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American Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document.” Many of them hoped that the document would condemn Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, who continued to accept the sacrament despite their support for abortion rights.
Although the Vatican called for a more cautious and collegial approach to the secession issue, the decision was strongly opposed by a few bishops. This raises questions about how closely the bishop will be able to cooperate with the Biden administration on issues such as immigration and racial injustice.
The result of the vote-168 votes in favor and 55 votes against-was announced on Friday at the end of the three-day virtual conference of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference (USCCB). After several hours of intense debate, the bishops voted privately on Thursday.
Supporters of the measure said that because of his recent actions to protect and expand abortion opportunities, Biden needs to be strongly condemned, while opponents warn that such actions will portray the bishop during a period of intense political divisions across the country. Become a partisan force.
Committee that drafts the communion statement
As a result of the vote, the Doctrinal Committee of the USCCB will draft a statement on the meaning of the sacrament in church life, which will be submitted to a future meeting for consideration, possibly a face-to-face meeting in November.
To be officially adopted, the document needs the support of two-thirds of the bishop.
A section of the document is intended to include specific warnings to Catholic politicians and other public figures that they do not abide by the church’s teachings on abortion and other core doctrinal issues.
Donald Hying, Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, said in Thursday’s debate that he talked to many people who were confused by a Catholic president who proposed “the most radical abortion agenda in history.” The Conference of Bishops Action is needed.
“They are looking for directions,” Hein said.
The bishop warns against “weaponizing” the sacrament
Robert McElroy, the Bishop of San Diego, countered that a document targeting Catholic politicians would expose USCCB to “destructive consequences.”
“It is impossible to prevent the weaponization of the Eucharist,” McElroy said. He warned that the initiative would weaken the bishops’ ability to express opinions on issues such as poverty, racism and the environment.
Biden, who often attends Mass, said that he personally opposes abortion, but believes that he should not impose this stance on Americans who have different views. During his presidency, he took several administrative actions that were welcomed by abortion rights advocates.
At a White House event on the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, Biden was asked whether the bishop might approve a document stating that his abortion stance should disqualify him from the communion.
“This is a private matter, and I don’t think it will happen,” the president did not elaborate.
Kevin Rhoades, the chairman of the USCCB Doctrine Committee and Bishop of South Bend, Fort Wayne, Indiana, said that no decision has been made on the final content of the proposed document.
He said that the bishops who are not in the committee will have the opportunity to put forward their opinions, and the final draft will be revised before voting.
Rhodes also said that the document will not mention Biden or other individuals by name, but will provide guidelines rather than imposing mandatory national policies.
This will allow individual bishops and archbishops to decide the sacrament of a particular church. The Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, made it clear that he welcomes Biden to the church in the archdiocese of communion.
The bishop’s position is inconsistent with many American Catholics
Gregory was one of nearly 70 bishops who signed a letter to the President of the USCCB and the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, urging him to postpone the communion discussion until the bishops personally convened one of the nearly 70 bishops. The request was not approved.
“The choice before us at this moment,” Gregory said in Thursday’s debate. “We must either take a path that strengthens mutual unity, or we are content to develop one that will not bring unity but is likely to go further. Destroy the documents of unity.”
The USCCB has considered the fight against abortion as its “first” priority.But the bishop’s collective position is inconsistent with the views of many Catholics in the United States
In a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, approximately 56% of American Catholics surveyed said that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and 67% said that Biden should be allowed to receive communion during Mass .
On the latter issue, Pew found obvious partisan differences: 55% of Catholics who agreed with the Republican Party said that Biden’s abortion stance should disqualify him from the sacrament, compared with the proportion of Catholics who favor the Democratic Party. Is 11%.
University of Notre Dame political science professor David Campbell said that the bishop’s vote “reflects the fact that the same fault line that divides all American voters also divides American Catholics and Catholic leaders.”
Campbell said via email: “The more the bishop pays attention to the sacrament, the more the church will be seen as in a political struggle, which may cause some Catholics to leave.”
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