Posted on 12/29/2009 2:08:32 PM PST by jacknhoo
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The rift between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Catholic Church will likely grow thanks to new comments the abortion advocate made. Pelosi said in a new interview that the "free will" of women wanting abortions outweighs pro-life Catholic teachings.
Newsweek's Eleanor Clift conducted a year-end interview with Pelosi.
The conversation turned to the topic of abortion and health care and Pelosi blasted the Catholic bishops for their opposition to the pro-abortion bill.
She tells Clift it was frustrating that Catholic bishops "were not willing to accept what we know to be a fact" -- that the "public option" would supposedly not violate a ban on federally-funded abortions.
Then, as Clift asks about her "brushes" with the church, Pelosi drops a bomb.
"I have some concerns about the church's position respecting a woman's right to choose," Pelosi responds. "I am a practicing Catholic, although they're probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith."
"I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions," she continues. "And that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will."
Pelosi also told Newsweek she doesn't appreciate being lobbied on abortion but understands her local Catholic officials will try to persuade her.
"When I speak to my archbishop in San Francisco and his role is to try to change my mind on the subject, well then he is exercising his pastoral duty to me as one of his flock," she said. "When they call me on the phone here to talk about, or come to see me about an issue, that's a different story. Then they are advocates, and I am a public official, and I have a different responsibility."
The comments will likely throw fuel on the fire of public opinion within pro-life and Catholic circles that Pelosi is well-outside the mainstream -- but she tells the pro-abortion Newsweek reporter she doesn't care.
"I don't choose to spend my time countering perceptions and mischaracterizations that the other side puts out there. I choose to do my job. Because we are effective, I continue to be the target," Pelosi contends.
Pelosi also talked about how she discussed the abortion funding in the health care bill with a Catholic leader.
"I talked to one of the cardinals. I said to him that I believe that what we are doing honors the principles we talked about: we want to pass a health-care bill, we want it to be abortion neutral, and we want it to [have] no federal funding [for abortion], which is the law. And we believe that our language does that," she recounted. "They said, 'We believe that it does not.' I said, let's sit down at the table and our lawyers can compare language."
For Pelosi, her motive appears to be more about winning than her reputation and standing.
"I don't care how popular I am. I'm not putting myself out there to run for higher office. I just [want to] make sure that we win the election next year," she said.
The new comments follow on the heels of Pelosi thanking God that the Senate health care bill funds abortions.
Excerpt: The penalties (see ECCLESIASTICAL CENSURES) latae sententiae are: (1) Excommunication specially reserved to the Roman pontiff, which is incurred by all apostates from the Catholic Faith, by each and all heretics, by whatever name they are known and to whatever sect they belong, and by all who believe in them ( credentes), receive, favour, or in any way defend them (Constitution "Apostolicae Sedis", 1869). ... See More Excerpt2: The guiding principles in the Church's treatment of heretics are the following: Distinguishing between formal and material heretics, she applies to the former the canon, "Most firmly hold and in no way doubt that every heretic or schismatic is to have part with the Devil and his angels in the flames of eternal fire, unless before the end of his life he be incorporated with, and restored to the Catholic Church."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07256b.htm#REF_III
Who’s the bigger you-know-what; Pelosi or (shudder) Clift?
*Free will* is not a phrase that comes to mind when discussing any Democrat. Most especially Nancy Pelosi.
Nancy’s “free will” edict should/must be sent to her Bishop and The Pope. Her arrogance and utter disregard for human life is contemptible.
I’m sure the Roman Catholic Church will duly note Pope Nancy’s proclamations....
The silence of the church is Deafening. The Bishops were spineless, they should have performed the excommunication right there during the interview. Now THAT would be good TV.
Libs are real big on “free will” when it comes to doing what they want, when they want to do it. They’re just not big fans of the rest of the equation that deals with the consequences of using your free will poorly.
They did not for any Kennedy, they will NOT for her either. Speaks volumes for the RC church.
What???? I’m sure Pelosi would be thrilled if someone exercised their free will by robbing her at gunpoint.
Geesh.
Ms. Pelosi has freely chosen to do that which is manifestly evil. In choosing to destroy other human beings she aligns herself with others of this world such as Hilter, Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin, et. al, and the author of evil, Lucifer.
I hope Ms. Pelosi comes to her senses and repents. If that does not happen, I hope she realize the smell in Hell is not one of barbecue, though there is an eternal barbecue there.
Well Nan, I should have the “free will” to refuse to pay for abortions via my tax dollars.
I can assure you Pelosi is no longer Catholic, by her own hand she has left the ark. She can call out for help but unless she does, she will be lost.
Look at all of them, Kerry, Kennedy, Biden, they make me want to puke!
By Pelosi’s reasoning, then, no Biblical prohibition is binding. You covet your neighbor’s cash, wife, etc.? Steal it. “Free will”!
aren’t all murders a triumph of “free will” over moral teachings?
They will try to recover her before excommunication. This has just become very serious business.
I would love to sit in on the conversation between Pelosi and The Almighty when the time comes for her to explain her actions here on Earth.
Pelosi is willingly ignorant of Christian teachings.
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