The Roman Catholic Church is a strong opponent of abortion. President Joe Biden, a life-long Catholic, supports abortion rights. Are the two in conflict?
On Friday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted 168 to 55 in favor of drafting what’s called a “teaching document” which some feel is aimed at rebuking the president.
According to the Associated Press, the voting and discussion took place virtually. Backers of the move say it is in response to Biden’s actions to protect access to abortion services. Critics say it could give the bishops the image of being a partisan political group.
According to public opinion polls and party platforms, Republicans have supported restricting or banning abortions and the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing the procedure based on a Fourth Amendment “right of privacy.”
Democrats have generally been “pro-choice,” defending the right of women to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy. Biden has said he opposes abortion but did not want to impose his opinion on others.
In the past, some bishops have advocated for banning Biden or any other political leader from receiving communion – a principal sacrament of the church – if they support abortions.
The draft is expected to come back to the group in November for a final vote.
300 million shots, but not 70%
Close, but not quite?
President Joe Biden has announced a goal of having 70 percent of American adults receiving at least one shot of the coronavirus vaccine by July 4. So far the figure is only 65 percent.
“What we’ve got is a truly American accomplishment,” said Biden on Friday, according to USA Today. “Sixty-five percent of American adults have gotten at least one shot, including 87 percent of adult Americans. Just five months ago we were at only 5 percent of adult Americans.”
Resistance to or hesitancy about the vaccine has been especially concentrated in rural areas, especially among culturally or politically conservative people.
WASHINGTON JUNE 27: Pro-life and pro-choice activists await the Supreme Courtâ??s ruling on abortion access in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on June 27, 2016 (Shutterstock).
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PRO-LIFE and pro-choice demonstrators (Shutterstock).
In a widely anticipated action, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday announced a decision that overturns a national right for an abortion.
The ruling – on a ideological basis – was 6-3 to overrule the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision which created a “right to privacy” that granted women the power to terminate an unwanted pregnancy in most cases.
Friday’s ruling does not outlaw abortion, but leaves the status of that medical procedure to the states.
According to The New York Times, the result will be the enactment of laws banning abortions in about half the states.
President Joe Biden called the decision the “realization of extreme ideology.” Former president Donald Trump, who appointed three conservative judges to the court who made up the majority, praised the news, saying “it would work out for everybody,” according to The Associated Press.
Protesters and counter-protestors gathered outside the Supreme Court building and political leaders across the country called for making the issue an important part of the 2022 general election campaigns.
“Gun violence” bill advances
A “GUN VIOLENCE” bill has passed Congress (Flickr/Don Waddington).
The House of Representatives on Friday passed gun violence legislation previously approved by the Senate and sent it to President Joe Biden, who has promised to sign it.
According to United Press International, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was approved by the Senate by a 65-34 vote and the House by 234-193.
The bill will fund state efforts for school safety, background checks and “red flag” laws intended to temporarily confiscate firearms from people who may be a danger to themselves or others.
Sports: Angels and Dodgers in action
Hoping to move closer to second place (and hopes for a wild card spot), the Los Angeles Angels will host the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim today in the beginning of a three-game series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with a slim lead in the National League West, start a three-game series in Atlanta today against the Braves, who are gaining ground on the New York Mets in the NL East.
Weather: A hot time in the towns
Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid- to high-80s are the forecast for days and days. In the West Orange County area, after some cloudiness on Saturday, the sun will come out with a daytime high of 89 and an overnight low of 64. Sunday and Monday will be 88 and sunny. There will be a slow decline on daily highs after that, with next Friday forecasted to have a high of of 80.
