President Biden drew criticism on Tuesday for crossing himself while speaking out against abortion restrictions. The gesture, seemingly invoking religious symbolism, occurred during a rally in Tampa where Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried voiced concerns about Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s recently implemented six-week abortion ban.
“We come back here to the state of Florida, where Ron DeSantis felt like he needed to run for president, so 15 weeks wasn’t good enough,” said Fried. “We had to go to six weeks.”
While Fried addressed the audience, Biden performed the Sign of the Cross, gently touching his forehead, chest, and shoulders in the traditional manner. This ancient gesture, dating back to at least the third century, holds deep significance in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, often used as a symbolic blessing.
Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, denounced Biden’s utilization of the Sign of the Cross in endorsing abortion, labeling it a repugnant affront to all Christians, particularly Catholics, whom Biden identifies with, in an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
In his presidential campaigns, Biden has emphasized his Catholic identity, portraying himself as a devout believer despite his apparent disregard for core church teachings that are considered non-negotiable.
Last week, Bishop Robert Gruss of the Diocese of Saginaw criticized President Biden, stating that he felt sorry for him rather than angry, attributing the disconnect between Biden’s religious beliefs and political actions to a lack of understanding of the Catholic faith, which he described as “stupidity” in a sympathetic rather than derogatory sense.
Brian Burch, speaking to Fox News Digital, expressed strong condemnation for President Biden’s use of the Sign of the Cross, describing it as a grotesque abuse of religious piety that no Catholic, regardless of their stance on abortion, could support. Burch urged voters of faith to recognize the significance of the upcoming November elections, warning against what he termed the “new abortion religion” that seeks to undermine Christianity.
Fox News Digital also sought a comment from Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, whose jurisdiction covers Tampa, regarding the president’s abortion rally. A diocesan spokesperson highlighted Bishop Parkes’ consistent teaching on the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion and noted a recent statement by the Florida bishops opposing Amendment Four, which would legalize late-term abortion in the state. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops emphasized the importance of protecting both the unborn and women’s well-being by opposing the amendment.
Relevant articles:
– Biden sparks Christian group’s anger after making sign of the cross at abortion rally: ‘Disgusting insult’, FOX News, 04/26/2024
– Biden sparks fury with the Catholic Church for ‘despicable’ gesture while ‘blessing’ abortion in Florida, Daily Mail, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:02:09 GMT
– Old Joe Biden Goes to an Abortion Rally, Does the Most Tone-Deaf Thing Imaginable, PJ Media, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:48:52 GMT