During her first White House Press briefing on Wednesday, new press secretary Jen Psaki allegedly dodged a reporter’s question about President Biden’s proposed abortion policies under his new administration.
Owen Jensen with EWTN Global Catholic Network asked Psaki what President Biden will do regarding the Hyde Amendment and Mexico City Policy. While on the campaign trail Biden stated that he planned on overturning both policies.
“So what does President Biden plan on doing on those two items right now?” the reporter asked.
In response, Psaki did not address the Hyde Amendment but noted that discussions on the Mexico City policy will be brought up “in the coming days”.
Without further comment on the matter, Psaki brought up Biden’s faith as a devout Catholic who “attends church regularly”.
“I will just take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout Catholic and somebody who attends church regularly. He started his day attending church with his family this morning, but I don’t have anything more for you on that,” Psaki said.
According to The Daily Wire, Psaki was criticized by pro-lifers on social media for dodging the question by pointing to Biden’s Catholic faith.
“Jen Psaki spins out of Hyde Amdt. & Mexico City question by saying Pres. Biden is a ‘devout Catholic’. Either Pres. Biden is about to be a very pro-Life President or Jen Psaki (and basically everyone else) needs to stop referring to him as a ‘devout Catholic’…!” tweeted America Rising Executive Director Cassie Smedile.
Jen Psaki spins out of Hyde Amdt. & Mexico City question by saying Pres. Biden is a "devout Catholic".
— Cassie Smedile (@CMSmedile) January 21, 2021
Either Pres. Biden is about to be a very pro-Life President or Jen Psaki (and basically everyone else) needs to stop referring to him as a "devout Catholic"...! pic.twitter.com/Tvy9qVvUnW
In a post by NPR Correspondent Sarah McCammon, she argued that Biden will likely overturn the Mexico City Policy. McCammon pointed to remarks by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor, at the World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting.
In prepared remarks to WHO exec board, Dr. Anthony Fauci says Biden “will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days.” It prohibits US funding for groups that provide/refer for abortions overseas: https://t.co/M1pRPSQAmo pic.twitter.com/DacMcSKRmV
— Sarah McCammon📻 (@sarahmccammon) January 21, 2021
“President Biden will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days, as part of his broader commitment to protect women’s health and advance gender equality at home and around the world, ” Fauci said, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Social Services.
“It’s no surprise; the policy first instituted by Reagan has been ping-ponging on and off depending on which party holds the White House,” McCammon explained. “Reversing it is the kind of action abortion rights advocates are expecting Biden to take soon to reverse Trump abortion/repro rights policies.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
