Biden Using Roman Catholicism as a Political Tool

President Joe Biden is once again trying to score political credit by using his Roman Catholic faith.  This time he entered into the argument about exceptions for the process of abortion.

Biden made the remarks at a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee at a private home in New York City’s Central Park South neighborhood while discussing a Republican-backed congressional bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks into pregnancy. The president incorrectly said the bill has no exceptions for rape and incest.  Graham’s legislation does provide exceptions for rape and incest, as well as saving the life of the mother. The senator said the bill will protect an unborn child from feeling “excruciating pain” at a Sep. 13 press conference where he cited a study suggesting that a child’s nerve endings are fully developed by 15 weeks, allowing them to feel pain. 

However, Biden said, “Talk about, what, no exceptions. Rape, incest, no exceptions,” Biden continued, according to Bloomberg. “Now, I’m gonna deal with my generic point. I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic; my Church doesn’t even make that argument.”

In response, Bishop Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island tweeted that the President cannot be both a “devout Catholic” and a “pro-abortion zealot” at the same time.  He then called Biden a “poor, lost and confused soul” and asked that we pray for him.

Pope Pius VII teaches;

"Never and in no case has the Church taught that the life of the child must be preferred to that of the mother.  It is erroneous to put the question with this alternative: either the life of the child or that of the mother.  No, neither the life of the mother nor that of the child can be subjected to an act of direct suppression.  In the one case as in the other, there can be but one obligation: to make every effort to save the lives of both, of the mother and of the child."  It is one of the finest and most noble aspirations of the medical profession to search continually for new means of ensuring the life of both mother and child.  But if, notwithstanding all the progress of science, there still remain, and will remain in the future, cases in which one must reckon with the death of the mother, when the mother wills to bring to birth the life that is within her and not destroy it in violation of the command of God - Thou shalt not kill - nothing else remains for the man, who will make every effort till the very last moment to help and save, but to bow respectfully before the laws of nature and the dispositions of divine Providence."  (Pius XII, Allocution to Large Families, November 26, 1951).

 Bioethics argues that “the abortion is termed indirect when the pregnant uterus itself is excised because its condition is such that its removal is medically necessary. If the uterus contains a living and nonviable fetus, the fetus of course will inevitably die.  There is no direct attack upon the fetus, however, and death is merely permitted as a secondary effect of an act which needs to be performed and which. . . is permissible to perform”.  He concludes that “safeguarding the mother’s health is a proportionately grave reason for permitting the death of the fetus.  Consequently, the only ethically justified understanding of this much-debated “exception” is the natural event of a pregnancy which has become deadly, to either the fetus or mother or both.  At this point, moral and medical prudence would be the guide to actions of the medical professionals.

Ironically, this bioethical position mirrors an Executive order, administered by the Department of Human Health Services.  In part, it reads; “Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care — including abortion care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care. Protecting both patients and providers is a top priority, particularly in this moment. Health care must be between a patient and their doctor, not a politician. We will continue to leverage all available resources at HHS to make sure women can access the life-saving care they need.”

“Everyone should have access to the health care they need — especially in an emergency,” said CMS (Centers for Medicare-MedicaidServices) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Under federal law, providers in emergency situations are required to provide stabilizing care to someone with an emergency medical condition, including abortion care, if necessary, regardless of the state where they live. CMS will do everything within our authority to ensure that patients get the care they need.”

All doctors, especially in an emergency situation ARE OBLIGATED, by their oath, to give care.  Therefore, the executive is political theater or, as some have said, a solution in search of a problem. 

Biden’s recent comments are inexcusable. “This may be the most outrageous thing Joe Biden has ever said,” said CatholicVote President Brian Burch regarding Biden’s comment about what the Church teaches. Burch pointed out that the president was essentially arguing that the Catholic Church, for the first time in its history, now endorses abortions in some cases. “Biden bragged that he would veto a bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks of life—when a defenseless child can feel pain—even though a majority of Americans support protecting unborn children at this stage,” said Burch. “At 15 weeks, preborn babies have a heartbeat… taste buds… even eyelids. And they have all major organs.”

Sadly, this is another flip of beliefs for Biden. In the vice-presidential debate that Biden had with then-Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin on Oct. 12, 2012, Biden said that he accepted the fact that life begins at conception, but insisted on characterizing that scientific fact as “the church’s judgment.” “With regard to abortion, I accept my church's position on abortion as a, what we call, a de fide doctrine. Life begins at conception in the church's judgment. I accept it in my personal life,” said Biden.

 Yet, in 2021, Biden strongly asserted, “I respect people who think that—who don’t support Roe v. Wade. I respect their views.  I respect them, those who believe life begins at the moment of conception and all. I respect that.  Don’t agree, but I respect that,” Biden said.   In light of this egregious flipping, it seems clear that Biden is trading on his faith for a longer political life.