Biden slammed by Catholic priests for meeting with Pope Francis, taking communion
Joe Biden received Communion at St. Patrick’s Church during Saturday Vigil Mass, a day after saying Pope Francis told him he should continue to partake in the sacrament, prompting negative reactions from Catholic priests upset that the president’s position on abortion is not in line with Church doctrine.
Several U.S. bishops expressed dismay about the pope’s reported words to Biden. Bishop Joseph Strickland, of Tyler, Texas, retweeted a blistering blog post by conservative Cardinal Raymond Burke that strongly reaffirmed that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights cannot receive the sacrament.
Thank you your Eminence for this clear statement of Catholic teaching. Let us pray for the repentance of all who support the murder of the unborn…..Catholic Politicians and Non-Admittance to Holy Communion – Cardinal Raymond Burke https://t.co/cJZhDZfqYB
— Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) October 29, 2021
“I fear that the Church has lost its prophetic voice,” Bishop of Providence Thomas Tobin tweeted Friday. “Where are the John the Baptists who will confront the Herods of our day?”
Earlier in the week, Tobin had publicly challenged Pope Francis to deny communion to the president.
“Dear Pope Francis, You have boldly stated that abortion is ‘murder,’” Tobin said. “Please challenge President Biden on this critical issue. His persistent support of abortion is an embarrassment for the Church and a scandal to the world. Thank you. Very respectfully, Your brother +Thomas.”
Biden told reporters on Friday that abortion did not come up in his 75-minute meeting with Francis at the Vatican. “We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving Communion,” Biden said.
The president has faced vocal criticism from Catholic priests and parishioners across the country for continuing to receive communion and tout his Catholic faith despite his strident support of unrestricted abortion.