The archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services is denouncing Democrats’ moves to shore up abortion access at Veterans Administration facilities and for active-duty personnel as “unconstitutional overreach.”

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who is the current president of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Friday in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by a recent Senate vote that let stand a Biden administration policy allowing abortions at VA medical centers and a Department of Defense policy requiring commanders to authorize travel for abortions.

“The policy and rule, now in effect, are morally repugnant and incongruent with the Gospel which the faithful are commissioned to share throughout the world (Mt 28:19). Moreover, the new DOD policy and VA rule fail to incorporate basic conscience protections, thus creating First Amendment pitfalls for military commanders and VA employees,” the archbishop said.

The Democrat-led Senate voted 51-48 last month to let stand the Biden administration’s VA policy on abortion access. GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska crossed party lines to vote against a Republican bill that would have reversed the policy.

The Defense Department in February issued its policy directing commanders to approve abortion travel for service members and dependents “when access to non-covered reproductive health care services is not available” in a specific location.

Archbishop Broglio encouraged his flock to “exercise radical solidarity with mothers and families experiencing a challenging pregnancy” and participate in and support “post-abortive healing ministries such as Project Rachel, so that those who have experienced abortion may receive healing and spiritual renewal.”

A VA spokesman said the agency “will not be able to respond” to a request for comment.

Spokespersons for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Mark A. Kellner can be reached at mkellner@washingtontimes.com.