President Biden was heavily criticized for making the sign of the cross, a gesture often done by Catholics before and after prayer, while listening to pro-abortion comments by Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. Fried was speaking out against an upcoming law that restricts abortion to within six weeks of gestation, and Biden made the sign of the cross when she mentioned that 15 weeks wasn’t good enough. Critics, including several Catholic groups and commentators, called his actions sacrilegious, with some saying it mocked Christian beliefs. The founder of Students for Life of America and the pro-life group 40 Days for Life both condemned Biden’s gesture as a stark reminder of the disconnect between his actions and Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch called Biden’s gesture a despicable charade that attempts to co-opt a sacred practice in support of his pro-abortion stance. He accused Biden of openly mocking the Christian belief in the sanctity of life and suggested that the president may be naive, senile, or callously indifferent to the foundational beliefs of millions of Christians in America. The incident was seen as a departure from the teachings of the Catholic Church, which has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion for centuries, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The teaching on abortion is considered unchangeable according to the church.
Recent polling data from Pew Research showed that a large majority of Americans are not convinced by Biden’s presentation of himself as a devout Catholic. Just 13% of Americans view the president as very religious, while 41% say he is somewhat religious and 44% say he is not at all or not too religious. This data comes in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Biden’s sign of the cross during the pro-abortion comments made by Nikki Fried. The incident has raised questions about the president’s alignment with Catholic teachings on abortion and the sanctity of life, as well as his commitment to his faith.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident, which sparked debate and criticism from various Christian leaders and organizations. Some have called for Biden to be held accountable for his actions, which they see as contradictory to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The president’s sign of the cross during the pro-abortion comments in Florida has drawn attention to the disconnect between his public stance on abortion and his professed Catholic faith. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Biden’s actions and beliefs regarding abortion will influence his relationship with the Catholic community and his image as a faithful follower of the church.
In conclusion, the sign of the cross made by President Biden during pro-abortion comments in Florida has sparked controversy and criticism from various Christian leaders and organizations. Critics have accused Biden of mocking Christian beliefs, and some have questioned his commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church on the sanctity of life. Recent polling data has shown that a majority of Americans are not convinced by Biden’s presentation of himself as a devout Catholic, raising further questions about his alignment with his faith on moral issues such as abortion. The incident has highlighted the challenge of reconciling personal beliefs with public policies, and it remains to be seen how Biden’s actions will impact his relationship with the Catholic community and his image as a faithful follower of the church.
