US Catholic leaders call Joe Biden to “repent” over his support for gay marriage and abortion.
Last Saturday night, President-elect Joe Biden was seen attending a mass in Wilmington. He expressed his support for Americans who are still continuing to worship during this coronavirus pandemic.
As he left the church, Biden answered a shouted question asking him whether all Americans should attend religious service during the pandemic, to which Biden answered with “Yes, safely.”
Biden decided to answer even after leaving the protective pool that usually follows wherever he goes. He also took the question as the country exceeded 250,000 COVID-19 deaths and 12 million cases. He then warned that there would be a “dark winter ” ahead.
Meanwhile, some Roman Catholic leaders are voicing their concerns the Biden would pass policies that would build “confusion” about what the Catholic church teaches.
Cardinal Burke: “No devout Catholic, no practicing Catholic can be in favor of abortion, could justify voting for legislation, policies that promote abortion. [Joe Biden] has a consistent record of being pro-abortion…” pic.twitter.com/afXBUFzhT1
— Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) August 7, 2020
In a virtual meeting for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on November 17, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez stated that a group is being created to answer the worries that leaders have towards Joe Biden.
Archbishop Jose Gomez also sounded alarmed while stating how they are forming to work on some concerns they have with Joe Biden.
Gomez, who is the President of USCCB, also stated that the President-elect had given them a reason to believe that his faith commitments will lead him to support good policies. He stated that these policies include “policies of immigration reform, refugees and the poor, and against racism, the death penalty, and climate change.”
Although the Archbishop praised Biden for his works about racism and immigration, he slammed the President-elect for his support for abortion and marriage equality. He was quoted saying, “He has also given us reason to believe that he will support policies that are against some fundamental values that we hold dear as Catholics. These policies include the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and the preservation of Roe vs. Wade. Both of these policies undermine our preeminent priority of the elimination of abortion.”
“These policies pose a serious threat to the common good.”
"These policies pose a serious threat to the common good," Gomez said. "When politicians who profess the Catholic faith support them … it creates confusion among the faithful about what the church actually teaches on these questions”. Catholic in name only.
— Jeff (@JeffTwax1) November 18, 2020
Other than the issues about abortion, the Archbishop also cited various policies and agenda items that they were alarmed over. This includes “the passage of the Equality Act” and “the restoration of the HHS
mandate.”
He then continued by saying that such policies pose a “serious threat to the common good.” To add, the archbishop also stated that the Catholic church has long opposed those policies and “will continue to do so.”
CatholicVote.org, a conservative nonprofit, also agreed with Archbishop’s assessment that there are several policies proposed by Biden that can create “confusion among the faithful.”
The organization continued by stating that the Biden administration has outlined plans to remove pro-life policies that protect unborn lives, reopen millions of abortion services, and reverse religious freedom protections for religious organizations.
In addition to these claims, the organization also stated that these plans and policies represent a radical anti-life and anti-catholic agenda, which is in direct and clear conflict with Catholic social teaching.
Other than Archbishop Gomez, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, also expressed his concerns and begged President-elect Biden to “repent” for straying from Catholic teachings.
Bishop Strickland said, “He aspires to the highest office in our land & must be guided by the truth God has revealed to us. I pray for him to find Truth.”
Catholics supported Joe Biden in his presidential race, where he secured 52% of the vote compared to Trump’s 47%.
