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.
Uh, Nancy baby, why are you not willing to accept what we Catholics know to be a fact?
It's always one-way...your way or no way, isn't it?
Oh wait, I forgot...you are a democRAT/socialist. That means you know better than God!
Pelosi:’she continues. “And that women [including Pelosi`s mother] should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.” Ya, Her mother should have exercised her free will
That’s Right. And as I was reading it, I kept thinking we do have free will to exercise our own will, but we do not have free will to exercise our will as we choose and still claim to live our lives according to God’s will.
I have the free will to go knock over a liquor store, and shoot people, and violate all kinds of laws, but my will would not be in accord with God’s will. I would be living my life outside of God’s will.
God rules a monarchy. HE is supreme. If you want to live your life in accordance with God’s will and his Word, you must yield your will to His.
As abortion goes, I believe that as far as a government goes, they should allow the female decide whether to choose abortion in cases of life threatening matters (which are probably incredibly small) or rape/incest. I am comfortable with a government leaving those decisions to the individual. That does not mean the government sanctions, or that I sanction abortion in those cases, but that the decision could be made by the individual.
I do not believe in a government allowing abortions just because someone doesn’t want to be pregnant. I believe it goes against our Western Culture of sanctity of human life, and that it is inherently goes against the Bible.
If Pelosi wants to exercise her free will and require abortion on demand paid by US taxpayers, she can, but she cannot complain when the Catholic church determines that her exercise of her will is against the Church.
Pelosi should just leave the Catholic Church and call it a day. I wouldn’t sit anywhere close to her during Mass, and might have to leave altogether.
Careful there. Is that not exactly how our First Amendment is interpreted these days? Do whatever makes you feel good as long as it does not conflict with the liberal phylosophy.
Wonder what her reaction would be then.
she may be a practicing Catholic but like most liberals, she has the mentality of a secular humanist with her scorn for traditional religion and the belief that people should be left to make up their own minds as to morality. This will lead to an attitude that anything goes as long as it makes you feel good. And this leads to moral anarchy.
Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral commits the sin of heresy. The sin of heresy also incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.
Unfortunately, some Catholics obstinately deny that abortion is always immoral, and some Catholics claim that abortion can, at times, be a morally-acceptable choice, and some Catholics claim that a person can, in good conscience, choose abortion. Under the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, canons 751 and 1364, all such Catholics are automatically excommunicated for the sin of heresy.
This sentence of latae sententiae excommunication applies to any Catholic who denies that abortion is gravely immoral, regardless of whether they keep this denial hidden or publicly reveal it.
Promoting Abortion
Those Catholics who publicly announce their denial that abortion is always gravely immoral, or who publicly promote abortion, or who publicly argue in favor of legalized abortion, also commit a mortal sin and also incur a sentence of automatic excommunication.
This sentence of excommunication applies to Catholics who are politicians, as well as to those Catholics who are political commentators, or public speakers, or who write or otherwise publicly communicate their erroneous view that abortion can be morally-acceptable or that abortion should be legal. This sentence of excommunication also certainly applies to those Catholics who claim to be theologians or Biblical scholars, but who believe or teach that abortion is not always gravely immoral.
Those Catholics who promote abortion are automatically excommunicated for two reasons. First, they have fallen into the sin of heresy by believing that abortion is not always gravely immoral (canons 751 and 1364). Second, these Catholics are providing substantial assistance for women to obtain abortions by influencing public policy to make abortions legal, and to keep abortions legal, and to broaden access to abortion. Those who provide such substantial assistance commit a mortal sin and incur a sentence of automatic excommunication (canon 1398).
Voting for Abortion
Any Catholic politician who casts a vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion, commits a mortal sin.
When such a vote indicates that the Catholic politician believes that abortion is not always gravely immoral, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canons 751 and 1364, because of heresy.
When such a vote is intended to have the effect of making abortion legal, or more easily obtainable, or more widely available, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canon 1398, as someone who is attempting to provide substantial or essential means for women to obtain abortions. Catholic politicians who pass laws which legalize, protect, or widen access to abortion, are providing essential assistance to women who want to obtain abortions.
It is not sufficient for Catholic politicians to claim that they are personally opposed to abortion. If any Catholic politician favors legalized abortion, despite a claim of personal opposition, such a politician commits a mortal sin by promoting abortion and by voting in favor of abortion.
The same is true for any Catholic who casts any vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion. Such a voter commits a mortal sin and incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication for two reasons. First, they are committing the sin of heresy by believing that abortion should be legal and available. Second, they are committing the grievous sin of providing women with substantial or essential assistance in obtaining abortions, by attempting to legalize or broaden access to abortion.
However, if, for a period of time, Catholic politicians and voters are unable to enact a law prohibiting all abortion, then Catholic politicians and voters may in good conscience vote for whichever law offers the greatest restrictions and limits on abortion. Subsequently, Catholic politicians and voters are required by the moral law to continue to enact further restrictions and limits on abortion, to the greatest extent possible, and, at every possible opportunity, to vote for laws which completely outlaw abortion.
Sory nancy: Catholics do not get to make up their own riules and call it “free will”.
You are speaking of Scientology, a faux religion in which you will fit right in.
If I saw Nancy in a Catholic Church I attended , I would get as far away from her as possible in the hopes not to get hit when the lightning strikes.As surely it should.
Sory nancy: Catholics do not get to make up their own riules and call it “free will”.
You are speaking of Scientology, a faux religion in which you will fit right in.
If I saw Nancy in a Catholic Church I attended , I would get as far away from her as possible in the hopes not to get hit when the lightning strikes.As surely it should.
You really can't expect someone like that to do better.
It is how they think. Consider yourself lucky that you are not mentally impaired like they are. Can you imagine someone so vain that they can go up against 2,000 years of the best theologians and call them wrong just to manipulate the electorate? There are aptitudes and then there is raw intelligence. She has one apptitude. That is trying to stay in office.
Nancy, it is a Commandment...Thou shall not kill! You cannot just make up your own story. I am a Catholic. The difference between you and me is that I keep the rules.
I think she already sold her soul to Satan to become speaker.
LLS
Most Reverend George H. Niederauer
San Francisco, CA
Fax: (415)614-5555
Pilosi and Cliff, 2 pigs in a pod, together they couldn’t ammount to a stain on a dress.
“They did not for any Kennedy, they will NOT for her either. Speaks volumes for the RC church.”
A desire for power by any means.
Eloquent comment and spot on.
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