President Biden made the sign of the cross, a gesture often performed by Catholics before and after prayers, as he listened to comments from the pro-abortion Democrat in Florida.
The president’s action came Tuesday after Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, slammed an upcoming bill that would limit abortions to those within six weeks of pregnancy.
Biden was heavily criticized for the move, with several Catholic groups and commentators calling it blasphemous given the Catholic Church’s strict teachings condemning abortion.
“And then we move back here to the state of Florida. [Gov.] Fifteen weeks wasn’t enough because Ron DeSantis felt he needed to run for president. We had to go for six weeks,” Fried said at an event with Biden.
The moment Fried said, “15 weeks was not enough,” Biden made the sign of the cross, as if to mock Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to restrict abortion.
Critics of the president, a devout Catholic, said his actions mocked Christians.
Kristan Hawkins, founder of Students for Life of America, said Catholics should “denounce this evil.” The pro-life group 40 Days for Life said Biden’s actions were “a stark reminder of the disconnect between his actions and Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life.”
“Biden’s decision to make the sign of the cross in support of abortion extremism is a despicable display of his attempt to use sacred customs to support his new religion of abortion,” said Catholic Vote President Brian Birch. added. “His attitude makes a blatant mockery of the Christian faith in the sanctity of life.”
“There is no divine support in destroying the lives of innocent children. He should have known better,” he added. “Biden’s gestures suggest that he is either deeply naive, senile, or callously indifferent to the fundamental beliefs of millions of American Christians.”
The incident comes on the heels of a Pew Research poll showing that a majority of Americans are not satisfied with Biden’s description of himself as a “devout Catholic.”
The poll, conducted in late February, found that only 13% of Americans say Biden is “very religious,” but 41% say he is “somewhat religious,” and 41% say Biden is “somewhat religious.” It found that 44% think Biden is “not religious at all” or “not religious.” Too religious. ”
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church has for centuries “affirmed the moral evil of all forms of abortion.” He further adds that the teachings have not changed and will never change.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
