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Pelosi Spokeswoman About-face: Catholic Church Clear on Life Teaching, But Catholics Need Not Listen
LifeSiteNews ^ | 8/27/08 | Kathleen Gilbert

Posted on 08/27/2008 4:02:53 PM PDT by wagglebee

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 27, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A spokeswoman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the speaker's position as a "pro-abortion Catholic", not because the Church is unclear on when life begins, as earlier stated, but because Catholics routinely contravene "clear Catholic teaching" against abortion.

In a statement praising Pelosi's appreciation for "the sanctity of the family," Brenda Daly, speaking for Pelosi, said, "While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe to that view."

In the controversial interview on NBC's Meet The Press that spawned Daly's statement, Pelosi had said,  "The Doctors of the Church have not been able to make that definition [of when life begins]," and called it "an issue of controversy" throughout the history of the Church.  "St. Augustine said at three months.  We don't know," said Pelosi.

Brenda Daly's statement says that Pelosi is not justified in her pro-abortion stance due to vague Church teaching, but on the basis that many other "Catholics" also violate Church teaching.

Susan A. Fani, Director of Communications at the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, questioned the strength of Pelosi's newest argument: "So what?" she said.

"There are plenty of Catholics living a life rife with sin that seek to justify their behavior by saying they disagree with the Church on the source of their delinquency.

"Maybe that's the source of Pelosi's confusion - she really doesn't understand the difference between the teaching authority of the Catholic Church and the DNC."

Pelosi's new statement comes after a torrential response from Church officials condemning Pelosi's blatant misrepresentation of Church teaching and history, sparking coverage of the issue in several major news sources. (See LifeSiteNews.com article: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082601.html)

Eighteen members of the House of Representatives have signed a letter to Pelosi exhorting her to back down from her misrepresentation of Catholicism and criticizing her statements that "mangle Catholic Church doctrine." (For the full letter, see: http://www.stoppingtoaskfordirections.blogspot.com/)

American Papist's Thomas Peters, the Catholic blogger who has followed closely what he calls "Pelosi-Gate", considers Pelosi's "absurd" comments a boon for Catholic bishops, who now have the ball "back in their court." 

Peters says that because Pelosi continued to defend her statements, the bishops now "have the stage, an attentive audience, and a winning position."

To view Peters' blog, visit: http://www.americanpapist.com/blog.html

Related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

"Catholic" Speaker Pelosi Denies that Catholicism Condemns Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082502.html

Cardinals, Bishops and Congressmen Slam Pelosi on Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082601.html

New York Cardinal - Pelosi Not Worthy of "Providing Leadership in a Civilized Democracy"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082605.html



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; abortion; catholic; catholicpoliticians; cultureoflife; moralabsolutes; nancypelosi; pelosi; prolife
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To: wagglebee

Do Nothing Nancy throws away the shovel and grabs a Backho.

Pray for W and Our Troops


21 posted on 08/27/2008 4:35:37 PM PDT by bray (Drill Congress!!)
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To: wagglebee; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

22 posted on 08/27/2008 5:04:43 PM PDT by narses (...the spirit of Trent is abroad once more.)
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To: hunter112
Do you have evidence? Something later than the 16th century (Tetzel presumably being in hell?) Present it.

You don't? Then it's a baseless slander. Remember that "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" is still one of the Ten Commandment

23 posted on 08/27/2008 5:05:37 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler."--- Einstein)
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To: wagglebee
When one says they are a Christian, they are saying they believe EVERYTHING in the Bible. One can NOT pick and choose what they want to believe - it's an all or nothing choice.
24 posted on 08/27/2008 5:05:45 PM PDT by ninergold3 (Christ would not vote for Barack Obama...Alan Keyes)
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To: wagglebee

Listen, this Faccia di Merda replied to the protesters that were hounding her: can we drill your Brains? Ah, the rantings of the creeping botox into her brain. Who nominated this dolt? Also the ultimate hypocrite: the winery that she and her husband own uses only: NON-UNION LABOR!!!!!/Just Asking - seoul62.........


25 posted on 08/27/2008 5:11:21 PM PDT by seoul62
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To: Mrs. Don-o; hunter112
Do you have evidence? Something later than the 16th century (Tetzel presumably being in hell?) Present it.

The circumstantial evidence dating from 1995 to 2008 is overwhelming. Only the blind can not see it.

26 posted on 08/27/2008 5:12:18 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (OVERPRODUCTION......... one of the top five worries for American farmers.)
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To: Balding_Eagle
The circumstantial evidence dating from 1995 to 2008 is overwhelming. Only the blind can not see it.

Classic bandwagon fallacy.

27 posted on 08/27/2008 5:19:28 PM PDT by Campion
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To: Campion

OK, for sake of discussion let’s say it is.

Explain the current situation.


28 posted on 08/27/2008 5:25:38 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (OVERPRODUCTION......... one of the top five worries for American farmers.)
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To: wagglebee

Tell her you’re an American who doesn’t ascribe to paying taxes to pay for social welfare programs, so won’t pay your taxes.


29 posted on 08/27/2008 5:26:32 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: hunter112

Your parents deserve a refund for your education.


30 posted on 08/27/2008 5:31:20 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
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To: wagglebee

Nancy is going to go to hell for this and many other things.

By her logic, she could be a Catholic who doesn’t believe in Christ. After all she doesn’t have to listen to the Church’s teachings about Christ, so why should she have to believe in Him? “Yes, I’m a Christian who doesn’t believe in Christ” said Nancy Pelosi. /no sarc


31 posted on 08/27/2008 5:32:19 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: hunter112

Jack, Jack Chick, is that you?


32 posted on 08/27/2008 5:35:20 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: wagglebee

so in a few days Nancy has gone from a self-proclaimed ardent practicing catholic who spent years studying theology to a self-admitted rebel who simply doesn’t like official church teaching.
Not bad - it’s progress.


33 posted on 08/27/2008 5:35:29 PM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Scotswife

Pelosi - liberal cafeteria catholic


34 posted on 08/27/2008 5:36:51 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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Brenda Daly, speaking for Pelosi, said, "While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe to that view."

Pelosi and Daly are going to have very unpleasant particular judgments.
35 posted on 08/27/2008 5:37:43 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
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To: bray

Yeo, she may well be the single stupidest person in politics. No clue that she ought to shut the hell up. I hope she continues.


36 posted on 08/27/2008 5:39:52 PM PDT by Emmett McCarthy
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To: Emmett McCarthy

She’s just seeing if its possible to get under 5% approval. If anyone can do it, Do Nothing Nancy can.

Pray for W and Our Troops


37 posted on 08/27/2008 5:57:18 PM PDT by bray (Drill Congress!!)
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To: hunter112

The Catholic bishops aren’t selling anything and they’re not making money. The only financial aspect is possibly that of wanting to keep the tax exemption held by churches (Protestant churches as well, incidentally). But like everybody else, Catholic bishops want the respect of the world, and they want to be as accepted in the US as Protestants are. This was something Catholics sold their birthright for at the time of the election of JFK.

Very few Protestants even get criticized by the press, because most of them are wholly owned subsidiaries of the liberal media and liberal government forces. So the fact that the Church is even being criticized shows you who’s daring to speak the truth in this situation.


38 posted on 08/27/2008 6:41:17 PM PDT by marsh-mellow
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Do you have evidence?

John Kerry's and Ted Kennedy's annulments, and subsequent non-excommunications for being front and center in the fight for free and easy abortion are about all the evidence I need. Add in the fact that the priest sex scandal has cost the RCC many, many millions of dollars in the last ten years, and you have what it takes in the way of a motive.

I saw it all from the inside, I'm long gone out now, and glad of it. Continue to believe that your church does everything for 100% pure motives if you wish, as an American, I celebrate your freedom to believe whatever you want.

39 posted on 08/27/2008 6:53:26 PM PDT by hunter112 (The 'straight talk express' gets the straight finger express from me.)
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To: Candor7

Looks like the AMERICAN Bishops have started to get serious....it’s in their court....the Vatican will NOT be involved DIRECTLY.....


40 posted on 08/27/2008 7:01:51 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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