Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City is taking the lead as U.S. Catholic bishops debate their stance on Catholic politicians such as President Joe Biden who publicly support abortion.
During their next annual meeting, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrine will be drafting a document that will clarify their position regarding the longstanding question of how to handle Catholic politicians in open defiance of Church teaching on abortion.
Archbishop Naumann, who is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has publicly and repeatedly rebuked Biden for supporting abortion, going so far as to say the president “should stop defining himself as a devout Catholic.”
“Because President Biden is Catholic, it presents a unique problem for us,” Naumann told the AP. “It can create confusion. How can he say he’s a devout Catholic and he’s doing these things that are contrary to the church’s teaching?”
Naumann said the document that the committee is preparing at the request of USCCB president Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles will clarify as the official position of the USCCB that any Catholic politician who supports legalized abortion should not take communion. It must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the bishops to be approved.
READ: Catholic Biden denied communion
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco expressed support for the proposed USCCB statement, telling the AP “there’s a growing sense of urgency” surrounding the issue.
“Abortion is not just one among many important issues.. it’s a direct attack on human life,” he said. “They need to understand the scandal that is caused when they say they are faithfully Catholic and yet oppose the church on such a basic concept.”
A Catholic priest in South Carolina did refuse communion to Biden because of his pro-abortion views. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dismissed concerns raised by USCCB regarding Biden’s pro-abortion policies.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
