White House press secretary Jen Psaki told EWTN News Nightly on Wednesday that these actions were simply "delivering on promises he [Biden] made on the campaign trail."
As a candidate for president, Biden supported taxpayer funding of abortions, reversing his long-standing support of the Hyde amendment; that policy blocks the use of taxpayer funds to pay for elective abortions.
During his presidential campaign, Biden also promised to reinstate a policy that would require the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide coverage of birth control and abortifacients in their employee health plans; the act would effectively reignite a court battle with the sisters, who have said it would violate their religious beliefs.
Biden has also taken actions on racial equity, immigration reform and the environment that have been praised by U.S. bishops.
When asked by EWTN News Nightly on Wednesday if Biden will "use his faith to guide him in policy decision-making," Psaki declined to answer directly; she noted that he attends church "nearly every weekend" and that going to church is important to him personally.
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The prayer breakfast was held virtually on Thursday, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The event has occurred annually in Washington, D.C. since 1953, hosted by members of Congress from both parties and organized by the Faith Foundation.
The honorary co-chairs of the 2021 prayer breakfast were Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Reps. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), a Catholic.