Joshua Bennett
Simone Biles is a world-renowned gymnast who has faced both the highs of sporting success and the lows of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. Biles has publicly identified as a Catholic and has written about the importance of faith in her life. However, her recent social media posts supporting pro-choice have sparked controversy, with some accusing her of betraying her Catholic faith and displaying a lack of understanding of the Church's teachings. Despite this, Biles has shown that her faith is central to her identity and has helped her navigate challenges, including those related to mental health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Practicing Catholic | Yes |
| Christian | Yes |
| Roman Catholic | Yes |
| Pro-choice | Yes |
| Adopted by grandparents | Yes |
| Attends Sunday Mass | Yes |
| Lights a candle to St. Sebastian | Yes |
| Prays the Rosary | Yes |
| Says the Hail Mary | Yes |
| Advocates for foster kids | Yes |
| Withdrew from Olympics due to mental health | Yes |
| Most decorated American gymnast | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Simone Biles is a practising Roman Catholic
Biles has written about her Catholic practices, including praying the Rosary and the Hail Mary, and lighting a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, before competitions. She also attends Sunday Mass with her parents. In an interview with US Weekly, Biles mentioned that she keeps a rosary in her gym bag, although she doesn't use it to pray before a competition, instead choosing to pray to herself.
Biles has also used her platform to speak about her faith and encourage others to be open about their beliefs. In 2016, she told the Houston Chronicle:
> Kids today talk about faith, and I think it’s OK for me to share my faith so kids can see how it helps you through the whole process.
Despite her public declarations of faith, Biles has faced criticism from some Catholic organisations for her pro-choice stance on abortion. In a social media post, she wrote:
> I already know this is going to start the biggest argument and may even lose followers BUT… I’m very much pro-choice. Your body. Your choice.
Biles later clarified that she was not advocating for abortion, but for bodily autonomy, stating:
> What I did imply is that you should not control someone else’s body/decision [...] Let’s be real, what you care about is control.
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She was raised Catholic by her grandparents
Simone Biles is a world-renowned gymnast who has faced both the highs of sporting success and lows of sexual abuse. Her Christian faith has been a constant source of support throughout her life. Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1997. When her biological mother was unable to care for her due to drug and alcohol issues, Biles and her three siblings were placed in foster care. Thankfully, their grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, stepped in to adopt them and provide a stable Catholic home.
Speaking about her childhood, Biles said: "My biological mum was suffering from drugs and alcohol and so we were taken into foster care, and we were in foster care for a little bit until our grandparents decided to take us in. That's when our life reformed." Nellie, Simone's adoptive mother, felt that God had called her to take in her granddaughter, saying, "It was meant to be, without a shadow of a doubt, nothing was supposed to be different, and it's the best decision we've ever made."
Growing up in a faith-filled household, Biles was always encouraged to pray and develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Her mother, Nellie, shared her own prayerful habits with her children, instilling the belief that one could always rely on God during challenging times. Biles' faith has been a source of strength and wisdom, guiding her through both success and hardship. She has written about the importance of faith in her life and how she draws on her Catholic beliefs to navigate difficulties.
Despite facing criticism for certain social media posts that seemed to contradict traditional Catholic teachings, Biles remains vocal about her faith. She uses her platform to encourage others to be open about their beliefs and has spoken publicly about how her faith has helped her through various experiences. Biles' Catholic faith is central to her identity, and she has shown how it can provide resilience and perspective in the face of adversity.
Simone Biles' story is a testament to the power of faith and the positive impact it can have on one's life. Her journey demonstrates how a strong religious foundation can provide a sense of stability and guidance, even during challenging times.
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Biles has spoken about the importance of faith in her life
Simone Biles is a Roman Catholic, and her faith has been well documented in the media. Biles has spoken about the importance of faith in her life, and how it has helped her through the highs of sporting success and the lows of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.
Biles was adopted by her grandparents when she was three years old and raised in a Catholic household. Her mother, Nellie, said: "I am a very prayerful person so I encourage my children to do the same thing too, to pray. I know it doesn’t matter what situation you are ever in, you just put it in the hands of the Lord and he’s going to walk you through it."
Biles has also spoken about her faith publicly, encouraging others to be open about their beliefs. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle in 2016, she said: "Kids today talk about faith, and I think it’s OK for me to share my faith so kids can see how it helps you through the whole process." She also said that she works through failure and hardship with the help of God.
Biles has written about the importance of faith in her life, about praying the Rosary and the Hail Mary, and how she lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, before competitions. She told US Weekly magazine: "My mom, Nellie, got me a rosary at church. I don’t use it to pray before a competition. I’ll just pray normally to myself, but I have it there in case."
Biles' Christian faith has been a source of strength and wisdom for her, and she has said that God directs her life. She has also used her platform to speak about mental health and the importance of putting mental and physical health "in proper proportion".
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She has been criticised for her pro-choice stance
Simone Biles, the most decorated American gymnast, has been criticised for her pro-choice stance. Biles, who was raised Catholic, took to social media to express her support for abortion rights. In a series of tweets, she wrote, "I already know this is going to start the biggest argument [and] may even lose followers, BUT... I'm very much pro-choice. Your body. Your choice."
Biles' comments received a lot of attention, with some criticising her for what they saw as a contradiction between her Catholic faith and her pro-choice stance. One critic, Lila Rose, tweeted, "Incredibly sad and awful. To have overcome a broken system as triumphantly as she has—yet wish death for other kids [because] they may face foster care is beyond fathoming." Rose's tweet reflects a view held by some pro-life advocates that Biles' support for abortion rights is at odds with her own personal story of overcoming adversity and succeeding despite the challenges she faced growing up in the foster care system.
Biles, however, has pushed back against the criticism, clarifying that she was not advocating for abortion but for bodily autonomy and choice. She has also noted the difficulties and challenges of the foster care system, arguing that it is not always a viable alternative to abortion. In response to those who criticised her, Biles tweeted, "You'll twist my words however it feels fitting to spew hate."
The controversy surrounding Biles' comments highlights the ongoing debate around abortion rights and the complex interplay between personal beliefs, religious values, and social issues. While some have criticised Biles for her stance, others have expressed support and gratitude for her willingness to speak out on the issue, especially given the anti-abortion laws in her home state of Texas.
Biles' comments and the subsequent criticism she received have also sparked discussions about the role of celebrities and athletes in speaking out on political and social issues. While some may disagree with her views, Biles' use of her platform to engage in these debates reflects her willingness to leverage her influence beyond the realm of sports and contribute to broader conversations that impact society.
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Biles has been accused of hypocrisy by some Catholics
Simone Biles is a practising Catholic who has written about the importance of faith in her life, about praying the Rosary and the Hail Mary, and how she lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, before competitions. However, Biles has been accused of hypocrisy by some Catholics.
Biles, who has publicly identified as a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, has worked to create a safer and healthier training environment for other gymnasts. She has also advocated for other survivors of sexual abuse. In addition, she has supported foster children and the system, having been in foster care herself.
However, Biles' views on abortion have been criticised by some Catholics. In a social media post, she stated that she is “very much pro-choice”, adding, "Your body. Your choice". This sparked a backlash from some, who saw it as a contradiction of her Catholic faith. Biles later clarified that she was not advocating for abortion, but for bodily autonomy, saying, "What I did imply is that you should not control someone else’s body/decision".
Some Catholics have accused Biles of being insincere in her faith, claiming that she is using her religion for her benefit while not actually believing in the Church's teachings. They argue that celebrities and politicians who call themselves Catholic contribute to a "cultural Catholicism" that is superficial and hypocritical.
Despite the accusations of hypocrisy, Biles has stood by her beliefs and continued to speak openly about her faith. She has said that she wants to encourage others to be open about their beliefs and that faith has helped her through success and hardship.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Simone Biles is a practicing Roman Catholic. She has written about the importance of faith in her life and how she lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, before competitions.
Biles has said that her faith has helped her through the highs of sporting success and the lows of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. She also said that she works through failure and hardship with the help of God.
Biles has received praise for being open about her faith and encouraging others to do the same. However, she has also received criticism for her pro-choice stance, which some have called a betrayal of her Catholic faith.
Biles has stood by her pro-choice stance, clarifying that she does not favor abortion as an alternative to the foster care system. She has also advocated for foster children and supported their right to life.
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