Despite his professed Catholic faith, President Joe Biden has vowed to take a firm stance in support of abortion rights following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that delivered a massive blow to the pro-abortion movement.
Biden promised to bring about a “whole-of-government” response against the will of Texas voters after a sweeping abortion ban went into effect statewide.
“Private and personal health decisions”
In an impassioned statement, the president asserted that it is “unconstitutional” to ban abortions past the point that a heartbeat can be detected.
Of course, he shied away from deeper motivations for his position, stating only that the Supreme Court’s ruling is “an unprecedented assault on a woman’s constitutional rights” and an insult to the rule of law that “unleashes unconstitutional chaos.
The Texas law in question has been described as the most severe of its kind in the U.S. and includes a near-complete ban on abortion that significantly weakens the protections laid out in the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision.
Making the law especially unusual was a provision allowing private citizens to sue abortion doctors and others who “aid and abet” the now-illegal abortions.
Of course, Biden and most Democrats have denounced the new law. The president lamented that “complete strangers will now be empowered to inject themselves in the most private and personal health decisions” of women seeking abortions.
“Don’t agree, but I respect that”
In response, Biden is now threatening to make use of the federal power at his command in an attempt to circumvent state laws. He acknowledged on Friday, however, that he “doesn’t know” if there is much he can do to repeal the “un-American” law.
He previously affirmed that his administration directed the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to protect “safe and legal” abortion, dropping the “rare” attribute commonly associated with older and more moderate pro-abortion policies.
Even as he espoused clearly pro-abortion views, Biden appeared eager to placate pro-life individuals — including fellow Catholics around the world.
“I respect them, those who believe life begins at the moment of conception,” he said. “Don’t agree, but I respect that. I’m not going to impose that on people.”
It remains to be seen when, or if, Catholic leaders decide to express a firm stance on Biden’s clear disavowal of church teachings.
The post Biden vows ‘whole-of-government’ approach against anti-abortion Texas law first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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