Justin Trudeau, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and a Catholic, has stood by his prochoice views in the face of criticism from the Catholic hierarchy. Christian Riesbeck, Auxiliary Bishop of Ottowa, Ontario, said that it would be “scandalous” for Trudeau, as a prochoice politician, to receive communion, and he recommended the MP make a public retraction of his support for abortion, CBC News reported. Trudeau said in June that Liberal MPs would be required to vote prochoice when measures related to abortion came before the House of Commons, according to the Canadian Press.

When questioned as to whether he planned to meet with Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast to discuss abortion, Trudeau said, “My role is to stand up and defend all Canadians and … [is] separate from any personal religious views,” according to the Globe and Mail.