The fact that President Joe Biden, a Catholic, supports legal abortion has been condemned by Pope Francis as “incoherence.”
After being questioned whether politicians who support legal abortion should be admitted to Holy Communion at an interview with Univisión and Televisa on July 12, Pope Francis addressed about abortion and Biden’s stance.
The Holy Father stated that scientific evidence shows that “a month after conception, the DNA of the foetus is already there and the organs are aligned. There is human life.”
“Is it just to eliminate a human life?” he then asked.
As for the defense of abortion by the U.S. president, Pope Francis stated that he leaves it to Biden’s “conscience.”
“Let (Biden) talk to his pastor about that incoherence,” the pope said.
Despite the Church’s teaching that human life must be valued and preserved from conception, Biden has frequently backed abortion rights.
In reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalised abortion throughout the United States, Biden issued an executive order last week aimed at maintaining abortion access.
The president called it “a moment to restore the rights that have been taken away from us, and the moment to protect our nation from an extremist agenda that is antithetical to everything we believe as Americans.”
Biden stated in September 2021 that he does not “agree” that life begins at conception.
“I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade,” he said at the White House, answering a reporter’s question on abortion. “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,” he said.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington commented shortly afterward that “The Catholic Church teaches, and has taught, that life — human life — begins at conception. So, the president is not demonstrating Catholic teaching.”
Gregory told a journalist in November 2020 that he would not refuse Communion to a politician who supported the legalisation of abortion in federal legislation and government funding for abortion. Both policies are supported by Biden.
In June 2021, the parish council of the president’s Washington, D.C. parish, Holy Trinity, stated its agreement with Gregory “concerning the issues surrounding offering the Eucharist to American politicians.”
“Holy Trinity Catholic Church will not deny the Eucharist to persons presenting themselves to receive it,” the statement said.
“As a parish which has a long history of welcoming all, we concur with and support the pastoral approach of our Archbishop.”