would do” if the building was named after “some Christian saint or name it Saint James, the guy who, you know, gathered the librarians together to make the Bible -- whatever the hell it is.”

From the January 31 broadcast of The Peter Boyles Show on 630 KHOW-AM:

BOYLES: I want you to look at something -- there's your other phone. Look at something -- and I realize it's not within your -- within the strength of being a senator is about, but Denver is building, over in the Highlands neighborhood, this public housing that's going to be funded by federal money and then forgiven, as they say. And they're going to name it, rep -- they're going to name it, senator, “The Juan Diego.” Now, I don't even -- I know -- I mean, my thoughts are, either these guys don't know who Juan Diego was, or they don't care because it's public housing for victims of AIDS. But Juan Diego is a Mexican saint who saw Our Lady of Guadalupe.

SCHULTHEIS: Yes.

BOYLES: Now, John Hickenlooper, city council -- as I said before, and I don't want to put you into a contest here with these guys, but they would blow a gasket if that was going to be called, named after -- I don't care -- I mean, out of Christianity.

SCHULTHEIS: Yes. Right.

BOYLES: They would blow a gasket. So, I don't know if they're catering to the whole Spanish language, Mexican culture, or they're just ignorant and they don't know who Juan Diego was, or they do know who Juan Diego was and they're choosing not to -- not to play the card.

SCHULTHEIS: It seems like it's another one of those in-your-face kind of things -- I don't care what you think, public; I'm going to do this anyway.

BOYLES: You know, Juan Diego was a -- I mean, you know, if you believe the story, and I know plenty of people who do. Juan Diego was a remarkable guy, and Our Lady of Guadalupe was a wonderful occurrence. But, if that's gonna be OK, then why can't, in Denver public schools, why can't a teacher have scripture on the wall?

SCHULTEIS: Well, see -- because it's not politically correct.

BOYLES: That's right.

[...]

CALLER: I just wonder how the Denver City Council will react when, whatever the elementary school is in the Highlands area actually -- actually goes to teach the local kids who Juan Diego is and how that's going to all play out.

BOYLES: Well, but again, it's -- what's fascinating -- it's either one of two things or three things when it comes to that building. Either they don't know, which makes them stupid. Number two, they do know, and won't do anything about it, which is hypocritical. Or third, they think you're stupid -- and/or. But like I said, if you were going to name that building with public money and name it after, you know, some -- some Christian saint or name it Saint James, the guy who, you know, gathered the librarians together to make the Bible -- whatever the hell it is, you know. And try that and see what would happen, and city council, and see what those people would do then. But this was -- I mean, they literally blew a fuse at the people who had the rocks to come before them and say, “Don't do this,” and Michael Hancock lectured these people as -- what did the guy tell us? He said, I'm paraphrasing, but insensitive and non-compassionate and the rest of that stuff. In the meantime, let's call it Juan Diego.

CALLER: Right.

BOYLES: And either they don't know, which makes them stupid, or they do know and they think you're stupid.

CALLER: Which should make them unelected.

BOYLES: Well, that -- hey, this is America. This is Denver.