WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday President Joe Biden’s faith is “not political” amid a recent decision by U.S. Catholic bishops that could result in a rebuke of the president for his views on abortion.
“Joe Biden is a strong man of faith. And as he noted just a couple of days ago, it’s personal. He goes to church, as you know, nearly every weekend. He even went when we were on our overseas trip,” Psaki said at Monday’s press briefing.
Psaki’s comments come after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that some say could result in Biden and other Catholic politicians not being able to receive communion while holding political views that do not align with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Biden’s Catholic faith came into the spotlight when he competed in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and then in the general election against then-President Donald Trump, who touted his support from evangelical Christian voters and slammed Biden for his views on abortion.
“It’s personal to him. He doesn’t see it through a political prism,” Psaki said. “And we’re not going to comment otherwise on the inner workings of the Catholic Church.”
Biden was denied communion at a South Carolina Catholic church in 2019 for his views on abortion. However, the president has repeatedly said he doesn’t think he should impose that position on Americans who feel otherwise.
Last Friday, Biden was asked if he was concerned about being denied communion, he said: “That’s a private matter and I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Psaki was asked by a reporter if the president believes 15-week-old unborn baby is a human being on Monday.
“Are you asking me if the president supports a woman’s right to choose? He does,” she said.
