Posted on 08/25/2008 11:46:50 AM PDT by Antioch
In an appearance on the NBC program Meet the Press on Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a self-professed Catholic, denied that the Catholic Church condemns abortion.
Referring to Barack Obama's now-notorious answer to Pastor Rick Warren to the question of when life begins, Meet the Press moderator Tom Brokaw asked Pelosi, "Senator Obama saying the question of when life begins is above his pay grade If he were to come to you and say, 'Help me out here, Madame Speaker. When does life begin?' what would you tell him?"
Pelosi responded by sidestepping the question, appealing to her Catholic faith as the source of her uncertainty.
"I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time," she said. "And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And Senator - St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know."
Pelosi then said that in her view the question of when life begins is a non-issue in the debate on abortion.
"The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose. Roe v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child - first trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third trimester. There's very clear distinctions. This isn't about abortion on demand, it's about a careful, careful consideration of all factors and - to - that a woman has to make with her doctor and her god."
Brokaw continued to press Pelosi on the question, observing, "The Catholic Church at the moment feels very strongly that it begins at the point of conception."
Pelosi again side-stepped the question, suggesting that the Church's current position is only a recent position and that "over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy."
The President of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, responded to Pelosi's statements on Meet the Press, observing that the Church's position on abortion is clear beyond any doubt. "Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: 'Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.'"
He continued, "It also says, 'Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.' Looks like Pelosi didn't study the subject long enough. But not to worry: We are sending her a copy of Catholicism for Dummies today."
Kathryn Jean Lopez, the online editor of National Review, quipped, "It's the blind leading the blind in that party if the 'ardent practicing Catholic' doesn't care when life begins, only that women have the choice to do what they 'choose' (sometimes, thanks to people like Pelosi, not aware of what their choices actually are) whether it's life or not."
Pelosi concluded her appearance by contradicting another doctrine of the Catholic Church by advocating contraception. Contraception is officially condemned by the Catholic Church as "intrinsically evil."
"My Republican colleagues do not support contraception. If you want to reduce the number of abortions, and we all do, we must - it would behoove you to support family planning and, and contraception, you would think," she said. "But that is not the case."
When life begins is a non-issue in the debate on abortion? It shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose?
Her Bishop just needs to bitch slap her.
Didn’t I see her in a photo, meeting the pope? She was being very deferential.... maybe if they are on speaking terms, he can politely refresh her memory on the basics of Catholicism. Heck, I am not even Catholic and I understand that one!
Here she is lying in living color.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwUSt7dfj5I
“Can’t reduce abortions without contraception” Oh yes, that’s ardent Catholicism, rat-style
I don't say this lightly. She has just brought scandal to the church, and if the church doesn't take action it creates even more confusion to the average Catholic.
Pelosi: “Is the Pope Catholic?”
One wonders if she even knows the Apostle Creed?
She is begging for a showdown with the Vatican, hoping people will then condemn the Church’s meddling in the US presidential election.
“Her Bishop just needs to bitch slap her.”
He’d cut his hand on her mug. So what really needs to happen is that she needs to be called out as excommunicated (even though she already is by her own actions) for not only supporting baby butchery, and publicly claiming that support of baby butchery is perfectly fine with Church teaching.
Freegards
godless liberals are a piece of work!
Please keep in mind that virtually every Democrat “Catholic” Senator supports abortion and most promote abortion. The Bishops know this and silently, except for occasional lip service, do nothing.
Will any of the 17 Democrat Senators be admonished and sanctioned by the Catholic Church? Will they be denied Catholic Rites? I don’t think so.
The Bishops speak in unison about Illegal Immigration. They are silent when Catholis politicann openly defy the Pope. Keep giving in the pews.
Here’s a discussion and refutation of Pelosi as an historical, theological matter:
http://catholidoxy.blogspot.com/2008/08/pelosi-on-mtp-catholic-tradition-vague.html
Now that's funny! Her archbishop at home is George Niederauer; now infamous for allowing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to receive the Eucharist and for defending itself for doing the same , and Pelosi's archbishop in Washington DC is Donald Wuerl...who has been savaged by conservative Catholics for refusing to bar pro-choice Catholics such as Kerry and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from the Communion rail. I wouldn't hold my breath.
"Where the bishop is, there is the Catholic church."
hey lets all leave poor 9% nancy alone. Maybe she wasn’t in church that day when this info was gone over. Maybe they handed out a memo and she never got it...
I mean Barack was not in church that day that his pastor called it the “USA of KKK” etc...
And I’m not sure about Rush’s show today, which I caught at the end of his taking issue with Pelosi on this. He was very immpassioned like always, but tell someone if I’m wrong here, but I thought he took “Doctors of the Church” as we Catholics understand to be merely medical doctors who happened to be Catholic. If so, one of his Catholic friends will contact him tonight and set him straight.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t one whit change his basic point that in no way ever has or does in any instance the Catholic church consider abortion ever having been controversial or up for discussion as optional.
This is the new breed of heretic. Heresy for the 21st century—no need to try to justify or attempt to explain your heresy just say the church does not condemn _________ (insert heresy).
She makes me sick.
arrggghhh!!! what I meant to say “will someone tell me”
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