Two More Bishops Correct Speaker Pelosi on Life

Catholic Online ^ | 8/28/08 | Kathleen Gilbert

[tcg]

Two more bishops have released statements condemning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's widely publicized claim that the Catholic faith could support abortion.

Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs and Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh join the other six Catholic bishops who have already corrected Pelosi's false claims, made during an appearnace on NBC's Meet the Press, that when life begins has been "an issue of controversy" throughout the history of the Church and that, therefore, the Catholic faith can support abortion.

Bishop Sheridan warned Catholics in his statement Tuesday that Pelosi's picture of Church history and teaching is categorically false. "Speaker Pelosi's outrageous attempt to present what she considers the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding abortion is simply wrong and should be disregarded by every faithful Catholic," he wrote.

Quoting Pope John Paul II, Bishop Sheridan reminded his readers that violating the right to life undermines all human rights, which are present "from the moment of conception until natural death."

"The teachings of the Church on abortion are consistent and unambiguous, and it is very disturbing to hear someone who claims to be a Catholic distort these teachings and sow seeds of confusion among the faithful by attempting to relativize the right to life," said Bishop Sheridan.

[tcg]

"Speaker Pelosi's outrageous attempt to present what she considers the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding abortion is simply wrong and should be disregarded by every faithful Catholic."

[usshadley]

Pelosi attends mass at the Church of the Immaculate 1st Trimester

[A.A. Cunningham]

DIOCESE OF
COLORADO SPRINGS

A STATEMENT BY THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. SHERIDAN
REGARDING THE EVIL OF PROCURED ABORTION:

Colorado Springs, CO – Tuesday, August 26, 2008

In light of recent confusing statements by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi suggesting that Catholic teaching allows for procured abortion in certain circumstances, it is important for all Catholics to understand the teaching of the Church regarding abortion.

From the first century the Church has taught that abortion is gravely immoral. “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2271, quoting Didache 2, 2). The procuring of an abortion is always and in all circumstances intrinsically evil. (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2271). It is murder of the most vulnerable and innocent human beings. Speaker Pelosi’s outrageous attempt to present what she considers the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding abortion is simply wrong and should be disregarded by every faithful Catholic.

All other rights are useless if one is denied the right to live. Our founding fathers recognized this when they enumerated life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable human rights. They also recognized that these three rights are not equal in importance. Pursuing happiness means little if one is a slave. And freedom means nothing to someone who has been denied the right to life.

Pope John Paul II echoed these sentiments when he wrote “The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights . . . belong to human nature and are inherent in the person . . . from the moment of conception until death.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2273, quoting CDF, Donum vitae III).

The teachings of the Church on abortion are consistent and unambiguous, and it is very disturbing to hear someone who claims to be a Catholic distort these teachings and sow seeds of confusion among the faithful by attempting to relativize the right to life.

There can be no compromise on this issue. “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2272). “Those who are excommunicated . . . and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.” (Code of Canon Law 915).

Those Catholics who take a public stance in opposition to this most fundamental moral teaching of the Church place themselves outside full communion with the Church, and they should not present themselves for the reception of Holy Communion.

Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan
Bishop of Colorado Springs

###

[NTHockey]

“The teachings of the Church on abortion are consistent and unambiguous, and it is very disturbing to hear someone who claims to be a Catholic distort these teachings and sow seeds of confusion among the faithful by attempting to relativize the right to life,” said Bishop Sheridan.

Keywords: “Someone who CLAIMS to be a Catholic”. Repeat it loud and repeat it often.

[El Cid]

These Bishops sure like piling on and kicking a heretic when they are down.

I like that...

[billmor]

Every Catholic Bishop in the country should be speaking out against the abortion issue...When the Church was strong and vocal and gave moral leadsrship, we had more Catholics and a stronger country...

[paguch]

It is important that we watch to see if there is any response from Pelosi’s Bishop or Biden’s Bishop. Both brag about how devout they are. Nancy even bragged that she was in good standing with her Bishop.

Have you noticed that there is no statement from the Council of Bishops? Maybe their silence is why all 16 “Catholic” Democrat Senators support and promote abortion, they have the tacit approval from their Bishop in the form of silence.

Imagine. these two are practicing in your face defiance of the church and their Bishop and ....silence.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Statement by Bishop David A. Zubik on
“Meet the Press” comments
by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

On Sunday, August 24, on “Meet the Press,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped out of her political role and completely misrepresented the teaching of the Catholic Church in regard to abortion. She said that Church teaching condemning procured abortion is somehow new and therefore unsettled. She could not have been more wrong.

Jesus proclaimed the sacredness of human life throughout his teaching and ministry. In a Roman world where abortion was commonplace, the Church proclaimed its intrinsic moral evil. The Didache, perhaps the earliest known Christian manual of moral teaching dating from the first century, rejected abortion. Early Church councils considered it one of the most serious crimes.

That teaching has remained constant and unaltered for two millennia.

As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith re-stated in 1974, “The first right of the human person is his life. … It does not belong to society, nor does it belong to public authority in any form to recognize this right for some and not others. … From the time the ovum is fertilized, a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor of the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being.”

The teaching of the Church on abortion is settled. And as old as the Gospels.

[DoingTheFrenchMistake]

When did Americans start electing Catholic Bishops as our Representatives?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Have you noticed that there is no statement from the Council of Bishops?

Maybe you should start paying attention.

Bishops respond to House Speaker Pelosi’s misrepresentation of Church teaching against abortion

WASHINGTON--Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:

In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.

In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law." (No. 2271)

In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church’s moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.

These mistaken biological theories became obsolete over 150 years ago when scientists discovered that a new human individual comes into being from the union of sperm and egg at fertilization. In keeping with this modern understanding, the Church teaches that from the time of conception (fertilization), each member of the human species must be given the full respect due to a human person, beginning with respect for the fundamental right to life.

[NTHockey]

>>Imagine. these two are practicing in your face defiance of the church and their Bishop and ....silence.

That has been going on since Vatican II, when Liberals took over the Church. Churches were desecrated, everything “old” went out the door and the poor Catholics in the pews were left behind. The Libs defied the Bishops and the Bishops acquiesed. This may be a little like closing the barn door after the cows are out. But hey, better late than never.

I didn’t leave the Church, my Church left me.

[fatima]

I wonder if any of her grandchildren were aborted.

[okokie]

The Bishops of the Catholic Church have a duty to respond to Peloski’s mis-statements of Catholic dogma on abortion-she brought up the topic in a public forum- they have a duty to respond in a public forum since what she said isn’t true.

[phil1750]

..... all 16 “Catholic” Democrat Senators support and promote abortion...

Abortion is a sacrament in the democRAT party.

[pankot]

OK. Now do something about excommunicating the old ragbag!

[DoingTheFrenchMistake]

I see your point, but these Bishops are publicly funded vis-a-vis their tax-exempt status and under those conditions it just might be the case where... The Bishop doth protest too much, (methinks).

[rangeryder]

"The Bishops of the Catholic Church have a duty to respond to Peloski’s mis-statements of Catholic dogma on abortion-she brought up the topic in a public forum- they have a duty to respond in a public forum since what she said isn’t true."

They did respond, see post 10.

There is certainly no entity on this earth, whether private organization, government or religion, that denounces abortion with the consistency and vehemence that the Catholic Church does. Though the communist "mainstream media" will use its power to keep this opposition obscure or muddled, it none the less remains strong and vehement within the Church.

[The Cuban]

“Me thinks” you do not know of what you speak. A bishop’s duty is to correct misconceptions of doctrine. If you beleive his “tax exemption” prevents him from doing so, then in effect you are admitting that his “tax exemption” is restraining his right to the free excercise of religion and speach.