President Joe Biden has a “very developed approach” to abortion, Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, said during a recent panel discussion hosted by the National Catholic Reporter.
Campbell, who also offered a prayer at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, said at the Jan. 21 discussion that the “political obsession” with the “criminalization of abortion” has broken the Church apart.
Campbell said she hopes someone interviews Biden “about what he thinks” on the issue.
“He has a very–I know from a conversation with him–he has a very developed approach to it [abortion],” Campbell said. “And for him, it hinges on religious liberty, and that he will not force his religious belief on the whole nation.”
She added that many conservatives are concerned over religious freedom, and implied that Biden’s “religious liberty” case for legal abortion could serve as a bridge to those citizens.
“And the far-right is glomming onto this religious liberty argument,” she added. “Maybe there’s a way forward there, where we could find some understanding. So that would be my hope.
Montserrat Alvarado, vice president and executive director of Becket, told CNA that Biden’s treatment of the Little Sisters of the Poor will reveal how serious he is on respecting religious freedom.
“The litmus test for whether President Biden is taking the intersection of abortion and religious liberty seriously is how he treats the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Alvarado told CNA.
“He will either give them an exemption or he will fight them in court, knowing full well that an exemption is the protection our laws and the Supreme Court have given Catholic nuns in this country,” Alvarado said. “We should know soon.”
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden said he would remove religious exemptions to the HHS contraceptive mandate that were granted by the Trump administration to objecting religious groups, including the Little Sisters of the Poor. If Biden follows through on that promise, it is expected that the sisters would once again have to return to court to push for a religious exemption.
Biden also supported taxpayer-funded abortion during his presidential campaign, pledging to reverse various prohibitions on federal funding of abortions, abortion providers, and groups promoting abortion. These policies include the Hyde Amendment, the Mexico City Policy, and the Protect Life Rule. The Biden administration is expected to repeal the Mexico City Policy later this week.
Campbell offered a prayer at the Democratic National Convention last year. Asked by CNA in August whether or not her social justice organization opposes legal abortion, Campbell replied, “That is not our issue. That is not it. It is above my pay grade.”
“It’s not the issue that we work on. I’m a lawyer. I would have to study it more intensely than I have,” Campbell said at the time.
The above comes from a Jan. 25 story on the site of the Catholic News Agency.
“Asked by CNA in August whether or not her social justice organization opposes legal abortion, Campbell replied, “That is not our issue. That is not it. It is above my pay grade.” Answer No…..
And for him, it hinges on religious liberty, and that he will not force his religious belief on the whole nation.” BS it is not a religious issue, I know atheist who know this is the killing of an unborn child, Biden is simply a moral coward who parades around a Catholic. The only reason abortion is legal is because of sexual promiscuity that has taken control of the culture
May God deliver Sister Simone (lawyer, poet, lobbyist) from her confusion. Does she really not see that no one is expecting Mr. Biden to “force his religious belief on the whole nation?!”
That doesn’t mean irreligious belief needs to be forced upon the nation and that we all need to pay for killing babies up to birth.
At 75, she deserves to retire. The religious community to which she belongs is elderly and shrinking, unlike the Sisters in Santa Rosa and other young, vibrant, growing communities that hold to the fulness of the Catholic Faith. The founders of the Sisters of Social Service, who fought and fled Communist oppression, would be appalled by Sister Simone’s embrace of socialism (condemned by all Popes since it arose in the 19th century through Pope Benedict XVI early this century). May they pray for their younger Sisters.
Many thanks to the sister for her clear comments. We must ensure separation of church and state. My belief as a Catholic cannot legislate the beliefs of all Americans.
My belief as a Catholic cannot legislate the beliefs of all Americans. So as Catholics we believe theft and homicide are not only sins but crimes, are we legislating our Catholics beliefs on others in this regard?
Kristina fails to understand that this has nothing to do with the separation of Church and State. No one is imposing a theocracy on anyone, we are obeying the moral order which is adhered to by not only Catholic but people of other Faiths who understand that once the moral/natural is ripped from the civil we get the chaos we are now dealing with.
Are you personally opposed to guns but are fine letting others own whatever guns they want?
Count the ways that you are fine with legislating your beliefs as mandatory for all Americans.
Democrats are hypocrites.
There seems to be quite a misunderstanding of “Seperation of Church and State” So, let me add the following info as it is utterly irrelavant to this story.
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution about a “wall of separation” between church and state, either directly or indirectly.
That phrase was used in a letter by Thomas Jefferson, who was not even in the country when the Constitution was written. It was a phrase seized upon many years later, by people who wanted to restrict religious symbols, and it has been cited by judges who share that wish.
There was no mystery about what “an establishment of religion” meant when that phrase was put into the Constitution.
The Church of England was an “established church.” That is, it was not only financed by the government, its members had privileges denied to members of other religions.
The people who wrote the Constitution of the United States had been British subjects most of their lives, and knew exactly what an “established church” meant. They wanted no such thing in the United States of America. End of story
Kristina, so, do you support putting children in cages built during the Obama administration?
Is unjust racial discrimination okay by you?
If not, why would you impose your beliefs on all Americans?
These are public policy issues that deserve honest and open debate. And, as Catholic citizens, we should be informed by the moral teachings of Christ.
@ Kristina – Ah, very interesting that philosophy of yours. Let’s harken back to 1862 and imagine yourself as a practicing Catholic there. Would you have said, “I personally oppose owning slaves, but I would never impose my Catholic religious beliefs on others who want to own slaves”? Would you have applauded or vilified Abraham Lincoln’s executive order to create the Emancipation Declaration? Were his own personal convictions to be swept aside in favor populism? If slavery and abortion are inherent evils, then do you stand firmly and proudly on that fence?
Kristina, well, what do you want to use to determine legislation? The Magic 8 Ball?
Hi Kristina,
Three words for you to reflect upon: Abortion is murder.
Amen, Kristina. Pres Biden has a duty to faithfully execute the laws of the US. Religious liberty is a cornerstone of US secular law.
To the uniformed Mike M and Kristina ” My belief as a Catholic cannot legislate the beliefs of all Americans.” As Catholics we believe theft and murder are not only sins but crimes. Are we legislating our beliefs on others in this regards?
There is so much that you don’t understand.
Catholics should be honored and grateful to have a Catholic senior statesman like Joe Biden representing them and leading the way ahead as President of the United States. Joe Biden is good PR for the church after twenty years of lousy messaging and news in the Church. When the economy turns around, when covid is cured, when there’s peace and prosperity all around the world thanks to President Biden, don’t be surprised if Catholic RCIA programs see a large increase in people expressing interest in becoming Catholic because why wouldn’t people want to be part of a winning team and church? Joe Biden will be the greatest thing to happen to the Church since Pope Francis.
This probably won’t get thru the CalCath filters but I can’t resist…
“Joe Biden will be the greatest thing to happen to the Church since Pope Francis.”
“…don’t be surprised if Catholic RCIA programs see a large increase in people expressing interest in becoming Catholic because why wouldn’t people want to be part of a winning team and church?”
Is this the Catholic Babylon Bee?
Hilarious!
Joan, your comments are unrealistic, if not propagandistic. Joe is NOT for American Industry – he is following the basic Carbon Dioxide Climate disaster scenario. For example, the Paris Accord (which he again revived) requires a 15% reduction in American CO2. This will be accomplished by shutting down part of American Industry. So, tell us, Joan, how will this help jobs? And as another example, didn’t Joe just recently veto the oil pipeline? So tell us, Joan, how will this help jobs in Montana? And isn’t Joe for a reduction in automotive use? So tell us, Joan, how will this help jobs? And these, and other executive actions, in Joe’s first week, certainly indicate that he is unfriendly to American industry, and not much concerned with the American worker.
Joan, the Catholic Church is not a theater that is trying to get butts in the seats. It is not a charitable organization that is trying to attract donors. It is not a competitor in vying for the Christian’s loyalty. It is not a corporation branding itself and sending out sales people with messages that people want to hear so that people will buy their product. It is not a country club looking to increase its membership.
The Catholic Church is on earth for the salvation of mankind.
Jesus sent his disciples out to cure the sick and tell them the Kingdom of God is at hand. (Luke 10), to cast out demons and tell people to repent (Mark 6), to baptize, to make others disciples, to tell them to obey all of Jesus’ teachings, (Matthew 28)
We should not honor Catholics who are not faithful to the teachings of the Church.
Joan— If what you claim about Joe Biden is true, why did it take 47 lackluster years in government before he showed it?
For God’s sake Joe Biden is a liar and is involved with the Chinese Communist Party. Read Peter Schweitzer’s book. Abortion is the killing of an unborn baby and is wrong. How can you as a Catholic vote for such a man and party? Sister Campbell isn’t like any nun I have ever known. Activists are just angry, unhappy people.
Majorities of Americans oppose government support for abortions both domestically and overseas, according to a new poll.
Marist and the Knights of Columbus released data on Wednesday showing that 58% of Americans oppose or strongly oppose using taxpayer dollars to support abortion. That included a majority of Independents (65%) and 31% of Democrats.
Sister Simone, who founded Nuns on a Bus, is a heretic who should be excommunicated.
Be careful, jon and others who post here have said that nobody posting on this message board has the right to call anyone a heretic.
And people should read up on what are grounds for excommunication.
Maybe those who defend this confused Nun should look up the definition of heretic. And Biden already excommunicated himself by funding foreign abortions. When he continues to promote & expand abortion here will they admit the error of their ways or will they claim ignorance or be an accomplice to baby killing. God have mercy on their souls.
But he forces his climate change religious beliefs on the whole nation. The hypocrisy.
In the Roman Catholic Church, heresy has a very specific meaning. Anyone who, after receiving baptism, while remaining nominally a Christian, pertinaciously denies or doubts any of the truths that must be believed with divine and Catholic faith is considered a heretic. Accordingly four elements must be verified to constitute formal heresy; previous valid baptism, which need not have been in the Catholic Church; external profession of still being a Christian, otherwise a person becomes an apostate; outright denial or positive doubt regarding a truth that the Catholic Church has actually proposed as revealed by God; and the disbelief must be morally culpable, where a nominal Christian refuses to accept what he knows is a doctrinal imperative.
Objectively, therefore, to become a heretic in the strict canonical sense and be excommunicated from the faithful, one must deny or question a truth that is taught not merely on the authority of the Church but on the word of God revealed in the Scriptures or sacred tradition. Subjectively a person must recognize his obligation to believe. If he acts in good faith, as with most persons brought up in non-Catholic surroundings, the heresy is only material and implies neither guilt nor sin against faith.
It doesn’t matter whether you go to church, or even believe in God, or not. Abortion is murder. “Sister Simone” does not need her sickening, scandalous “above my pay grade” Satanic lies. She should be excommunicated, and serve her fake “god” –whoever it is– somewhere in the filthy promiscuity-and-abortion gutters — outside the Catholic Church. This fake, lying “nun” is a disgrace.
Sister Simone believes that human life is inviable from conception. She is not in favor of abortion. She was asked about whether her organization opposes the legal protection of abortion when she said that unfortunate quote. Her organization does not do that and she should have found a lot smarter way of saying that.
Anonymous, do you realize that “Sister” is a Catholic nun, with a life dedicated to Jesus Christ– not a worldly, secular life dedicated to liberal, leftist, immoral socialist politicians and their causes! “Sister” is not a Pro-Life champion! Period. She also encouraged Obama to enact Obamacare, as Abortion and Birth Control were not very important issues, in her “Catholic nun’s” way of thinking. For one thing, she caused tremendous harm to her fellow Catholic nuns, the Little Sisters of the Poor. Shame on her.
While I agree with you that her support for Obamacare was inappropriate and contrary to the position of the US Bishops, she is not a nun. She is a religious sister.
The comments on this website including yours are just plain un-Christian.
Where words are many, sin is not absent. Proverbs 10:19