Throughout his presidency, Joe Biden has often highlighted his Catholic faith as a guiding force in his personal life, yet his leadership decisions have consistently raised questions about whether his policies align with the core values of the Church. Biden's actions often reflect a stark contrast to the teachings of the Church, including his stance on abortion and his advocacy for policies that undermine traditional family structures. Even with his recent pardon of his son, Hunter, Biden’s leadership has never fully demonstrated the moral clarity or integrity that Catholic teachings emphasize.
This disconnect between his professed faith and his politics not only raises doubts about the authenticity of his Catholic convictions but also undermines the global moral authority of the Catholic Church. When the leader of the free world, who claims to be Catholic, makes decisions that diverge so far from Church doctrine, it sends a confusing and damaging message to the 1.3 billion Catholics around the world about what the faith truly stands for.
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If Biden’s presidency were to be remembered for one thing beyond the policies of his administration, it may well be his legacy as a poor example of Catholic leadership. While modern governments come and go, the history of the Catholic Church spans millennia, and the legacy of misaligned actions rooted in moral compromise could linger far longer than any political tenure. Biden’s failure to align his actions with Catholic teachings will likely be remembered as a lasting disservice to the Church, especially considering the weight of its moral authority as a global institution.
A Missed Opportunity for True Mercy and Redemption
Catholicism teaches that mercy and grace are fundamental components of the faith. However, mercy cannot be conflated with favoritism or self-interest. Biden’s direct involvement in Hunter’s pardon has the potential to be seen as an attempt to shield his son from the consequences of his actions—not as a true act of grace. Had Biden chosen to wait for a more impartial resolution, it would have signified an understanding that grace is most powerful when it comes from outside of one’s immediate circle, not when it’s self-servingly extended by a father attempting to protect his family at all costs.
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The Catholic understanding of mercy is that it is not about sidestepping justice, but about offering forgiveness after acknowledging wrongdoing and making restitution. Biden’s intervention distorts this concept. The decision to bypass the Justice Department’s established process for pardons and act on his own personal judgment suggests a preference for political influence and family loyalty over genuine moral clarity. Had Biden allowed Hunter to face justice—perhaps with a potential pardon from President-elect Trump—he could have shown that grace is most powerful when it comes from outside one's immediate circle, and that redemption is inseparable from accountability.
Further, in issuing the pardon, Biden broke an earlier promise that he would allow his son to face justice like anyone else. Catholics view dishonesty as a serious moral failing, as it undermines trust and disrupts the harmony necessary for a just society. His about-face not only broke a promise to the American public but also undermined trust in his leadership, suggesting a preference for family loyalty over the moral clarity and accountability that he pledged to uphold.
Catholics strive to live out their faith by example. As the leader of the free world, Biden had a unique chance to embody Catholic values, offering the American people and the global community a living testament to the transformative power of faith. In choosing political expediency over integrity, Biden has squandered a pivotal opportunity to show what it truly means to live as a devout Catholic in the public sphere. Biden’s actions have deprived the global community of the example of a truly devout Catholic leader, and his presidency will likely be remembered for how it fell short in living out the Catholic values he so often claims to uphold.
