VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com<\/a>) –\u00a0 The Vatican was unsuccessful in softening the United States Conference of Catholic\u00a0Bishops’ (USCCB’s)\u00a0statement<\/a>\u00a0that spotlights heretical positions of self-identifying Catholic Joe Biden.<\/p>\n Interference from two pro-LGBT American cardinals,\u00a0Joseph Tobin<\/a>\u00a0of Newark and\u00a0Blase Cupich<\/a>\u00a0of Chicago, triggered the Holy See to attempt changes to the USCCB’s statement penned by its president, Abp. Jos\u00e9 Gomez of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n The involvement coming from outside the USCCB was reported by three sources close to the USCCB, according to\u00a0The Pillar<\/a>, an outlet covering Catholic news. In addition to Tobin and Cupich, the sources added other unnamed bishops were involved in the meddling.<\/p>\n Slated for release at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, the statement clarified points of contradiction between perennial Catholic teaching and some of Biden’s policies. Though the Vatican succeeded in delaying the timing, the statement remained intact and has been published on the USCCB website.<\/p>\n Sources revealed the statement was debated on Tuesday evening, with various bishops objecting it was overly critical of the incoming administration. But it was the Vatican that ultimately caused the delay of its release.<\/p>\n The “USCCB Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden<\/a>” states:<\/p>\n [A]s pastors, the nation’s bishops are given the duty of proclaiming the gospel in all its truth and power, in season and out of season, even when that teaching is inconvenient or when the gospel’s truths run contrary to the directions of the wider society and culture. So, I must point out that our new president has\u00a0pledged to pursue certain policies<\/a>\u00a0that would\u00a0advance moral evils<\/a>\u00a0and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of\u00a0abortion<\/a>,\u00a0contraception<\/a>,\u00a0marriage<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0gender<\/a>. Of deep concern is the\u00a0liberty of the Church<\/a>\u00a0and the freedom of believers to live\u00a0according to their consciences<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Gomez’s statement also addresses abortion:<\/p>\n We have deep concerns about many threats to human life and dignity in our society. But as Pope Francis teaches, we cannot stay silent when\u00a0nearly a million unborn lives<\/a>\u00a0are being cast aside in our country year after year through abortion.<\/p>\n Abortion is a direct attack on life that also\u00a0wounds the woman<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0undermines the family<\/a>. It is not only a private matter, it raises troubling and fundamental questions of fraternity, solidarity\u00a0and inclusion in the human community. It is also a\u00a0matter of social justice<\/a>. We cannot ignore the reality that abortion rates are much higher\u00a0among the poor and minorities<\/a>\u00a0and that the procedure is regularly used to eliminate children who would be born\u00a0with disabilities<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Under condition of anonymity, one priest told Church Militant this Vatican intervention is unsurprising.<\/p>\n![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.churchmilitant.com\/images\/uploads\/BidenInauguration.jpg\")
Gomez Does ‘Not Go Far Enough’<\/h3>\n