Joe Biden Denied Sacred Rite

Barack Obama’s former VP Joe Biden was refused one of the Roman Catholic church’s most sacred rites during the weekend, when he was refused permission to take communion during a Catholic mass in South Carolina. The senior pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church, located in Florence, SC, told the local newspaper that because of Biden’s stance on the abortion issue it was thought necessary to deny him communion to show that the Catholic church does not approve of abortion advocates and that such persons automatically place themselves outside of Church doctrine. This makes them ineligible for most of the sacred rites of the Catholic church. 

Mr. Biden, who is one of the front runners in the Democratic primary races for president in 2020, declined to make any statement about the matter when cornered by reporters this morning while traveling through South Carolina on his campaign tour. Biden is having trouble raising campaign funds from the conservative Deep South because of his liberal stance on civil rights, immigration, and abortion. Biden is known for his close ties to the Vatican from his days as Vice President, and as far as is known has never been denied communion in any Catholic church before. When pressed by reporters if he had ever been denied the rite before Biden refused to comment.

The Vatican itself remains silent on the issue. In the past the local priest in each parish could determine whether or not members or visitors would be allowed to take holy communion. But in the last few years that decision has routinely been made by Bishops instead. 

Biden has repeatedly said that while he personally is opposed to abortion he is also against having his religious beliefs imposed on others by legislation or policy. He is expected to shy away from the issue at the next round of Democratic presidential debates.