Biden expresses his Catholic faith openly—until he doesn’t. Asked about efforts by Catholic bishops to clarify whether pro-abortion Catholics can receive Communion, the president called it a “private matter.”
300 Million Shots In Arms.
Biden Calls Catholic Bishops Resolution “Private Matter”.
Following his vaccine accomplishments event, a reporter asked Biden, “The Catholic Bishops are moving on this resolution that would prevent you and others who’ve supported abortion from receiving communion. Are you concerned about the rift in the Catholic Church? And how do you feel personally about that?”
Biden replied, “That’s a private matter, and I don’t think that’s going to happen. Thank you.”
Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted to draft a proposal on “Eucharistic consistency” which some have characterized as “denying Communion” to Biden or other lawmakers on the basis of their support for abortion and repudiation of Catholic moral teachings. The document’s advocates describe it as a “teaching document” that would not override the authority of individual bishops or recommend exclusion of any specific individual.
The president’s outward gestures, mass attendance, and scriptural references have reinforced the public view that he is a “devout” Catholic, while his support for abortion contradicts church teaching on the matter and has alienated conservative Catholics and Christians.
Dozens of Catholic Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, released a “statement of principles” taking issue with the USCCB proposal’s specific emphasis on abortion, writing:
No elected officials have been threatened with being denied the Eucharist as they support and have supported policies contrary to the Church teachings, including supporting the death penalty, separating migrant children from their parents, denying asylum to those seeking safety in the United States, limiting assistance for the hungry and food insecure, and denying rights and dignity to immigrants.
Psaki Says No Hold-Up on Ukraine Aid.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki smacked down rumors that the Biden administration held up security assistance to Ukraine on the heels of Biden’s summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Politico had reported earlier the same day that a military aid package intended for Ukraine, worth up to $100 million and including lethal weapons, had been temporarily halted in light of the drawdown of Russian troops near Ukraine.
Psaki said in her statement that “Just last week—in the run-up to the U.S.-Russia Summit—we provided a $150 million package of security assistance, including lethal assistance. We have now provided the entire amount appropriated by Congress through the Ukraine security assistance initiative.”
