Vice President Joe Biden said that life begins at the "moment of conception" in an interview ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, D.C.
Biden discussed the issue of faith and, more specifically, his view of abortion as a practicing Catholic in an exclusive conversation with Father Matt Malone, S.J., of America Media. His statements come just as Congress inches toward a shutdown fight over defunding the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.
Republicans have pressed to defund Planned Parenthood after a series of undercover videos released by the nonprofit Center for Medical Progress showcases top officials at the organization discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts.
"I’m prepared to accept as a matter of faith, my wife and I, my family, the issue of abortion, but what I’m not prepared to do is to impose a rigid view, a precise view, rigid sounds pejorative, a precise view that is born out of my faith, on other people who are equally Godfearing, equally as committed to life, equally as committed to the sanctity of life," Biden told Malone.
"I’m prepared to accept that at the moment of conception there’s human life and being, but I’m not prepared to say that to other Godfearing, nonGodfearing people that have a different view."
While Biden said he thinks that "abortion is always wrong," he insisted that he is "not prepared to impose" his views on others.
In his opinion of abortion and how it fits into his faith, Biden appears to diverge from other Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), also a Catholic. Pelosi has been a vehement defender of Planned Parenthood amid the fetal tissue scandal but claims to remain firm in her Catholic faith.
So too has Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate and Biden’s potential foe, stood up for Planned Parenthood. Clinton has only viewed excerpts of the videos published by the Center for Medical Progress.
Regardless of the positive view of abortion held by many Democrats, Biden stressed that there is "absolutely" a place for people who are pro-life in the Democratic party.