U.S. bishops might rebuke Biden over abortion

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., says he will not prevent the U.S. president from participating in the sacrament over his support for abortion. But citing a “radical pro-abortion agenda,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted Friday to create a document rebuking Catholic politicians—including President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—for taking Holy Communion. The Doctrine Committee will spend a few months drafting the “teaching document” and present it to the conference in November for approval.

What does this mean for American Catholics? The conference has no legislative authority to create a national policy regarding abortion and communion. The bishops say they are a “consultative” group that works with the Vatican. The Vatican sent the USCCB a letter days before the meeting started warning the conference to avoid weaponizing Communion. If the teaching document is approved, the USCCB plans to circulate it among American parishes to provide guidelines for bishops and parishioners.

Dig Deeper: Read Leah Hickman’s report on the current administration’s pro-abortion policies.