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Former US vice president Joe Biden was refused holy communion at Mass last Sunday.
Biden, who is a presidential candidate, is refusing to confirm the reports,
saying the incident is part of his “personal life.”
The priest who refused to give Biden the sacrament, says based his decision on Biden’s support for legal abortion.
“Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden,” Fr Robert Morey says.
“Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that.
“Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching.
“As a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers.”
Earlier this year Biden condemned state legislation across the country that barred women from having abortions.
“I’m a practicing Catholic. I practice my faith, but I’ve never let my religious beliefs, which I accept based on Church doctrine … impose … on other people,” he said at the time.
However, Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law has a clear statement in relation to his position on abortion, which the Church regards as a grave sin..
The law says: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”
Biden isn’t the fist politician to be denied Communion.
Former Senator John Kerry faced a similar denial when he was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 because of his stance on abortion rights.
Source
- Catholic News Agency
- Fox News
- Image: CNN
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