The Democratic party front-runner in the race for the party's presidential ticket Joe Biden was reportedly denied Holy Communion by a priest in South Carolina.
Robert Morey of the St Anthony Catholic Church said that he had no choice but to denied the former United States of America Vice President Holy Communion because of Biden's views on abortion.
"Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to Former Vice President Joe Biden," Morey said.
"Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that. As a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers. Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching," he added.
Biden has taken a pro-choice stance on the abortion debate that continues to consume the national discourse.
The pro-choice stance runs afoul of the church's doctrine which views abortion as an unacceptable abomination.
The US has grown over the years more socially liberal, putting individual liberty over state control.
Efforts to get the Biden campaign to weigh in on the matter hit a snag as the campaign refused to confirm whether the presidential aspirant had attended the mass.
The Catholic Church has long grappled with the question of how to deal with politicians who actively advocate for liberal causes that run afoul church doctrine.
There have been calls from puritans of the Catholic Church for politicians who support abortion to be excommunicated from the church for contravening doctrine.