The Gospel According to . . . Biden?

President Biden seems to have no trouble painting fanciful pictures of his past, making up entire dialogues, and, now, distorting Papal teachings to suit his political agenda.  Apparently, Pope Francis does not appreciate President Biden creating this awkward partnership.  Francis has been know to say, “the commander-in-chief's religious identity and views on abortion as incoherent”.  Asked about Biden — a self-professed "devout Catholic" who supports blanket legalization of abortion on the federal level — the pope dismissed the president as incomprehensible.   "I leave it to [President Biden's] conscience and that he speaks to his bishop, his pastor, his parish priest about that incoherence," the pope remarked.

President Biden cited both U.S. Catholic bishops and Pope Francis in defense of federally funded abortions, despite both the bishops' and the pontiff's consistent and vocal opposition to the practice.  Biden, a devout Catholic, fielded questions from the press outside the White House, during which a reporter grilled the president on the continued complaints of Catholic leadership regarding abortion funding.

"Catholic bishops are demanding that federal tax dollars not fund abortions," a reporter said to Biden outside the White House last Monday.   "No, they are not all doing that, nor is the pope doing that," Biden replied.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) did, in fact, publish a letter recently to the House of Representatives and the Senate specifically calling for end of taxpayer funding for abortion services.

"Protecting taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortion in violation of their conscience is a principle that has enjoyed historically broad support among Americans, regardless of their otherwise passionately divided views on the topic. It has also been life-saving," wrote Diocese of Arlington's Bishop Michael Burbidge, head of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

Burbidge continued in the letter, "Rather than funding abortion, Congress can better serve the common good by prioritizing policies that comprehensively assist women, children, and families in need in ways that will not only encourage childbirth but make it easier to welcome and raise a new child."

Additionally, Pope Francis has been a strict opponent of abortion in all cases. The pontiff has compared abortion to "hiring a hitman" and said humanity should "leave killing to the animals."

Last year, Pope Francis was interviewed by Univision and was questioned about Biden's seemingly contradictory beliefs.  When asked about Biden — a self-professed "devout Catholic" who supports blanket legalization of abortion on the federal level — the pope commented, "I leave it to [President Biden's] conscience and that he speaks to his bishop, his pastor, his parish priest about that incoherence”.

Biden's reference to the pope in defense of taxpayer-funded abortion services caused outrage among Catholics, with some demanding a formal correction be issued.   "Mr. Biden can’t be allowed to twist the words of Pope Francis in this way," wrote Diocese of Tyler Bishop Joseph Strickland. "I implore the Vatican press office to emphatically clarify that Pope Francis rightly calls abortion murder. It is time to denounce Biden’s fake Catholicism."

Yet, in spite of this backlash from his ecclesiastical authorities, Biden continues his actions.  President Biden issued a presidential memorandum Sunday on what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade in an effort to protect access to abortion pills across the country.   Vice President Kamala Harris made the announcement during her remarks in Florida as she spoke on the administration's efforts to expand abortion rights. 

"Members of our Cabinet and our administration are now directed as of the president's order to identify barriers to access to prescription medication and to recommend actions to make sure that doctors can legally prescribe, that pharmacies can dispense and that women can secure safe and effective medication," Harris said during her remarks in Tallahassee, Florida. 

"The Presidential Memorandum on Further Efforts to Protect Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) "to consider new guidance" for entities and individuals – including patients, medical providers, and pharmacies – that wish to "legally access, prescribe, or provide mifepristone" across the U.S., according to a statement released by the White House. The memorandum also directs the secretary of HHS along with the attorney general and the secretary of DHS to look into other means through which patients can access "legal reproductive care," including abortion medication from pharmacies, "free from threats or violence.   The attorney general and the HHS and DHS secretaries will also work with the White House Interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access in addressing "barriers" patients, pharmacies and medical providers currently face when attempting to acquire abortion medication. 

It is up to true Catholics to stop this tunnel-visioned quest to allow open access to abortions.  The Biden-Harris administration has an agenda that includes conducting a war on the unborn.  We need to convince this administration to change its priorities and that their advocacy for abortion is not, as VP Harris states, on the right side of history.