Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory via Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED, via Flickr, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

In a candid interview on CBS News' “Face the Nation,” Wilton Cardinal Gregory, the Catholic archbishop of Washington, did not mince words when discussing President Joe Biden's adherence to Catholic doctrine.

Gregory dubbed Biden a “cafeteria Catholic” for what he perceives as selective embrace of the faith.

The Cardinal's remarks came amid a broader conversation about Biden's public portrayal of his Catholicism.

Gregory acknowledged the president's outward commitment to his faith but suggested that Biden tends to cherry-pick elements of Catholic teachings that resonate with him while disregarding or contradicting others.

“His faith appears very sincere, but like a number of Catholics, he picks and chooses dimensions of the faith to highlight while ignoring or even contradicting other parts,” Gregory remarked, invoking the term “cafeteria Catholic” to describe Biden's approach of selecting appealing aspects of the faith while sidelining challenging ones.

Biden's stance on abortion rights, which diverges from the Catholic Church's doctrine, has drawn criticism, particularly from Republicans. Similarly, his observance of National Transgender Visibility Day on the same day as Easter Sunday sparked backlash, with some accusing him of overshadowing the religious holiday.

Despite these controversies, Biden has maintained that he is a practicing Catholic, albeit one who doesn't fully align with the Church's stance on certain issues. He has publicly expressed his personal opposition to abortion while supporting the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.

Regarding Biden's meeting with Pope Francis, Gregory hinted that the pontiff may have conveyed his concerns about abortion directly to the President, given the Catholic Church's firm stance on the issue.

Biden has faced pressure from both sides of the abortion debate throughout his political career. He reversed his support for the Hyde Amendment during his presidential campaign, drawing criticism from anti-abortion advocates while attempting to appeal to more progressive voters.

In addressing Biden's approach to Catholic teachings, Gregory underscored the President's tendency to downplay or politicize certain issues, particularly those related to life, rather than fully embracing the doctrines of his faith.

The White House's handling of religious symbols during Easter further fueled criticism, with the decision to exclude religious imagery from the annual Easter Egg Roll drawing ire online. This move added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding Biden's handling of religious matters and his administration's approach to inclusivity.