FLORENCE, S.C. — Father Robert E. Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church confirmed Monday afternoon that he had denied the presidential candidate Holy Communion because of his stance on abortion. Biden, a lifelong Catholic, had attended the church’s 9 a.m. Mass.
In communion, parishioners receive the Holy Eucharist, a wafer and wine that when consecrated become the body and blood of Jesus, according to Catholic doctrine. In order to receive it, a Catholic must be in the state of grace, have gone to confession since his or her most recent mortal sin, have a belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation (a belief that the wafer and wine become the body and blood of Jesus), observe the Eucharistic fast and not be under censure.
The dust-up was caused by Biden’s recent change of heart over the 1976 Hyde Amendment that prevents federal funding of abortion.
Not all the news was bad for Joe Biden however, Father Robert E. Morey said “I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers,”.
There was no immediate word if “thoughts” would be included with the “prayers”.
