‘Catholics for Biden’ Launch

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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Joe Biden's presidential campaign is trying to appeal to Catholics.

The Biden campaign officially launched in a livestream Thursday night "Catholics for Biden-Harris."

The former vice president claims to be Catholic, but is in favor of legalized abortion, homosexual "marriage" and transgenderism.

Duping Gullible Catholics

During the livestream, Stephen Schneck, a Catholic political philosopher appointed to an advisory board by President Barack Obama, seemed to reject the idea that President Donald Trump is authentically pro-life, saying, "President Trump has proven himself to be, in my estimation, the least pro-life president in history."

This stands against the claim made by many pro-lifers that Trump is the most pro-life president in history.

For instance, a Catholic nun, Sr. Deirdre Byrne, said at the Republican National Convention, "Donald Trump is the most pro-life president that this nation has ever had."

Schneck further claimed former vice president Biden is "running for this office to save the soul of our nation, to restore the soul of our nation."

Earlier in the day Thursday, John Zmirak commented on Biden's claim to be a devout Catholic: "Joe Biden wants to gather up gullible Catholics' votes."

"But he promises to padlock the facilities of the Little Sisters of the Poor if they won't dispense abortion pills," Zmirak told Church Militant. "He has no problem with Kamala Harris calling the Knights of Columbus an extremist organization, which ought to disqualify Knights from serving on U.S. courts."

Among those speaking during the livestream were Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sr. Simone Campbell.

Sister Campbell is a religious sister who has worked as a left-wing lobbyist for decades. She delivered an invocation Aug. 20 for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), in which she spoke of the need to fight against "structural racism, bigotry and sexism" in the United States.

Before her DNC invocation, Campbell was asked about her stance on abortion and the right to life. She replied, "It is above my pay grade."

Catholic Vote Key

In Thursday night's livestream, Sr. Campbell spoke of the importance of the Catholic vote in swaying U.S. elections, saying, "Catholics are a critical percentage of the voting public."

Catholics are indeed seen as an important demographic in the election — especially in key battleground states. For instance, Biden supporters in Pennsylvania forged a grassroots "Pittsburgh Catholics4Biden" group, with about 700 members.

The Trump campaign is also trying to appeal to Catholics, with the Catholics for Trump Coalition.

Sister Campbell lauded Biden Thursday night for "his willingness to call people together and listen."

She claimed, "We have the support of our pope" in viewing abortion as just one of many equally important issues.

Senator Durbin is a pro-abortion Democrat whose own bishop in Illinois has barred him from receiving Holy Communion.

In Thursday night's livestream, Sen. Durbin said he has never known "a more caring, compassionate person in public life than Joe Biden."

Durbin went on to say, "If there's one candidate who can bind the wounds of this nation, it's Joe Biden."

In February 2018, Bp. Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois affirmed that Durbin was barred from receiving the Blessed Sacrament in the diocese of Springfield.

"Sen. Durbin was once pro-life," Bp. Paprocki stated. "I sincerely pray that he will repent and return to being pro-life."

Some Catholics, like Zmirak, wish more American clergy would do the same for Biden.

"It's scandalous that some bishops would still give Holy Communion to such a disgraced and duplicitous hack," Zmirak argued, saying lauding Biden as a Catholic is akin to "a participation trophy for anyone with an Irish or Italian last name who makes it big in politics."

In September 2017, Durbin rebuked judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett for using the term "orthodox Catholic" in her writings — a phrase designating those who are faithful to the Deposit of Faith.

In the wake of the exchange, both Catholic and secular writers lambasted Durbin, calling his treatment of Barrett "a cringeworthy interrogation," "flat- out wrong" and a "mealymouthed question."

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