United StatesCatholicismBiden and the bishopsBishops want to deny the country's most prominent Catholic communionWhile campaigning in South Carolina in October 2019, Joe Biden went to mass, as he does every Sunday.But he was not allowed to receive holy communion at St Anthony's Catholic church.Father Robert Morey later explained that he had to refuse Mr Biden: "Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of church teaching."Many American bishops want to formalise this sort of action.The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to draft a statement examining the "meaning of the eucharist in the life of the church", a decision made public on June 18th.It could allow bishops to deny communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion.According to the reports of the contentious debate preceding the vote, Mr Biden was referred to or alluded to several times during the debate.Despite assertions by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Indiana that it was not a single issue or driven by a single person, it rather clearly was.Mr Biden is only the second Catholic president, after John Kennedy.Like some other recent presidents, such as George W.Bush and Jimmy Carter, he is deeply religious. He attends mass regularly and even considered the priesthood.
