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How Christian is Joe Biden? NYT slammed for calling him 'most religiously observant' president in 50 years

The New York Times penned an op-ed describing President Biden as 'perhaps the most religiously observant commander-in-chief in half a century ' and not all of social media agreed to this label

Four days into President Joe Biden's presidency and social media finds itself in embroiled in a heated debate: Just how religious is the new President? And conservatives on Twitter took it upon themselves to clarify any and all doubts pertaining to this matter. After The New York Times penned an op-ed describing President Biden as "perhaps the most religiously observant commander-in-chief in half a century" in a story published Saturday, January 23, Conservatives slammed the publication. 

In The Times article, claims are made that Biden was reflecting Pope Francis's focus on "environmental protection, poverty and migration" by getting on board the Paris climate accord and ceasing all construction of a border wall. However, the article goes on to mention that Biden faced criticism from other Catholic leaders "for policies 'that would advance moral evils,' especially 'in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender.'"

No sooner than The Times article was published, conservatives on social media were quick to rubbish claims about Biden's faith, pointing out that the president is hardly what they called "the most religiously observant commander in chief in half a century". 

Washington Examiner's Jim Antle took to Twitter to write, "I think it is fair to say that Biden is sincere in a version of liberal Christianity, but the most religiously observant in a half century? Not even the most religiously observant liberal in that stretch (Carter)."

Others added that the claim, which could also be praises in Biden's name, doesn't stand strong in the face of former presidents George W Bush and Jimmy Carter, who were known for their outspoken faith. "George W Bush said Jesus Christ was his favourite philosopher and credited Billy Graham with changing his life. Jimmy Carter taught Sunday School. Cmon," pastor and author Daniel Darling wrote on Twitter. "He's more religiously observant than the Republicans you told us were turning the country into a Christian theocracy?" the Washington Examiner's Seth Mandel wrote on Twitter," adding, "Also btw the NY Times has apparently never heard of Jimmy Carter, was not only president within the past half century *but is still alive and has a public profile.*"

The article has sparked a major debate about the president's faith on social media as many took to the social networking site to share their opinions. "Truly religious people don't violate women and promote the death of unborn 9 month old infants," one wrote. "It’s so refreshing and inspiring to have an authentic Christian as our president— one who doesn’t use religion as a phony prop or a political weapon but who attends church, listens to the liturgy, who is aware of his human flaws, and who works to follow Biblical teaching," another contradicted. "Interesting how people judge other people’s faith/moral core. Let him enjoy mass. It’s nobody’s business whether he follows the catechism line for line. That’s a pretty high bar. At least he believes in something other than his wallet," one finally added. 

This also comes at a time when President Biden is being criticized for his 17 executive orders. The debate might be raging online but Roman Catholic bishops recently criticized Biden's executive order on applying anti-discrimination protections to certain groups, arguing it didn't properly account for religious liberty and furthered "false theories on human sexuality," adding that the orders "threatens to infringe the rights of people who recognize the truth of sexual difference or who uphold the institution of lifelong marriage between one man and one woman. This may manifest in mandates that, for example, erode health care conscience rights or needed and time-honored sex-specific spaces and activities". 

These remarks were made by the Internet and individual organizations, MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and nor does it support these claims being made on the Internet.