U.S. News
Catholic bishops want to deny Biden communion over his stance on abortion
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- US Catholic bishops have voted to advance an effort that could deny President Joe Biden communion over his stance on abortion.
- Biden is a known Catholic who regularly goes to church.
- Two weeks ago, the Vatican cautioned US bishops against denying communion to politicians, including Biden.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has voted to advance with creating a formal statement on the meaning of communion. The statement will include whether President Joe Biden and other politicians should be denied communion over their stance on abortion.
According to The Hill, the USCCB announced Friday that “the action item for the committee on doctrine to start a teaching document on the Holy Eucharist passed 168-55, with six bishops abstaining from the vote.”
The document is not yet final as it will still be up for debate and subject to amendments during the USCCB ‘s next meeting in November.
If the USCCB decides to deny pro-abortion rights politicians communion, the Vatican still needs to approve it.
The USCCB is being accused of rushing the vote and crafting the teaching document in order to have it ready before the 2022 election.
“I don’t think it’s being rushed, I think this is kind of a typical length of time for a pastoral statement,” Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend said. “It never really crossed my mind the politics of it, as far as the timing.”
The USCCB had a three-day June General Assembly meeting that ended on Friday.
Two weeks ago, Pope Francis cautioned US bishops against denying communion to politicians, including Biden. The Vatican also warned that communion should not be used as a political weapon. Despite the pope’s warning, the USCCB moved ahead with their debate last week.
The USCCB is headed by José Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles. During Biden’s Inauguration Day, Gomez congratulated the president but also criticized his stance on abortion.
According to The Hill, Gomez is more conservative than Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., and Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Del. — the two church leaders with whom Biden interacts and from whom he receives communion the most.
The cardinal and the retiring bishop have said Biden can receive communion in their jurisdictions. Wilmington’s incoming bishop, Monsignor William Koenig, has not taken a public stance.
Source: The Hill
Marti (Martha) Sageman
June 22, 2021 at 2:25 pm
I don’t believe anyone should be denied communion. Records show that more people are leaving the church. Answer me this if your daughter was raped would you want her to have that baby? If having a bay would kill your child would you still want them to have that baby?
Jim
June 22, 2021 at 9:35 pm
So, as I understand what you are saying, there should be absolutely no limits on abortion; because, girls just want to have fun! That about sum it up?
Marti (Martha) Sageman
June 22, 2021 at 2:26 pm
I don’t believe anyone should be denied communion. Records show that more people are leaving the church. Answer me this if your daughter was raped would you want her to have that baby? If having a bay would kill your child would you still want them to have that baby?
I have not already said this. I’m beginning to believe priests are driving people away from the church by their actions
Cathy Floyd
June 22, 2021 at 2:31 pm
So what does this mean? Does the Vatican believe that politicians should not be held to the same standards as everyone else or that the Vatican no longer thinks that life is sacred?
Mick
June 22, 2021 at 2:46 pm
So let me get this straight, they want to deny Biden communion not because he believes in abortion. But because he believes people should have the choice . But it was okay for all of those priest who raped children then where transferred to different churches to receive communion. WOW what a bunch of hypocrites.
Oh I should say I was raised in a strict catholic family and went to catholic schools.
Rick
June 22, 2021 at 5:28 pm
It always amazes me how the Pro-choice people deny the right of the unborn to be born. They live a big lie when they say “My Body, My Choice.” Life starts at the moment of conception. This is not Rocket Science. This is Biology 101. Follow the Science. Nothing to do with Religion.
An unborn human being living inside his (her) mother’s womb, is a separate entity . That baby has a different DNA from her mom, in many occasions have a different Blood Type and/or Rh, might even be of different sex. How can they say “it’s part of my body?” Part of her body might be a finger, a toe, her nose, a forearm, etc. As a matter of fact if you would take a drop of blood from these areas, they all will have the same Blood Type and Rh. Not so with the baby inside the mom. Abortion deprives that human being of his(her) RIGHT to be born. It is a Human Rights Issue, and not A CHOICE. When there is a rape, there are two victims always – the woman and her unborn baby. Never does anyone talk about the baby being a victim of the rape. What fault does that baby have that her (his) mom was criminally assaulted? Many women who have had an abortion, they will have to live with guilt or depression forever. That’s why in the Catholic Church they have the Rachel Program. Catholics DO NOT CONDEMN any person who commits an abortion. The condemnation is focused on the Act of Killing an innocent human being. When women who are contemplating an abortion are shown an Ultrasound of what they are carrying inside, around 85-90% change their minds. And that’s a fact.
To receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, you must first go to repent of your sins , receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Abortion is considered a mortal sin. President Biden knows it, Speaker Pelosi knows it, and if they still present themselves to receive the real presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in a state of sin, they are committing a Sacrilege, and they know this also.
John J
June 23, 2021 at 7:39 am
He should not be allowed to enter a church
Donald W Titus
June 24, 2021 at 5:26 pm
Actually joe should be excommunicated. Anyone else who violated the tenets of the Church would be!