PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Freeport man who was threatened with church sanctions if he didn’t stay away from Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop is appealing to the pope.

In December, the Diocese of Portland took the unusual step of warning Paul Kendrick of possible church-imposed penalties if he comes within 500 feet of Bishop Richard Malone.

Kendrick, a longtime advocate for clergy sexual abuse victims, was told he might lose his right “to participate fully in the sacramental life of the church.” That means he could be refused Holy Communion.

The Rev. Thomas Doyle, who’s representing Kendrick in his appeal, said Malone didn’t respond to his Jan. 24 request to rescind the administrative action. So the next step was to appeal to Pope Benedict XVI.