Communion For Forced-Birth Backers

"Maybe the Catholic Church" maintains  non-practicing Catholic Charlie Pierce , "should worry less about Joe Biden and more about the abuse of children."  He links to the Florence Morning News, which reports

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...

“Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden,” Morey told the Morning News via email. “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.”

Morey said that as a priest, it is his responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to his care and that he must do so in even the most difficult situations. “I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers,” Morey added.

Would that be as in "I pray Mr. Biden drops dead?"

In Catholicism, the reporter continues,

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.

This seems to be accurate, down to the failure to mention abortion.

Protestant practice differs from one denomination to another, but is consistently less exclusive, less demanding. Roman Catholicism- but not Protestantism- preaches transubstantiation, that the bread and wine magically are transformed into the body of Jesus. Though both branches of Christianity consider it a sacrament, in only Catholicism is communion considered necessary for salvation.

However, there is a similarity in the view of the effect of the Lord's Supper.  Interpreting Scripture- believed to be the revelation of Jesus Christ as lord and savior- The Westminster Confession of Faith, a critical guide to reform Christianity, describes communion as "a bond and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other, as members of His mystical body."

This is similar to the Catholic perspective, in which "Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church."

Both Protestantism and Catholicism therein teach that the sacrament bonds believers more closely to Jesus Christ. Protestantism adds that it bonds those taking it with all believers; Catholicsm, that it bonds them to all Catholics partaking in it.

"Unites them to all the faithful in one body" (the Roman Catholic Church). Notwithstanding Father Morey's claim, communion (even in his denomination) does not "signify that we are one with the Church." It signifies unity with the members of that church.

Obviously, Morey has a political grudge against Joe Biden. Obviously, Morey should be more concerned with sexual abuse and exploitation in the Church than with Joe Biden. But while he indulges his obsessions, he shouldn't distort the doctrine of his own religion or, as the less charitable might put it, "lie."

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