We have already covered several celebrities and their religion here at Walking Crossroads. But in this article, let’s put Hollywood aside for a minute and focus on politics – and what bigger politician is there than the president of the United States, right? So in this article, let’s look into the life, career, and religious affiliation of Joe Biden.
Joe Biden is a devout Catholic. He attends Mass every weekend, makes the sign of the cross in public, and uses Catholic references in his policies and speeches. He also talks about his faith and how it plays a key role in his life, work, and career. Biden is the 2nd Catholic to be elected president.
That said, Joe Biden has made being a Catholic a part of his personal story. So does this mean that he accepts and supports every teaching of the church, including abortion? Continue reading to find out.
Who Is Joe Biden?
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., more known simply as Joe Biden, is the 46th president of the United States. He also served as a senator and then a vice president from 2009 to 2017 under then-president Barack Obama’s Democratic administration.
Joe Biden as Senator
Biden was 29 when he was elected to the Senate, becoming the 5th youngest senator in history. He represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1972 to 2009. Overall, he spent 36 years in the Senate, winning 6 reelections. This makes him the longest-serving senator in Delaware.
Throughout his term as senator, Biden focused on foreign policy and criminal justice. He also worked on drug policy, mandating tougher penalties for drug dealers. During his term as a senator, he served as the chair of the Judiciary Committee for 8 years and chair of the Foreign Relations Committee for 4 years.
Joe Biden, the Vice Presidency, and the Presidency
In 1988, Biden launched his first bid to become the president of the United States. However, when it was revealed that some parts of his campaign speech were plagiarized, he withdrew his candidacy. In 2008, he tried again. But after placing 5th in the Iowa Democratic caucus, he dropped out once more.
Then in the 2008 elections, Barack Obama tapped Biden to be his Vice President for the Democratic party. Eventually, the two won, besting their Republican counterparts, John McCain and Sarah Palin. They won yet again in 2012 against Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. As a vice president, Joe Biden served as Obama’s advisor and supporter. He also had a hand in several budget crises and foreign policy with Iraq.
Biden, yet again, tried his luck with the presidency in 2020. After Bernie Sanders dropped out, he became the Democratic Party’s nominee. During his campaign, he outlined policies that would appeal to progressives, including affordable childcare, expanding federal health insurance plans, giving aid to low-income communities, and more.
After a very tight battle against Donald Trump, Biden won the 2020 presidential election. The results were then challenged and a number of lawsuits were filed by Trump and other Republican leaders. But with no evidence to prove their allegations, most of these cases were dismissed. Unfortunately, before he and his running mate, Kamala Harris, were certified as the winners and sworn in as president and vice president of the United States, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Not only did this cause damage and looting, it also resulted in the deaths of 5 individuals, including 1 police officer.
What Is Joe Biden’s Religion?
Now, let’s move on to religion and faith. As he proudly speaks of, Joe Biden is a devout Catholic. He was raised in an Irish Catholic family and attended the Archmere Academy, which is a private Catholic school for boys. According to a 2021 article, he also attends Mass every weekend he is in town, makes the sign of the cross at public events, and uses his Catholicism in his speeches and policies.
In his 2020 victory speech, for instance, Biden quoted from the book of Ecclesiastes, saying: “The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season – a time to build, a time to reap, a time to sow. And a time to heal. This is the time to heal in America.”
Biden is the only second Catholic U.S. president, the first being John F. Kennedy. However, unlike Kennedy who has downplayed his religion, Biden has put his Catholicism in the forefront. He often talks about how his faith helped him get through the death of his first wife and daughter in 1972, and his son in 2015.
Joe Biden also often talks about how his faith affects not only his life but also his work and career. In the Christian Post, he personally writes:
“Loving God and loving others are at the very foundation of my faith. Throughout my career in public service, these values have kept me grounded in what matters most…
As president, these are the principles that will shape all that I do, and my faith will continue to serve as my anchor, as it has my entire life.”
That said, while Biden’s faith is indeed strong, this doesn’t mean that he agrees and supports all the teachings of the Catholic Church. Let’s get into this in more detail below.
Joe Biden and the Catholic Church
As a Catholic president in the United States and just the second at that, you’d think that the Church would be delighted, right? Well, not quite. Some, particularly the most conservative in the U.S. Catholic Church, are against Biden in some of his policies. To be specific: he supports same-sex marriage and legal abortion.
As you know, the Catholic Church rejects abortion and infanticide, teaching that life begins at conception. And so by openly supporting abortion, Biden is seen to be directly contradicting the church’s teachings. As a result, American bishops have suggested that he be denied Communion – a central rite in Catholic worship.
However, during a meeting at the Vatican, the Pope himself told the president that he was a “good Catholic” and that he should keep receiving Communion. It should be noted that Catholic policy allows bishops to decide whether to prevent someone from having Communion.
