President Biden’s recent gesture of making the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion speech in Florida has ignited controversy and drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.
The incident occurred as Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried criticized an upcoming law restricting abortion access in the state, prompting Biden to make the sign of the cross. Critics, including Catholic groups and commentators, condemned the gesture as sacrilegious, particularly given the Catholic Church’s staunch opposition to abortion.
Biden’s actions have sparked outrage among Catholics, with some accusing him of mocking Christian beliefs. Kristan Hawkins, founder of Students for Life of America, called on Catholics to denounce the act, while pro-life group 40 Days for Life emphasized the contradiction between Biden’s gesture and Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life.
Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote, described Biden’s gesture as a “despicable charade” aimed at supporting abortion extremism, suggesting that it undermines the Christian belief in the sanctity of life. He criticized Biden for either being naive, senile, or indifferent to the foundational beliefs of millions of Christians in America.
The incident comes amid broader scrutiny of Biden’s religious identity, with a recent Pew Research poll indicating that a majority of Americans are not convinced by his portrayal as a devout Catholic.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the church has consistently condemned abortion as morally evil, reaffirming its stance against the practice for centuries.