Democratic front-runner Joe Biden reportedly was denied Communion by a priest at a South Carolina Catholic church over the weekend.
Biden, a lifelong Catholic, stopped by Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Florence on Sunday, but was denied Holy Communion by the Rev. Robert E. Morey, local newspaper the South Carolina Morning News reported.
"Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden," Morey told the newspaper in a statement.
"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," Morey said in the statement.
The Biden campaign did not return a request for comment Monday night.
Biden's stance on abortion has for decades been aligned with the more conservative wing of the Democratic Party - but earlier this year, he announced his opposition to the Hyde Amendment, a ban on federal funding for abortions.
Biden said he opposes the Hyde Amendment in June after days of Democratic backlash after saying he did support the amendment.
"If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone's zip code," he said in a speech at the time.
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