Commonwealth Policy Center

One segment of American society fears the church entangling itself in politics. But how many politicians fear the church prodding into their spiritual lives? This recently happened when a Catholic priest refused Holy Communion to Joe Biden who’s one of the leading Democratic presidential candidates. Fr. Robert E. Morey of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, South Carolina refused to allow Biden to participate in communion because Biden openly supports abortion—a clear violation of the church’s teachings. Biden once identified as pro-life but since running for president he’s changed his position. There are many Christians like Biden who say “I’m personally against abortion, but I don’t want to impose my view.” This is another way of saying “abortion is wrong but I won’t do anything to stop it.” In Biden’s case, the church is making the politician decide what he stands for.