Hawkeye Reporter

Iowa Catholics are speaking out against Catholic politicians who are pro-abortion-- including U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-West Des Moines)--- but still present themselves at Mass for Holy Communion.

The Catholics were responding to a November email survey by CatholicVote.org. They were unanimous in their criticism of the Iowa politicians, describing their actions as heretical and damaging to the church.

“They want the veneer of being Catholic in order to change the Church’s position of abortion being an intrinsic evil,” said Joyce Blass of Chariton. “As ‘Catholic’ politicians they had a duty to lead the country away from abortion not to it. It's the greatest hypocrisy of all time.”

“We should not receive communion if we are not in communion with the Church on our beliefs. We should not receive it if we have committed a grave offense with repentance,” said John Canning of Davenport. “How is supporting abortion not a grave offense?”

“I think the bishops need to do more to dissuade them,” said Sharon Jenkins of Wapello.

Since his inauguration, President Joe Biden has regularly pitted himself against Catholic leaders over Catholic teachings on issues like abortion and sexuality. 

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, head of the U.S. Bishops’ pro-life committee, has said “[President Biden] likes to call himself a ‘devout’ Catholic. I would urge him to begin to act like one, especially on life issues."

In September 2021, Biden frankly admitted that he does not agree with the Catholic Church when it comes to the sanctity of life. 

“I respect those who believe life begins at the moment of conception,” Biden said. “I don’t agree, but I respect that.”

A June 2021 poll conducted by CatholicVote.org found that an overwhelming majority of Mass-going Catholics think that Catholic politicians who promote abortion should not receive Communion. 

It found 83% of Mass-going Catholics believe politicians who oppose Catholic teachings "create confusion and disunity" and 74% believe that they should not present themselves for communion.

Speaking with America Magazine in November, Catholic Democrat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois complained of being denied Communion in his home diocese, near Springfield, Ill., due to his pro-abortion record. 

“It’s not a happy experience,” Durbin said, adding that he thought receiving Communion is “a personal decision” that should be open to almost “anybody if the person believes that they are worthy of it.”

The current U.S. Congress includes 158 Catholics, according to the Pew Forum. That's down from 168 in 2017 and up from 100 in 1961.

There are 85 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House and 24 in the U.S. Senate. All are pro-abortion.