I Met the Priest Who Denied Joe Biden

A “God’’ moment: winding up somewhere you didn’t intend to go — not knowing why. Much later, you figure out why.

I didn’t intend to meet the priest who denied communion to Joe Biden. Fate put me there. A global conversation has begun: Religion, politics and the balancing of fairness, justice and mercy.

For me, this started with a long drive. We were driving to Myrtle Beach, planned to stop elsewhere but we wound up in Florence (where I-95 and I-77 meet). I hadn’t been there since the 1980s (the first time Joe Biden ran for President).

We got to our hotel past 2 a.m. exhausted. Something told me to Google “Catholic Church near me.’’ St. Anthony Catholic Church was minutes away and had a 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Mass. My wife (like any good wife) told me I was nuts, that I needed my sleep.

I agreed, didn’t set my alarm but told myself if I got up in time, I would go. When I rolled over and saw it was 7:20 a.m., I thought, “I can do this!’’ I got to Wednesday Mass just in time. It’s a conservative, traditional small parish.

Mass with Father Robert Morey

I sensed I was there for a reason and wrote about my visit there.

Father Robert Morey told us: “There’s stability in human nature that we can’t change in our needs and in our destiny — it’s not up to us, it’s up to God and so the rules of how to get here, how to behave are His rules and they don’t change.”

In Catholicism and The Divine Plan, I wrote, one thing leads to another. Everything happens for a reason.

Everything (except our own sin) is a gift from God. Being there that day reminded me: The Church is one living creation with 30 trillion parts.

I largely forgot about all this until the news broke about Father Morey denying communion to Biden.

What Catholics believe about Communion

Father Morey is following the rules. Many rulings back him up, particularly words Church officials have written about Catholic politicians openly campaigning against Church teachings, as Joe Biden has done recently. A big conversation has begun.

The main difference between Catholics and Protestants is that Catholics believe priests (like Jesus Himself at the Last Supper) turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Father Morey, a former attorney who worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, knows Church law as well as civil law. He explained in a statement:

“Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden. 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... I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers.’’

Biden, asked by NBC’s Andrea Mitchell about the episode, said, “I’m not going to discuss that, that’s my personal life, and I’m not going to get into that at all... I’m a practicing Catholic, I practice my faith. But I’ve never let my religious beliefs, which I accept based on church doctrine … to impose that view on other people.”

Our belief in the Eucharist explains why Catholic churches are so much more magnificent than Protestant churches: because we believe Jesus Himself lives in the tabernacle where the communion hosts are stored.

That’s why we genuflect so much in Church, because we believe He is fully alive and present, not just a symbol, that Jesus Christ Himself is alive within us — a part of us — when we receive Him at Communion.

The only experiences in life remotely similar to the Eucharist: Intercourse (when a man is fully alive within a woman) and when a pregnant woman carries a living baby within her womb. Except it isn’t merely another human alive within you but God Himself. This is why the Eucharist is considered the “Source and Summit’’ of the Catholic Church.

The belief in the Eucharist and the sanctity of life also explains why the Church so strongly opposes abortion and other life-ending policies Biden and other Democratic presidential candidates have endorsed.

We are also called to balance justice with mercy

The secular world breaks the Church (and everything) into liberal vs. conservative. The devil is the great divider, trying to get us to blame one another, pitting one against the other. In truth, the Church is constantly called to balance justice and mercy.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York praised Father Morey and his decision but also added he wouldn’t have done so himself, adding, “ “If only saints could receive Holy Communion, we wouldn’t have anybody at Mass, including myself, alright?”

The debate quickly began and will no doubt escalate: One Catholic friend asked “Will the Church also deny communion to adulterers? To war mongers? To those who treat the poor with no compassion? To those who mistreat widows and orphans?”

Related questions: Most American Catholics (polls show) support legal abortion. All of us are sinners. Couldn’t we all be denied communion? Yes.

By the rules of justice, none of us are entitled to communion or forgiveness but we are also children of God, who have access to God’s Divine Mercy and the sacrament of Reconciliation to atone for our sins. And we have each other to learn from. So this debate is worth having.

My friend and spiritual director Tom responded: “If we publicly proclaim serious sin as ‘good,’ or as OK, then yes. We are all sinners (God knows I am). But please God, we don’t advocate serious sin (murdering innocents) publicly. Communion means that we agree with the teachings of the Bible and Church. St Paul said none of us should take the Eucharist unworthily. St Paul warned that would harm us — hence, our need for confession (if we commit mortal sin) before taking the Eucharist. If that isn’t clear, please let me know. I’m praying for Mr. Biden, and honestly, for all sinners..”