Recently the Roman Catholic Bishops in America have questioned the right of public figures that support the women’s right to choose to receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. They were specifically concerned about Joe Biden’s right to receive the sacrament. This was against the expressed wishes of Pope Francis and a significant number of the American Bishops.
I believe that the Catholic Church is taking this stand at this time because they feel that the teachings of the Church are unclear. Their intent is to present these teachings in the most public way. At least that is the essence of their argument.
The Pope’s cautionary words to the American Bishops are based in his concern that this will be more divisive than unifying in its nature regardless of their intent. The problem is that the gesture is being seen by most as adding to the already divisive nature of our nation when we should be using all means to have unity as our goal.
Pope Francis seems to also know that the American Bishops have mastered the art of bad timing for such deliberations. They championed the causes of Trump when he was including anti-abortion statements in his policy forgetting that he once was a champion of pro-abortion policy. They also made no public statements about his public immoral behavior of serial marriages, contact with porn stars, lying, or separating families at the border to name just a few. The public perception was as long as he was against abortion everything else was Ok because to not comment is to approve.
This was also true of the actions of Bill Barr who is a Roman Catholic who seemed to be in agreement with Trump’s actions until Barr himself couldn’t tolerate the big lie. Barr was also in favor of capital punishment. I attended a luncheon where I was in conversation with a devout Roman Catholic whose life I admire and asked her how she could possibly be supportive of Trump when his actions were so egregious. Se replied, “Well, he is against abortion. That’s what matters to me!” We had single issue Roman Catholics who supported Trump.
It is important to clarify an important issue of natural law which is foundational for the Roman Catholic Church’s position on abortion. Along with sanctity of life as a driving force, there is natural law. Natural Law demands consistency. That is why Roman Catholic doctrine emphasizes that you have to be all in on anything interrupting the natural continuum meaning the natural flow of potential for life. Therefore, you should be against contraception, abortion, euthanasia (mercy killing), and capitol punishment. You can’t pick and choose as it meets your fancy or popularity with a group to get their vote. The only thing that Trump has mentioned is abortion. He and Barr support capital punishment. It appears to others that he will support any group that will help him get elected including insurrectionists and QAnon conspiracy theories particularly if they say they like him.
But let’s take a look at what Roman Catholics in America think. I have enough statistics regarding how the people in the pews feel about abortion rights, but suffice it to say that the people in the pews do not see things the way that the American Bishops do. However, just a few statistical highlights from the Pew Research Center on October 20, 2020. More than half of U.S. Catholics favor legalized abortion. 67% of Catholics who attend Mass are more likely to show higher levels of opposition to abortion. 2/3rds of Catholics say that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. Even though most Catholics said abortion should generally be legal, a majority also said abortion is morally wrong.
In essence this is a divisive issue for the Catholic in the pew. The accusation from a significant percentage of the bishops has no idea of real-life circumstances of the person in the pew. American Bishops don’t have an idea of the global repercussions. Many forget that abortion is legal in Ireland because of the agonizing death of Savita Halappanavar, who was denied an abortion at a Galway hospital while she was having a miscarriage in 2012. Outlawing abortions doesn’t prevent them from being done for the poor.
The Roman Catholic Church has missed a once in a lifetime opportunity to unify the Church and by extension certain groups in our country. Joe Biden is the second Roman Catholic president. I would say that he is the first PRACTICING Roman Catholic president. Why not hold up to the Catholic Church that he attends Mass regularly even as an important moment before his inauguration. He is kind. He respects others. He doesn’t practice revenge. He carries his son’s rosary beads with him daily. His view on abortion is that it is a personal decision that a woman should make. His view of abortion is the same as mine. We believe in the Via Media which means the middle way. Abortion is wrong but it is necessary particularly in third world countries such as those in Central and South America where there are large numbers of the poor.
Celebrate Joe Biden’s love of his faith. Someone such as he doesn’t come along every day. What a way to reach those people who would not darken the door because of a Church that looks for wrong instead of honoring a wonderful right. American Roman Catholic Bishops get out of your bubble and start to smell the coffee.
There is a brutal irony here. American Bishops, you are the embodiment of wanting authority and obedience. My question is, “How come you are not listening to the head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. Cardinal Ladaria said, “It would be misleading to present abortion and euthanasia as the only grave areas of Catholic moral and social teaching that demand the fullest accountability on the part of Catholics.”
Biden’s election was welcomed by the Vatican with no mention of abortion rights. Remember that adage, “Don’t do as I say, do as I do!”
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