On March 22, 2014, Vice-president Joseph Biden, a self-avowed Roman Catholic, spoke at The Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner in Los Angeles. The HRC is the largest LGBT civil rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the United States.In 2012, HRC executed its largest mobilization effort ever, raising and contributing $20 million to re-elect President Obama and to advance gay marriage and other electoral priorities. The HRC played a key role in marriage-related victories in Washington, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota, the election of Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay US Senator in history, and Obama's re-election. At the fund raising event, Biden said: “Well ladies and gentleman, the world -- God willing -- is beginning to change. To paraphrase Pope Francis of all things, but think about this, think about what he said. One sentence he uttered. To paraphrase him, ‘who are we to judge,’ -- who are they to judge you or me?”
First of all, Biden is grossly taking this quote out of context. Others have remarked upon this incident, but I will do so once again to help clear up any further confusion: the Holy Father was asked a specific question about one of the advisers that he had appointed to look into the Vatican Bank, Msgr. Battista Ricca, who had been accused of having gay trysts when he was a Vatican diplomat in Uruguay. As far the Holy Father was concerned, this man, no matter what he had done, had been reconciled with God and the Church. Therefore, that is what elicited the “who are we to judge” answer. Secondly, why doesn’t Biden repeat this quote from the Pope, given during the election fight over the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina: “Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” Lastly, every word that the Holy Father has spoken on the subject of homosexuality, and despite the media obsession – has not been much, is perfectly in-line with “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” which states: “This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”