In a recent viral video, Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois accused President Biden of mocking the Catholic faith. The Bishop, a hard-line Catholic, stated that Biden's stance on abortion and his actions during an abortion rally in Tampa, Florida, were contrary to Catholic teachings.
Paprocki referred to Biden's promise to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land in his State of the Union address in March and criticized him for it. He also highlighted an incident that took place in April, where Biden was seen making the sign of the cross during an abortion rally.
This gesture was made while a supporter on stage criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for signing a bill that reduced the time frame for legal abortion from 15 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. Bishop Paprocki denounced this act as sacrilegious and a mockery of the Catholic faith.
The Bishop's comments align with those of Bishop José Ignacio Munilla from the Orihuela-Alicante Diocese in Spain, who called Biden's actions during the rally a "sacrilegious gesture" and "desecration of the sign of the cross." He stated that using the sign of the cross in support of abortion is a grave offense and goes against the Catholic faith.
In his video, Bishop Paprocki also explained the concept of heresy, stating that it is the denial or doubt of a truth revealed by God. He gave the example of rejecting the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shall not commit adultery," as an act of heresy. According to the Bishop, Biden's stance on abortion can be seen as a rejection of the Fifth Commandment, "Thou shall not kill," and therefore, can be considered heretical.
In an interview after the release of his video, Bishop Paprocki emphasized that President Biden's comments go against Catholic teachings and are a cause of concern for the Church. He stated that advocating for abortion and rejecting the sanctity of life is a rejection of God's commandments. The Bishop also mentioned that it is not only the Catholic Church that opposes abortion but many other religions and faiths also consider it a grave sin.
In response to the accusation, the White House released a statement saying that President Biden is a "devout Catholic" and that his faith is a deeply personal matter. The statement also mentioned that Biden is sworn to uphold the Constitution and, as President, must represent people of all faiths and beliefs.
This is not the first time President Biden's Catholicism has come into question. During his campaign, he faced criticism from some Catholic leaders for his support of same-sex marriage and abortion rights. However, Biden has continuously emphasized his faith and regularly attends Mass.
The issue of abortion has been a sensitive topic for the Catholic Church, with its teachings opposing the act. The Church believes that life begins at conception and is sacred, and abortion is considered a grave moral evil.