Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pelosi Spin on Meeting With Pope Dramatically Different From Vatican Statement
LifeSite News ^ | 2-18-09 | John-Henry Westen

Posted on 02/18/2009 3:08:10 PM PST by STARWISE

***Pope Rebukes Pelosi, Tells Her Catholic Legislators Obligated to Protect Life: No Pelosi/Pope photos permitted***

###

The Vatican Press Office released a note this morning detailing part of the conversation which Pope Benedict XVI had with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Pelosi also released a statement on the meeting which ignored the one and only crucial issue mentioned in the Vatican note. Pelosi presented the meeting as a fully positive encounter while the Vatican indicated the Pope reminded her of the requirement of Catholic politicians to defend life. It is also noteworthy that, contrary to normal protocols for such meetings with dignitaries, no photos of Pelosi with the Pope were permitted.

The Vatican note reads: "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

Vatican insiders stressed to LifeSiteNews.com that such releases are always phrased in diplomatic language and thus the correction of the Speaker who describes herself as a "faithful Catholic," despite her abortion advocacy, should be taken as a firm rebuke.

LifeSiteNews.com also learned that concerns about Pelosi were presented to Vatican officials a day prior to the meeting.

Such encounters with the Pope are treasured by politicians for the photo opportunity they provide. Pelosi, however, was not afforded that customary photo by the Vatican. The Associated Press reports that "the Vatican said it was not issuing a photo of the meeting -- as it usually does when the pope meets world leaders -- saying the encounter was private."

For her part, Pelosi issued a press release on the 15-minute meeting with the Pope. "It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI today," she said. "In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel."

The release from the Vatican, however, made no mention of the comments that Pelosi stressed in her release.

Pelosi's positive spin on the meeting is not being swallowed even by left-leaning Papal watchers. Vatican correspondent John Allen, who writes for the National Catholic Reporter, noted that "routine Vatican declarations after diplomatic meetings also generally sum up the range of issues discussed rather than concentrating on a particular point. In that sense, the statement can only be read as a rejection of Pelosi's statements last summer, and, in general, of her argument that it's acceptable for Catholics in public life to take a pro-choice position."

Allen also noted that "by issuing an unusual public statement after the session with Pelosi -- which insisted that all Catholics, including legislators, are obliged to work for the defense of human life from conception to natural death -- the pope also made clear there will no let-up in the pressure on pro-choice Catholic politicians to change their ways."

Many pro-life organizations from the US and Canada expressed their serious concerns to the Holy See that Mrs. Pelosi was going to be received by the Holy Father. Some of these organizations sent to different Vatican authorities comprehensive memoranda in which they showed in a detailed and precise way the anti-life statements and the pro-death voting record of Mrs. Pelosi.

Catholic sources in Rome, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were "very much encouraged by this statement," saying that it shows that the "Holy Father is ready to stand up with courage to politicians that claim they are Catholics but their voting record denies those hypocritical assertions."


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: abortion; benedictxvi; catholic; moralabsolutes; pelosi; pope; popebenedictxvii; prolife; vatican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-59 next last
"Such encounters with the Pope are treasured by politicians for the photo opportunity they provide. Pelosi, however, was not afforded that customary photo by the Vatican. The Associated Press reports that "the Vatican said it was not issuing a photo of the meeting -- as it usually does when the pope meets world leaders -- saying the encounter was private."

~~~

Good. No photo ops to for her to gloat over, in her despicable attempt to demonstrate any support for her from the Pope.

_____________________________________________________

Her sickening and fictitious dodge:

"The speaker does not share that belief, and even got into a verbal slugfest with American bishops last August after her statements on a news program about the Church's view of when life begins.

"I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And St. Augustine said at three months, we don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose," she said at the time on NBC's "Meet the Press."

She then added that the Church has only held the view for 50 years or so that life begins at conception. The remarks earned her widespread corrections by Catholic clerics."

1 posted on 02/18/2009 3:08:10 PM PST by STARWISE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; sandyeggo; Lady In Blue; fatima; NYer; ELS; Salvation; elcid1970; RobbyS; ...

~~PING!


2 posted on 02/18/2009 3:09:14 PM PST by STARWISE ( They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Thank you for posting this.


3 posted on 02/18/2009 3:12:09 PM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
Sounds like the Pope took the Speaker to the woodshed. And, let a little kid, she is whistling in the dark, and not mentioning what really happened behind closed doors.

And no pictures? it must have been ugly!

4 posted on 02/18/2009 3:12:18 PM PST by LiteKeeper (Beware of socialism in America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Good for the Pope. Now if he could get rid of all those lefties in the church and stuff like “Clown Masses”.


5 posted on 02/18/2009 3:12:35 PM PST by Yorlik803 ( Freedom- 07-04-1776-11-06-2008. RIP)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

I doubt the woman has a religious bone in her body, let alone a moral one. I’m not a Catholic, but I hold more Catholic beliefs than that woman.


6 posted on 02/18/2009 3:12:47 PM PST by Jaidyn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

It’s God she has to worry about, not the Pope.


7 posted on 02/18/2009 3:13:21 PM PST by TribalPrincess2U (Welcome to Obama's America... Be afraid, be very afraid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

His Holiness should have gone public & excommunicated her from the church.


8 posted on 02/18/2009 3:14:51 PM PST by Digger (If RINO is your selection, then failure is your election)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

It appears that one of them is a liar. I wonder which one it could be.


9 posted on 02/18/2009 3:14:52 PM PST by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
The Associated Press reports that "the Vatican said it was not issuing a photo of the meeting -- as it usually does when the pope meets world leaders -- saying the encounter was private."

Would Nancy Botoxi even show up on film? Most vampires don't, if I recall correctly.

I wonder if the Pontiff gave her a referral for an exorcism.
10 posted on 02/18/2009 3:14:55 PM PST by LostInBayport (When more than 98% of the Republicans on Capitol Hill vote against a bill, it is not bipartisan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

PELOSI LIED TO THE POPE!?!?


11 posted on 02/18/2009 3:14:57 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (The inmates are now officially running the asylum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

PS: That can’t be good.


12 posted on 02/18/2009 3:15:36 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (The inmates are now officially running the asylum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Hey, when I was young and taken out to the woodshed, I never bragged about it either, Nancy.


13 posted on 02/18/2009 3:16:21 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

**Pelosi’s positive spin on the meeting is not being swallowed even by left-leaning Papal watchers. Vatican correspondent John Allen, who writes for the National Catholic Reporter, noted that “routine Vatican declarations after diplomatic meetings also generally sum up the range of issues discussed rather than concentrating on a particular point. In that sense, the statement can only be read as a rejection of Pelosi’s statements last summer, and, in general, of her argument that it’s acceptable for Catholics in public life to take a pro-choice position.” **

YRS!! The Pope is the winner on this. Pelosi just thinks she is the boss, but the Pope knows that God is the boss!

Hooray for Pope Benedict!


14 posted on 02/18/2009 3:17:45 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
The Vatican note reads: "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society

Translation

The bitch got bitch slapped..

15 posted on 02/18/2009 3:19:06 PM PST by Wil H (No Accomplishments, No Experience, No Resume No Records, No References, Nobama..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
From another thread:

He told Pelosi, politely but unmistakably, that her relentlessly pro-abortion politics put her in serious difficulties as a Catholic, which was his obligation as a pastor. He also underscored — for Pelosi, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Rose DeLauro, Kathleen Sebelius, and everyone else — that the Church’s opposition to the taking of innocent human life, at any stage of the human journey, is not some weird Catholic hocus-pocus; it’s a first principle of justice than can be known by reason. It is a “requirement of the natural moral law” — that is, the moral truths we can know by thinking about what is right and what is wrong — to defend the inviolability of innocent human life.

16 posted on 02/18/2009 3:19:21 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Digger

She has excommunicated herself by supporting abortion. All dimocrats have.


17 posted on 02/18/2009 3:20:31 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
For her part, Pelosi issued a press release on the 15-minute meeting with the Pope.

The stupid b***** was in a hurry to fly all the way over to Rome for a 15 minute visit! The pope should have been less cordial. Just excommunicate her and tell her to take her roadshow somewhere else.
18 posted on 02/18/2009 3:21:18 PM PST by dr_who
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LostInBayport

She’s so shameless, I bet she wasn’t even
embarrassed at the Pope’s very direct remarks
to her, as any normal person (never mind Catholic)
would be.

She is the lowest.


19 posted on 02/18/2009 3:22:16 PM PST by STARWISE ( They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: All
Pope Urges Catholic US Legislators to Defend Life

More detail about some Republican Representatives here!

20 posted on 02/18/2009 3:22:38 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-59 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson