Catholic Cardinal Raymond Burke described President Joe Biden’s plan to “codify” Roe v. Wade in harsh terms last week, slamming the abortion expansion as a “program of lies and murder” that comes from Satan.
Burke, a canon lawyer, did not mention the president by name in his Jan. 24 homily, which the National Catholic Register published Monday. But his condemnation of the president’s abortion plans was clear, Breitbart reports.
“In our own nation, the federal government wants to codify as law the totally unjust decision of the Supreme Court, which made legal abortion on demand, and to impose upon schools the teaching of the iniquitous gender theory,” he said. Burke gave the homily at Mass in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
“We live in times when it can seem that the Evil One is succeeding in his program of lies and death,” he continued.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly have said they want to “codify” Roe v. Wade into federal law. The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling forced states to legalize abortion on demand, making America one of only seven countries in the world to allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since then, about 62 million unborn babies have been aborted.
By “codifying” Roe, Biden would ensure that killing unborn babies in abortions without restriction would remain legal even if the Supreme Court overturns its infamous ruling. “Codifying” Roe also could invalidate life-saving state laws that restrict abortions after viability, ensure mothers receive informed consent and ban sex-selection abortions.
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In his homily, Burke urged Christians not to lose hope even when it seems like evil is winning.
“In the face of such seemingly ineluctable developments, we are tempted to discouragement and even to the abandonment of the battle against the Evil One and his program of lies and murder,” he said.
“But Christ is with us to win the battle, if only we engage it, yes, with our seemingly little and insignificant forces,” Burke continued. “Our weak and poor hearts, united to the royal heart of Christ the King, become strong and rich for the transformation of our homes and, thus, of our neighborhoods, our nations and our world.”
This is not the first time that Burke has called out Biden for supporting the destruction of innocent lives in abortions — a violation of church teachings. In an interview with Catholic Action for Faith and Family founder Thomas McKenna in August, Burke said Biden should not receive communion unless he repents.
“Certainly, he is not a Catholic in good standing, and he should not approach to receive Holy Communion,” Burke said in the interview.
The cardinal emphasized that his statements about Biden are not political, rather he is concerned about the politician’s soul.
“… a Catholic may not support abortion in any shape or form, because it is one of the most grievous sins against human life, and has always been considered to be intrinsically evil,” Burke said. “And therefore to support the act is a mortal sin.”
Biden already is making abortions a priority in his administration. Just a week after taking office, he rescinded the Mexico City Policy and restored tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which kills babies in abortions around the world and lobbies to legalize abortions in pro-life countries.
He also began rolling back President Donald Trump’s Title X policy, which defunded the Planned Parenthood abortion chain of more than $50 million taxpayer dollars.
“It is grievous that one of President Biden’s first official acts actively promotes the destruction of human lives in developing nations,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded in a statement. “We urge the president to use his office for good, prioritizing the most vulnerable, including unborn children.”
