President Joe Biden sparked a backlash from pro-life Catholics after he made the Sign of the Cross Tuesday while listening to a speech on limits on abortion.
Biden made the gesture during a campaign organizing event in Florida with Nikki Fried, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate facing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
During his opening remarks, Fried expressed outrage at DeSantis for signing a six-week ban on abortions.
“Then we go back to the state of Florida, where Ron DeSantis felt he needed to run for president and that’s why 15 weeks wasn’t enough,” Fried said. “And then we had to go to six weeks.”
Biden reacted to his statement by making the Sign of the Cross.
President Joe Biden speaks during organizing event as Nikki Fried laughs
Joe Biden raises his hand to make the Sign of the Cross
US President Joe Biden speaks with two children as he meets with campaign volunteers and supporters.
The president’s gesture infuriated Catholics politically active on the issue of abortion.
“Biden’s decision to make the Sign of the Cross in support of pro-abortion extremism is a despicable farce that attempts to co-opt a sacred practice in support of his new pro-abortion religion,” Catholic Vote President Brian Burch told the Washington Examiner calling Biden “terribly naïve, senile or callously indifferent” toward Christians on the issue of abortion.
Voto Católico published the clip of the moment on social networks that shocked and angered Christians and Catholics.
‘Absolutely vile, pray for the soul of our president, he is a weak old man, he needs to prepare to meet his creator…’ wrote Catholic Bishop Joseph Strickland on social media.
Catholic Bishop Joseph Strickland speaks at a protest rally
Supporters of US President Joe Biden applaud as they wait for his speech on abortion rights.
The president, who describes himself as a practicing Catholic, sometimes makes the Sign of the Cross while speaking in public to lighten the mood, either to show the audience that he is about to say something terrible about someone out of anger or frustration or needing God’s blessing.
In November, Biden made the Sign of the Cross while mentioning former President Donald Trump, interrupting his speech to suggest that he needed to be absolved for his sinful thoughts about the president.
Biden also made the Sign of the Cross during a September meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, after Netanyahu commented that the two had been friends for 40 years, which seemed like a joke about his age.
“We have been friends, I have verified, for more than 40 years,” Netanyahu said, prompting Biden to make the Sign of the Cross.
US President Joe Biden (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (2-L) watches as US President Joe Biden (R) arrives at the House Chamber of the US Capitol.
In February 2023, Biden made the Sign of the Cross after referencing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
‘I’m going to be good. I’m going to behave well,’ he said to the audience who laughed at his gesture.
But the president’s religious gesture during a debate on abortion baffled and angered Catholics who expressed their outrage on social media.
‘This is a complete mockery of God,’ Kristan Hawkins, president of Student for Life wrote on social networks. ‘ALL Catholics should denounce this EVIL.’
Other Christians reacted with horror to Biden’s gesture.
‘Demonic: Joe Biden makes the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion rally’ wrote William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership. “When I say evil spiritual forces are at play in his administration, I mean it.”
Fried said Democrats were the “last line of defense” against Trump and Republicans after the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade and Biden agreed.
“This extreme Florida law will affect 4 million women in the state,” she said. ‘Let’s be very clear. There is a person responsible for this nightmare. And he recognizes it and brags about it: Donald Trump.