Golden State Today

California Catholics are speaking out against Catholic politicians-- including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and fellow U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Salud Carbajal (D- Santa Barbara), Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk), Ted Lieu (D- Torrance), Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), Norma Torres (D- Pomona), Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey), Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro), Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Juan Vargas (D-San Diego) and Anna Eshoo (D-Atherton) who are pro-abortion 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 California politicians, describing their actions as heretical and damaging to the church.

“It’s an absolute scandal,” said Matthew Plese of Redwood City. “They are heretics and not Catholics. They must repent and receive Sacramental Confession. They are a grave scandal.”

“If they are actively promoting abortion, they should be admonished and perhaps excommunicated,” said Rebecca Taylor of El Cajon.

“When politicians who are pro-abortion say they are Catholic and see no problem with getting Communion, it denigrates our faith and is confusing to both Catholics and non-Catholics,” said Denise Hinojos of Sacramento. “I am personally offended as well as offended as part of the Catholic community that these people so brazenly defy one of our most basic tenets and try to make it sound as if it is okay.”

“They are showing the world that the tenants of our faith mean nothing,” said Stephany Reh of La Verne. “How can I teach my students that they can’t pick and choose which parts of our faith to believe when these fools are showing the world it means nothing?”

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.