Catholic Americans have expressed dissatisfaction with President Biden’s public departure from Catholic Church teachings.
Biden has been labeled a “cafeteria Catholic” throughout his presidency. This label was revived after the Vatican issued a statement confirming its opposition to “gender theory,” surrogacy, and other progressive social trends.
In response, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Biden’s commitment to the transgender community and its rights.
“Pope Francis is right to remind the world that all humans are created in the image and likeness of God and because of that each of us has inherent dignity that can’t be swept away,” Joshau Mercer, the vice president of Catholic Vote, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
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“Francis reaffirmed that God made us male and female. And the pope didn’t dodge the tough questions. Despite what loud voices in our culture say, the answer to gender dysphoria is not to mutilate our bodies,” he added.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. This was on the White House’s rebuttal to the Vatican proclamation.
Meg Kilgannon is a Catholic and senior fellow for education studies at the Family Research Council. She told Fox News that Biden’s stance on social issues has been disconcerting.
Kilgannon cited Biden’s opinion on the Hyde Amendment. It is a long-standing federal statute that bans taxpayer dollars from being used to directly subsidize abortions. Biden had long backed the restriction. He argued in 2007 that permitting such payments would force pro-life Americans to take opposing positions on the issue.
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However, Biden revised his views in 2019, and the provision was then removed from his 2021 budget proposal.
“He is not in line with the Church’s teachings, and he knows it. They know it, and I think they’re proud of it,” Kligannon said of the administration’s position on abortion and gender issues.
She added that her bishop in Arlington, Virginia, Bishop Michael Burbidge, has been actively encouraging parishes to teach on the Vatican’s declaration, titled “Dignitas Infinita.”
Following the Vatican’s statement, Biden received a flood of criticism on social media from Catholics.
“Does Biden believe he is more Catholic than the pope? “Of course he does,” wrote Shane Schaetzel, a religious influence on X.
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Arch Kennedy, another Christian influence on the platform, claimed that “Biden proved once again that he is not saved by disagreeing with the Pope, who formally reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s assertion that attempts to alter gender are ultimately misguided attempts to play God.”
In recent years, the Catholic Church in America has struggled to deal with famous, self-identified Catholics who publicly reject the Church’s beliefs. Both Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have faced questions about whether they should be denied communion.
“They are old, and it concerns me that they are out of line with Church teachings,” Kilgannon said of both Biden and Pelosi. “I’m certainly not just concerned about this in a political sense. I don’t wish hell on anyone. I’m concerned for their immortal souls, and I’m especially concerned for the children who are harmed by the movements they support.”
She added that Catholics need to pray for their leaders, “especially the president.”
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