A question of faith: Biden, Catholicism and the presidency

Some bishops think America's second Catholic president should be denied the Eucharist. Are Biden's faith and job title an unworkable mix?

By Tara McKelvey, BBC White House reporter
July 13, 2021

On the matter of faith, President Joe Biden is not shy.

Each weekend that he is in town, he goes to
Mass in Washington. A motorcade takes him on Saturday evenings or Sunday
mornings to Holy Trinity, the church where President Kennedy, the only other
Catholic US president, used to attend services. He makes the sign of the cross
at public events, and his Catholicism is woven into his speeches and policies.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57825309

‘Radicalized’ anti-abortion movement poses increased threat, US warned

Comments from Anu Kumar of reproductive rights group Ipas come as militant anti-abortion groups gain legislative influence

Jessica Glenza
Thu 8 Jul 2021

The president and chief executive of an international reproductive rights non-profit has warned that the American anti-abortion movement has significantly radicalized and is working to spread its ideology around the world.

The comments came as pro-gun anti-abortion theocratic militant groups who seek to prosecute women who have abortions under murder statutes have gained increasing legislative influence in the US.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/08/anti-abortion-movement-radicalized

Australia – Catholic doctors urged to back George Christensen’s ‘nonsensical’ abortion bill

Catholic Medical Association asks members to support bill critics say will only inflict harm

Amy Remeikis
Mon 5 Jul 2021

Catholic doctors are being urged to support
George Christensen’s “nonsensical” abortion bill, leading to concerns medical
professionals could impose their religious beliefs on patients.

The Catholic Medical Association has sent out an email to members asking them
to put their name to a letter supporting Christensen’s Children Born Alive
Protection bill which seeks to enforce providing “life-sustaining treatment” to
all foetuses “born alive”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/06/catholic-doctors-urged-to-back-george-christensens-nonsensical-abortion-bill

“Religious leaders should be asking for your forgiveness” on abortion – not the other way around

Church leaders are challenging Biden's stance on abortion, but people of faith say his views jibe with religion

By Kylie Cheung, Salon
June 30, 2021

CoWanda Rusk was weeks away from graduating from her Texas high school, and preparing for college, when she learned she was pregnant. "I immediately knew I didn't want to be pregnant," she recounted to Salon.

Rusk had grown up a part of the church where her father was a youth pastor, and she remains a person of faith to this day. "I always rely on my faith for everything, even small decisions — what colors to wear today, what will align with the universe today," she said.

Continued: https://www.salon.com/2021/06/30/religion-abortion-biden-catholic-church/

The Bishops Are Wrong About Biden — and Abortion

June 27, 2021
By Garry Wills

What is the worst crime a society can commit? Some people (I among them) would say the Holocaust, the cold methodical murder of six million people just for being Jews.

But some Catholics and evangelicals say they know of an even greater crime — the deliberate killing of untold millions of unborn babies by abortion. They have determined that a fetus is a person and abortion is therefore murder. This is a crime of such magnitude that some Catholic bishops are trying to deny the reception of Holy Communion by the president of the United States for not working to prevent it.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/opinion/biden-bishops-communion-abortion.html

27.06.2021

Holocaust and abortion

U.S. Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden over abortion stance

Decision comes despite appeals from Vatican for more collegial approach on issue

The Associated Press
Posted: Jun 18, 2021

U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a "teaching document" that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, who continue to receive Communion despite their support for abortion rights.

The decision, vehemently opposed by a minority of bishops, came despite appeals from the Vatican for a more cautious and collegial approach to the divisive issue. And it raises questions about how closely the bishops will be able to co-operate with the Biden administration on issues such as immigration and racial injustice.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/teaching-document-catholics-bishops-biden-1.6071845

The Catholic Church’s Reproductive Fight Is About Controlling Women’s Freedom

May 27, 2021
By Jamie Manson

Last summer, after years of excruciating menstrual pain and anemia caused by excessive bleeding, I saw a gynecological specialist. He ordered an M.R.I., suspecting the cause was endometriosis. I instinctively grab my rosary when I’m anxious. For days after the test, I moved bead to bead, praying that the radiologist would find signs of disease so that I could find appropriate treatment. But the test showed a perfectly healthy uterus.

Normal or not, my symptoms continued to worsen, to the point that the doctor agreed that the answer to ending my pain was a hysterectomy. I was 43 years old. As a longtime advocate for women’s equality and reproductive freedom, I was surprised not to encounter the resistance so many women face from the medical community and society when I made this choice. Women are often told that they will regret losing their ability to have children. My doctor understood I knew what was right for my life, my body and my health. It felt like a miracle.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/opinion/catholic-church-abortion.html

27.05.2021

Jamaica – Church hypocrisy on abortion

Junior minister Cuthbert-Flynn lashes religious leaders for ignoring rapists, men who impregnate teens

Monday, May 03, 2021
BY BRITTNY HUTCHINSON

CHURCH leaders came in for strong lashing yesterday for their strident opposition to the decriminalisation of abortion while remaining mostly silent concerning men who rape and impregnate women and girls, often forcing them to abort the pregnancy.

Seemingly a lone voice in the parliamentary wilderness as she battles for decriminalising of abortions — pre-term removal of the foetus from the uterus — junior minister for health and wellness Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn also wants the men who put women in that situation to be punished, including being sent to prison.

Continued: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/front-page/church-hypocrisy-on-abortion-junior-minister-cuthbert-flynn-lashes-religious-leaders-for-ignoring-rapists-men-who-impregnate-teens_220538

Time to stop sacrificing lives of Kenyan women and girls at the altar of religious fundamentalism

April 29, 2021
By Venoranda Kuboka, Josephine Achieng and Maureen Kemunto

We don’t talk about religious fundamentalism enough, especially its negative effects on the rights, health and dignity of women in Kenya.

Religious fundamentalism is one of the most pervasive social maladies in Kenyan today, especially to the lives of women because it has stigmatized, restricted and criminalized access to essential reproductive health services.

Continued: https://citizentv.co.ke/blogs/opinion-time-to-stop-sacrificing-lives-of-kenyan-women-and-girls-at-the-altar-of-religious-fundamentalism-10798167/

Malawi Parliament Rejects Debate On Liberalizing Abortion Law

By Lameck Masina
March 12, 2021

BLANTYRE, MALAWI - Malawi's National Assembly has rejected a motion to debate liberalizing the country's strict law against abortion, which is only allowed if the mother's life is at risk.  Despite thousands of Malawian women dying each year from unsafe abortions, lawmakers on Thursday unanimously rejected a motion to debate the long-delayed Termination of Pregnancy Bill.  

The bill, pushed by activists since 2015, aimed to expand legal abortion from cases where the mother’s life is at risk to include rape, incest, fetal deformity, and threats to health. 

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/africa/malawi-parliament-rejects-debate-liberalizing-abortion-law