A new political ad from CatholicVote has lashed out against a Catholic Democrat for not speaking out against vandalism targeting churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.
The ad blasts Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), accusing her of passively standing by while churches have been attacked for their pro-life views.
“Radical liberals are behaving like terrorists, calling for a summer of rage,” the ad begins.
The spot also references an act of vandalism at a Des Moines pregnancy care center. “Cindy Axne could stand up for law and order but instead she does nothing,” it claims.
The ad is part of a $2.5 to $3 million midterm campaign ad spend by the group that expects to target up to 15 House races and “several” Senate races, according to CatholicVote President Brian Burch.
The campaign marks a strong contrast with past elections, featuring a solid emphasis on speaking out against self-proclaimed Democratic lawmakers whose views are not consistent with Catholic teachings.
In addition to concerns over Axne’s failure to speak out after recent acts of vandalism over the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Iowa Democrat has supported the Women’s Health Protection Act, a proposal that sought to make abortion available until the time of birth.
The issue of Democrats supporting abortion has taken on greater significance with President Joe Biden, a self-proclaimed Catholic, in office. Despite his Catholic background, the president has advocated on behalf of abortion rights, drawing sharp criticism from many in the faith community.
On Friday, Biden signed an executive order to support abortion rights. The order cannot overturn the court’s ruling but includes other instructions, including a call to the Justice Department to ensure women can travel out of state for abortion care.
The order also includes plans to provide leave for federal workers traveling for medical care related to abortion.
Faith leaders across the country blasted the action, including Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
“It is deeply disturbing and tragic that President Biden is choosing instead to use his power as President of the United States to promote and facilitate abortion in our country, seeking every possible avenue to deny unborn children their most basic human and civil right, the right to life. Rather than using the power of the executive branch to increase support and care to mothers and babies, the president’s executive order seeks only to facilitate the destruction of defenseless, voiceless human beings,” Lori shared in a statement.
“I implore the president to abandon this path that leads to death and destruction and to choose life. As always, the Catholic Church stands ready to work with this Administration and all elected officials to protect the right to life of every human being and to ensure that pregnant and parenting mothers are fully supported in the care of their children before and after birth,” he added.
In addition to Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), also a self-proclaimed Catholic, made headlines over taking communion at the Vatican during a trip in June despite her pro-abortion views.