SW News: Archbishop José H. Gomez, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has offered prayers for the 46th US President Joe Biden that he may be given “the grace to seek the common good with all sincerity,” in a statement issued on the inauguration of his presidency.

Opening his statement, Archbishop Gomez prayed that God would grant President Biden the “wisdom and courage to lead this great nation,” and that God would help him to “heal the wounds caused by this pandemic,” to ease the “intense political and cultural divisions,” and to bring all Americans together.

Archbishop Gomez pointed out that the Catholic bishops are not “partisan players in the nation’s politics.” Rather, they are pastors “responsible for the souls of millions of Americans,” who try “to guide consciences,” and offer “principles rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the social teachings of his Church,” on various issues in American public life.

The archbishop stated that on some political issues, they “find ourselves more on the side of Democrats, while on others we find ourselves standing with Republicans.” “Our priorities are never partisan. We are Catholics first, seeking only to follow Jesus Christ faithfully and to advance his vision for human fraternity and community,” emphasized the archbishop.

The archbishop highlighted that the continued injustice of abortion remains the “preeminent priority,” but not the only priority. “ We have deep concerns about many threats to human life and dignity in our society,” but “we cannot stay silent when nearly a million unborn lives are being cast aside in our country year after year through abortion.”

The nation’s bishops, he stated, have the duty to proclaim the truth, “even when that teaching is inconvenient” or when the “Gospel’s truths run contrary to the directions of the wider society and culture." “So, I must point out that our new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender. Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences,” he added.

The archbishop expressed his hope that rather than further expanding abortion and contraception, the President and his administration “can begin a dialogue to address the complicated cultural and economic factors that are driving abortion and discouraging families.” “My hope, too, is that we can work together to finally put in place a coherent family policy in this country, one that acknowledges the crucial importance of strong marriages and parenting to the well-being of children and the stability of communities,” he added.

Archbishop Gomez stated that the bishops’ commitments on issues of human sexuality and the family, abolishing death penalty and seeking an affordable health care system “are guided by Christ’s great commandment to love and to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable.”

"I entrust all our hopes and anxieties in this new moment to the tender heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ and the patroness of this exceptional nation. May she guide us in the ways of peace and obtain for us wisdom and the grace of a true patriotism and love of country," the archbishop concluded his statement.