Of course he was muzzled by his bishop/diocese. You say “don’t get too excited about this priest.” Aren’t you in the least concerned that one of the few clergy who has the courage to bluntly proclaim his Church’s unequivocal and very clear teaching on opposition to abortion is having the clarity of his message muted by people like yourself who engage in such subjective mumbo-jumbo as “He apparently never meant to imply....posted his message in haste...didn’t come out just right...” Look, if you disagree with the teachings of the Church on this issuee - fine - but don’t try to change the ancient and very clear teachings of the Church to conform to your views.
Not the bishop, Charleston’s seat is currently vacant. The fellow in charge is an “Administrative Something” and a Monsignor. He made a brief statement about the priest’s letter to his parishioners not fully complying with Church teaching but did not say exactly why not or how. The priest also did not back down, but clarified that he never said he would refuse Communion to anyone should they come up, but that they should not present themselves if they are in state of mortal sin. Priest also said his statement was pastoral guidance and moral clarification, not a political statement or any sort of threat, and that he thought perhaps it would be misinterpreted....and he was right.