The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reiterated its opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion following President Biden’s false statement to a reporter. The reporter attempted to question Biden by stating: “Catholic bishops are demanding that federal tax dollars not fund abortions.”  Biden retorted: “No they are not all doing that. Nor is the Pope doing that.”

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, corrected Biden explaining that the bishops’ conference is united in opposition to funding abortion. He released the statement—President of U.S. Bishops Conference on Bishops’ United Position Against the Evil of Abortion—that reiterated the bishops’ and Pope Francis’ opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion.

The statement affirmed, “As we are taught by Jesus, human life is sacred. God calls us to defend and nurture life from the moment a new human being is conceived. The Catholic Church has been clear and consistent in this teaching. The Catholic bishops of the United States are united in our commitment to life and will continue to work as one body in Christ to make abortion unthinkable. As the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has said, ‘It is not right to ‘do away with’ a human being, however small, in order to solve a problem. It is like hiring a hitman.’ Taxpayer funding of abortion would force people of good conscience to participate in this grave evil against their will. It would contradict our right to live in accord with the tenets of our faith. Our nation is better than that. I pray that we will protect every child no matter his or her age, and open our hearts to respond to mothers in need with love and support rather than the violence of abortion. Taxpayer funding of abortion would force people of good conscience to participate in this grave evil against their will. It would contradict our right to live in accord with the tenets of our faith. Our nation is better than that. I pray that we will protect every child no matter his or her age, and open our hearts to respond to mothers in need with love and support rather than the violence of abortion.”

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, sent a letter to House (Rep Chris Smith, H.R.7) and Senate (Senator Roger Wicker S.62) sponsors of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act” in support of the legislation.

His letter included: Protecting taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortion in violation of their conscience is a principle that has enjoyed historically broad support among Americans, regardless of their otherwise passionately divided views on the topic. It has also been life-saving…That these policies have stood for over 45 years reflects decades of bipartisan agreement and the reality that most Americans believe that the federal government should not use its power to support and promote elective abortion and should not compel citizens to subsidize this violence.

“The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would take a modest but important step to correct these problems by making permanent and government-wide the long-standing policy of preventing federal taxpayer funding of elective abortions. The government should never fund the destruction of innocent preborn children. Rather, Congress can better serve the common good by prioritizing policies that comprehensively assist women, children, and families in need in ways that will not only encourage childbirth but make it easier to welcome and raise a new child.

“Ultimately, abortion is an uncompassionate response to a difficult pregnancy, one that pits a mother in crisis against her preborn child. Women and their preborn children both deserve better – they deserve all of us to stand with them, and to provide solutions that empower them both to have a positive future. I pray that God blesses your work in pursuit of such solutions, and urge your colleagues to please support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act.”

The USCCB has in past sessions of Congress also supported the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which would make long-standing prohibitions on federal funding of elective abortion permanent and government-wide.