Catholic Group Criticizes Biden for Inaction Against Attacks in Ad Campaign

Frank FangAugust 22, 2022

A Catholic advocacy group recently launched a $1 million ad campaign with the aim of pressuring President Joe Biden into taking action against violence and attacks against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.

The 30-second ad compares Biden to America’s first Catholic President, John F. Kennedy, and how the two leaders have reacted differently to “Churches Burning,” which is the title of the advertisement. The ad campaign was launched last week by Wisconsin-based CatholicVote, which expressed hope that “political figures and the Justice Department” would see their message and take action.

“The American people are disgusted by the inaction of our Justice Department,” said CatholicVote spokesperson Joshua Mercer. “This ad sends an important message, calling on our lawmakers to demand action against this vicious campaign of targeted violence against Catholics.”

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The clip begins with the following narration: “In the 1960s, when churches were burned, President Kennedy stepped up, condemned it.” Then Kennedy’s voice can be heard saying, “To burn churches I consider both cowardly as well as outrageous.”

The narration continues, pointing out that Kennedy “pledged justice” after the attacks on churches.

“As soon as we are able to find out who did it, we’ll arrest them,” Kennedy says in the ad.

The ad then points out churches are being targeted now for a different reason, saying “Now churches are being burned again, because they protect unborn babies and women in need.”

“Our second Catholic president,” the ad continues, when Biden wearing a bicycle helmet appears, saying, “Keep protesting, because—keep making your point.”

That line from Biden happened on July 10, when the president was on a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He made the comment a day after protesters marched to the White House demanding abortion rights.

According to CatholicVote, the ad is being aired in Wisconsin and Arizona,