Parishioners from a Roman Catholic church in Montana are evenly divided over treatment of a local gay couple, a bishop told The Associated Press.

A new priest stirred controversy by prohibiting a gay couple from receiving Communion unless they divorce and accept in writing the "traditional" views of marriage.

The priest also ordered that the couple would have to live separately in order to receive Communion.

Bishop Michael Warfel of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings met Saturday with about 300 parishioners of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, where half the group sided with Rev. Samuel Spiering, the Great Falls Tribune reported, according to AP.

"There obviously is polarization, and certainly what I want to do is try to effect some healing," Warfel said Saturday. "At the same time, as a Catholic bishop, I uphold our Catholic teachings."

The couple at the heart of the divide are Tom Wojtowick, 66, and Paul Huff, 73, who were in a committed relationship for 30 years and married in a civil ceremony in May 2013 in Seattle in order to protect their finances.

Both have attended the church since 2003 and are intimately involved in the church: Both have sang in the choir and Wojtowick is an organist

"We didn't think anything would happen, church is one thing, civil society is another," Wojtowick told KULR-TV, according to AP.

Neither had publicized their relationship, but in a town of 5,900 people, once it became known, it had to be dealt with publicly.

Spiering, 27, met with the men in early August, soon after his arrival in Lewiston, in order to deal with the situation.

But some criticize that he is the first priest to confront the couple.

"These men have been in this parish for years. We've had other priests and nothing was different 'til now," Austin Weidner told AP.

But no one has been able to reverse the decision by Spiering.

"I still want to go back to church, but if it doesn't happen, I'm OK with it," Huff told AP. "I still have a strong faith."