Garden State Times

New Jersey Catholics are speaking out against Catholic politicians who are pro-abortion-- including U.S. Sen Bob Menendez (D) and U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone (D- Long Branch), Albio Sires (D-West New York), Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) and Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair)--- 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 New Jersey politicians, describing their actions as heretical and damaging to the church.

“They are hypocrites who truly vote the way they feel. They'd sell anything to get re-elected,” said Catherine Alphonse of Bordentown.

“They are a scandal. All bishops should direct their priests to deny them the Holy Eucharist,” said Joyce-Ann Burns of Belmar.

“As a Catholic, I feel they are not representing the true values of the Catholic Church and should not represent themselves as being devoted to the church they claim to represent,” said Joan Temple of Warren, “‘Thou shall not kill’ --  Every time an abortion is committed a life is killed. There is no room for any questioning of the meaning of the commandment.”

“It is shameful to have pro-abortion political figure who claims to be a devout Catholic present themselves for communion,” said Kathleen Dean of Mount Laurel.

“They are not Catholic if they support abortion and they definitely should not receive communion,” said Patricia Hefferan of Wantage.

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.