US President Joe Biden has been criticised by America’s Catholic bishops after he signed an Executive Order directing that taxpayer funds to be sent to organisations that both promote and provide abortions in developing countries.

Speaking on behalf of the US Bishops, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City said it is “grievous that one of President Biden’s first official acts actively promotes the destruction of human lives in developing nations”.

“This Executive Order is antithetical to reason, violates human dignity, and is incompatible with Catholic teaching. We and our brother bishops strongly oppose this action. We urge the President to use his office for good, prioritising the most vulnerable, including unborn children. As the largest non-government health care provider in the world, the Catholic Church stands ready to work with him and his administration to promote global women’s health in a manner that furthers integral human development, safeguarding innate human rights and the dignity of every human life, beginning in the womb. To serve our brothers and sisters with respect, it is imperative that care begin with ensuring that the unborn are free from violence, recognizing every person as a child of God. We hope the new administration will work with us to meet these significant needs.”

Pope Francis has previously spoken in trenchant terms, describing as an ideological colonisation, and a blasphemy against God, when foreign aid from rich nations is tied to the promotion of abortion and contraception.