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Pelosi’s feud with archbishop escalates
The Hill ^ | August 26, 2008 | Bob Cusack

Posted on 08/27/2008 5:52:59 AM PDT by NYer

The public feud over abortion between the Speaker of the House and the archbishop of Washington intensified Tuesday as Rep. Nancy Pelosi responded to his recent criticism and the archbishop fired another salvo at the California Democrat.

The latest development came Tuesday evening, when Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl issued a statement to The Hill that brushed aside Pelosi’s explanation of her comments about conception on Sunday’s edition of “Meet the Press.”

Wuerl on Monday rebuked Pelosi for suggesting that the Catholic Church has long debated the moment of conception. Wuerl said that the church has taught that life begins at conception and has thus opposed abortion as a “moral evil” since the 1st century.

Pelosi’s office initially didn’t comment on Wuerl’s remarks. After getting questions from the media, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly issued a statement on Tuesday that cited St. Augustine: “Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of St. Augustine, who said, 'The law does not provide that the act [abortion] pertains to homicide, for there cannot yet be said to be a live soul in a body that lacks sensation.' ”

Wuerl swiftly denounced Pelosi’s statement, saying, “As the Catechism and early Church documents make clear, abortion is always an evil. That is an unchanging teaching. The question on when the soul enters the body was a philosophical question that grew out of a lack of scientific data at the time of St. Augustine. We have the data today which shows the embryo is human. There no longer is any discussion of whether the unborn is human and so the philosophical discussion of St. Augustine’s time is not relevant today.”

The conflict with Wuerl comes as Pelosi is chairing the Democratic convention and trying to unify the Democratic Party behind Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

In the statement issued Tuesday, Daly said that not all Catholics believe that life begins at conception, which is what Catholics are taught.

“The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions,” Daly said. “She believes that can be done by making family planning more available, as well as by increasing the number of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education and caring adoption programs.”

Daly added that Pelosi is a mother of five children who appreciates the “sanctity of family.” He added that she was raised in a Catholic family that often disagreed with her positions in favor of abortion rights.

Daly declined to comment for this article.

Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, defended Pelosi in a statement on Tuesday: “Speaker Pelosi was correct in noting that Catholic teaching has changed over the years, even on the issue of when life begins.”



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; chaput; pelosi; weurl
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Solemn Warning! The following organizations are those who claim to be Catholic but dissent from the Truth as handed down from Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Divine Word, to His Apostles and their successors, the Pope and the Magisterium. These organizations are truly following in the footsteps of JUDAS - Just Undermine Doctrine And Spirituality. While they claim to be Catholic, they promote a man-made religion of unfettered pro-sin "choice" by the individual answerable to no one but himself (herself for the feminist reader), while promoting the spirituality of pagans. We all know what the serpent said to Eve; "you shall be as Gods" (Genesis 3:5).

At the same time, their mission statements and goals are disguised in shrewd words, usually in terms of "rights," "equality" and "social justice." But the Bible warns us of such a state of affairs; "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves [clergy] will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert" (Acts 20:29-31). "And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit" (Matthew 7:15-18).


Catholics for a Free Choice

(CFFC)

Promotes artificial contraceptive "rights," including abortion. Their focus is the "intersection of Catholic teaching and public policy." Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. They have been condemned by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).

Dissenting Organizations


1 posted on 08/27/2008 5:52:59 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 08/27/2008 5:53:53 AM PDT by NYer ("Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome)
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To: NYer

Sweet.

The longer Pelousy keeps this fight going, the longer it clarifies the calling of every true Catholic to reject pro-death politicians.

Now if only the Church would FORMALLY EXCOMMINICATE heretics like Pelousy, Kerry, Kennedy, and the other CINOs.


3 posted on 08/27/2008 5:58:22 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: NYer

This is too stupid for words. New human life begins at conception. That’s scientific fact. The argument is whether or not one can murder innocent human life. Apostate Catholics like Pelosi favor murdering the innocent. The Bishops would do well to point out that disgusting fact.


4 posted on 08/27/2008 6:00:16 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (Obama (Marxist), Manchuria)
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To: flyfree; dixiechick2000

Thought you might want to know the battle continues.


5 posted on 08/27/2008 6:00:26 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: NYer

> cited St. Augustine: “Her views on when life begins were
> informed by the views of St. Augustine, who said, ‘The
> law does not provide that the act [abortion] pertains to
> homicide, for there cannot yet be said to be a live soul
> in a body that lacks sensation.’ ”

Ah, but we now know that the pre-natal child DOES have sensation.

Just watch “Silent Scream”, depicting a live abortion of a live pre-natal baby.

For the squeamish, you may prefer to watch, “The Miracle of Life”, a PBS production that clearly shows the gestating baby experiencing sensation as early as 12 weeks gestate.


6 posted on 08/27/2008 6:01:48 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: Pontiac

Abortion is the quinessential Good v Evil battle of our time.

Abortion represents the core of leftist ideology,
using violence to force the innocent to pay for the consequences of the irresponsible choices of others.


7 posted on 08/27/2008 6:02:10 AM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: NYer

Oh, one more thing.

I forgot who it was that said this, but it is perfectly poignant.

“Anybody who has used or advocates using a condom knows when life begins”.

Maybe somebody should bring that to Nazi Pelousy’s attention.


8 posted on 08/27/2008 6:03:24 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: NYer

>>Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, defended Pelosi in a statement on Tuesday: “Speaker Pelosi was correct in noting that Catholic teaching has changed over the years, even on the issue of when life begins.”<<

Yup, they are right. The teaching has changed.

But today, if you want to be an American, you do not own a slave.
If you want to be Catholic, you do not promote abortion.


9 posted on 08/27/2008 6:03:36 AM PDT by netmilsmom (The Party of Darkness prefers to have the lights out. - Go Fierce 50!!!)
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To: NYer
Not only is Pelosi going to lose this argument with the Catholic Church, she may just get herself banned from the Sacraments until she publicly apologizes and does penance. The more she and her office step out on the ice with her comments, the thinner it gets.

For those NOT Catholic, this IS a biggie. It's not an issue for debate. And the issue coming up right NOW could very well send Democrat Catholics to vote Republican OR to abstain from voting entirely. And the Democrats cannot win without the support of their Catholic base.

Stay tuned for more from the Archbishop. And who knows, the Pope may enter the fray.

10 posted on 08/27/2008 6:04:27 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (o.b. is a registered trademark. But then Obama is an elitist and doesn't care.)
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To: Westbrook
Now if only the Church would FORMALLY EXCOMMINICATE heretics like Pelousy, Kerry, Kennedy, and the other CINOs.

Add Biden to that list.
11 posted on 08/27/2008 6:04:37 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: MrB

> Abortion represents the core of leftist ideology,

It is their highest sacrament.

Human sacrifice on the altar of Marx.


12 posted on 08/27/2008 6:04:48 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: netmilsmom

> But today, if you want to be an American, you do not own a slave.
> If you want to be Catholic, you do not promote abortion.

Bears repeating.


13 posted on 08/27/2008 6:06:14 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: NYer
“The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions,” Daly said.

Another misleading statement by the Pelosi camp. It would lead some to believe that a reduction of 5% might be agreeable to the Church. It is not. Abortions are not to be simply reduced in number they are to be outlawed completely. One more thing, Ms Pelosi should have the good grace to answer these questions herself in person and not send some flunky to attempt to prop up her ridiculous statements. The Dems have a real jewel of a leader don't they?

14 posted on 08/27/2008 6:06:27 AM PDT by ladtx ( "Never miss a good chance to shut up." - - Will Rogers)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

> Add Biden to that list.

Gladly.

Now if only the Pope would get involved and EXCOMMUNICATE these heretics and their damnable human sacrifice!


15 posted on 08/27/2008 6:07:31 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: Westbrook
They seem to be getting close.

Bishops: Democratic VP Nominee Should Refrain from Communion
16 posted on 08/27/2008 6:08:53 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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Wow. Archbishop Wuerl’s spinal cord rating has just soared from a 0.5 (on a scale of 1 - 10) to an impressive 1.8.

If he keeps this up, we’ll have to move him to the vertebrate category.


17 posted on 08/27/2008 6:15:08 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: NYer

The Bush Administration has had its differences with the Catholic Church over the last few years- particularly concerning Iraq and capital punishment. However, neither Bush, nor his staff, ever dreamed of casting such disrepect upon Catholic doctrine, its saints or its bishops and cardinals.


18 posted on 08/27/2008 6:16:16 AM PDT by bobjam
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To: HighlyOpinionated
“Anybody who has used or advocates using a condom knows when life begins”.

THAT just became my tag-line with one word change.

“Anybody who has used or advocates using a contraceptive knows when life begins”.
19 posted on 08/27/2008 6:17:37 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (“Anybody who has used or advocates using a contraceptive knows when life begins”.)
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To: Westbrook

>> Add Biden to that list.

Gladly.

Now if only the Pope would get involved and EXCOMMUNICATE these heretics and their damnable human sacrifice!<<

AMEN - And Kennedy! And Kerry! And Guilani!(fair is fair). But be careful with Biden, he’ll shove his rosary down your throat if you question him.


20 posted on 08/27/2008 6:18:47 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners.)
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