The Pillar

Share this post
US bishop responses to Gomez statement on Biden inauguration
www.pillarcatholic.com

US bishop responses to Gomez statement on Biden inauguration

News: USCCB

The Pillar
Jan 20, 2021
Share

On Wednesday afternoon, Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, issued a statement on the inauguration of President Joe Biden, which warned that the Biden administration’s policy agenda would advance “moral evils” on several fronts, among them abortion, gender, and religious liberty.

The statement was delayed several hours after intervention by the Vatican Secretariat of State, a fact first reported by The Pillar and subsequently confirmed by other Catholic outlets.

Archbishop Jose Gomez. Credit: USCCB

Since the release of the statement, numerous U.S. bishops have responded to Gomez’ statement. The Pillar will compile those responses here, and update as statements become available.

—

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago: (in a statement emailed to journalists Wednesday afternoon)

“Today, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an ill-considered statement on the day of President Biden’s inauguration. Aside from the fact that there is seemingly no precedent for doing so, the statement, critical of President Biden came as a surprise to many bishops, who received it just hours before it was released.

The statement was crafted without the involvement of the Administrative Committee, a collegial consultation that is normal course for statements that represent and enjoy the considered endorsement of the American bishops. The internal institutional failures involved must be addressed, and I look forward to contributing to all efforts to that end, so that, inspired by the Gospel, we can build up the unity of the Church, and together take up the work of healing our nation in this moment of crisis.”

update: Cardinal Cupich tweeted his statement here.

—

Cardinal Daniel Dinardo of Galveston-Houston:

“Today Archbishop José Gómez, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made a statement on the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden. In the statement, Archbishop Gómez clearly and beautifully articulates the Church’s social doctrine and teachings on the dignity of the human person as a roadmap for engaging the new administration. I join him in commending our nation to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our patroness.”

—

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver: (excerpt)

“I strongly support Archbishop Gomez’s statement that we desire as bishops to work with President Biden to advance policies that are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the social teachings of his Church, especially when it comes to immigration, racism, and capital punishment. Archbishop Gomez rightly noted in his remarks that the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church do not fully align with either political party, but my hope is that President Biden will accept the invitation for true dialogue with the Church on all issues, especially those that involve the right to life and the God-given dignity of the human person. My prayer is that when his party seeks to advance ‘moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender,’ he will have the courage to stand up for the truth of God’s love and plan revealed to us by Jesus.”

Read the entire statement here.

—

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco:

“Archbishop Gomez’s timely call for healing as a country as the new administration assumes office is both very welcome and needed.  I thank him for clarifying how Catholics approach the broad range of issues facing us that pose threats to human life and dignity. 

In particular, I am grateful to him for stating clearly once again that opposing the injustice of abortion remains our ‘preeminent priority,’ while acknowledging that ‘preeminent’ does not mean ‘only.’ Catholics must and do speak out on many issues affecting the equal dignity of us all, but if life at its most vulnerable beginnings is not protected, then none of us is safe. Affirming this equal human dignity at every stage and in every condition is the path to healing and unity. 

I join Archbishop Gomez in praying for President Biden and for the future of this exceptional nation, that this vision may be realized in our time.  May God bless America.”

—

Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland in Oregon:

Twitter avatar for @ArchbishpSampleArchbishop Sample @ArchbishpSample
As we pray for our new President, I offer my full and strong support for the statement issued today by Archbishop Gomez, President of the USCCB. Please read his full statement in the body of the Catholic Sentinel article attached.

Catholic Sentinel @CatholicSentnl

@ArchbishpSample prays for #JoeBiden on inauguration day: “May the Holy Spirit inspire in his heart a desire and a resolve to serve in the spirit of the Gospel, with a special concern for the most vulnerable among us." https://t.co/0y5Kws0kwD

January 20th 2021

31 Retweets233 Likes

—

Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit:

Twitter avatar for @DetArchbishopArchbishop Vigneron @DetArchbishop
I stand with the @USCCB and @ArchbishopGomez in his witness to the Gospel and its implications for our civic order. May God bless our leaders and beloved country. https://t.co/RpDdwKrCWG

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops @USCCB

.@ArchbishopGomez's Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America: https://t.co/xrr2NA1COR #InaugurationDay

January 20th 2021

3 Retweets19 Likes

—

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln:

Twitter avatar for @bishop_conleyJames D Conley @bishop_conley
I offer my prayers for President Biden as he begins his term as President of the United States. We pray through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary that all elected officials be given the wisdom to enact and carry out just laws that protect all people, born and unborn.

January 20th 2021

1 Retweet9 Likes
Twitter avatar for @bishop_conleyJames D Conley @bishop_conley
I join @ArchbishopGomez in applauding President Biden for the way his Catholic faith 'has brought him solace in times of darkness and tragedy’ and ‘his longstanding commitment to the Gospel’s priority for the poor.' But I also ...

January 20th 2021

3 Likes
Twitter avatar for @bishop_conleyJames D Conley @bishop_conley
But I also share @ArchbishopGomez’ deep concern for President Biden’s “pledge to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils that would threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage and gender.”

January 20th 2021

2 Retweets10 Likes

—

Bishop Donald Hying of Madison: (excerpt)

“Together, Americans need to continue to seek solutions to the pandemic, poverty, unemployment, and the immigration question. The Catholic Church will seek to work with the new administration on issues where we find convergence. Regarding the difficult issues of divergence, such as abortion, contraception, religious freedom, and gender, the Church will challenge our leaders to embrace the full vision of the human person, as revealed by God and inscribed in the human heart through the natural law.

Archbishop Gomez, the Archbishop of Los Angeles and the current president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a thoughtful letter today which I recommend everyone to read.”

Read the full text here.

—

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois:

Twitter avatar for @BishopPaprockiBishop Paprocki @BishopPaprocki
The statement released today by @ArchbishopGomez (
ow.ly/EaEC50DdFdZ ) marking the inauguration of President Joe Biden, is a welcome message of unity and collaboration. I fully support the message and agree with it in its entirety...USCCB President’s Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of AmericaStatement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America from Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.ow.ly

January 20th 2021

1 Retweet5 Likes
Twitter avatar for @BishopPaprockiBishop Paprocki @BishopPaprocki
It's true that the Catholic Church shares the President’s concern for justice in matters of the economy, health care, and immigration. It's also true that several of the President’s policy positions are at odds with Catholic teaching about the dignity and integrity of human life.

January 20th 2021

4 Retweets18 Likes
Twitter avatar for @BishopPaprockiBishop Paprocki @BishopPaprocki
In this regard, given the President’s public profession of full communion with the Church, I am pleased that Archbishop Gomez has spoken on behalf of all the bishops of the United States....

January 20th 2021

1 Retweet20 Likes
Twitter avatar for @BishopPaprockiBishop Paprocki @BishopPaprocki
I join Archbishop Gomez and my brother bishops in praying that President Biden will be an effective and virtuous leader of our great nation and that he will truly seek healing and unity...

January 20th 2021

4 Retweets21 Likes
Twitter avatar for @BishopPaprockiBishop Paprocki @BishopPaprocki
...which will necessarily include respect for the God-given freedom of people of faith to practice their religion freely.

January 20th 2021

14 Likes

—

Bishop Steven Raica of Birmingham:

Read the full text here.

—

Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend: (excerpt)

“I strongly support the statement of Archbishop Jose Gomez, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on this day of the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as 46th President of the United States. I encourage all to read this statement. I am grateful for the Archbishop’s clear articulation of our position as non-partisan pastors in relation to our newly elected president, the second Catholic president in our nation’s history.”

…

“There are issues and policies of President Biden and the Democratic Party with which the Church agrees. I look forward to progress in working together for comprehensive immigration reform, eradicating racism, abolishing the death penalty, protecting the environment, etc. At the same time, there are issues and policies of President Biden and the Democratic Party with which the Church profoundly disagrees because they “would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender” (Archbishop Gomez’s statement). Our religious liberty is another deep concern. We will engage with the new Administration and with Congress, as we always have done, to protect human life, to support marriage and family life, and to guard religious freedom.”

Read the full text here.

—

Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence:

Twitter avatar for @ThomasJTobin1Bishop Thomas Tobin @ThomasJTobin1
The statement of @ArchbishopGomez on the inauguration of President Biden is excellent. It is reasoned, balanced, charitable and challenging. It reflects well, I believe, the sentiments of many, perhaps most, of the members of the Bishops Conference.

January 20th 2021

1 Retweet9 Likes

—

Bishop James Wall of Gallup:

Twitter avatar for @BishopWallBishop Wall @BishopWall
Thank you @ArchbishopGomez for your statement in your role as the President of the USCCB. Let us pray for President Biden, that he truly live out his baptismal call, especially in defense of human life #ProLife
USCCB President’s Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of AmericaStatement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America from Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.usccb.org

January 21st 2021

21 Retweets126 Likes
ShareShare
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 The Pillar
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing