[MarkT]

In the off chance that the Archbishop of the San Francisco Diocese heard her comment, she may actually face some cannonical and then political problems. She raised the issue of her so-called Catholicism - it is now the obligation of the Archbishop to refute publicly the public declaration of a public person who maintains such a demonstrably false fiction. The Archbishop will lose credibility if he does not act - failure to act, to right wrongs about which it is aware has gotten the Catholic Church into the mess it is right now - witness the molestation cases presently wending their way thoughout the land in various judicial forums. The public rebuke of her for her positions and her statement should not redound well to her politically.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Agreed. Her claim of being a conservative Catholic, beyond being false, is clearly a rookie political mistake. You don't go on TV the day after being elected and tell a preposterous lie that is so easily refuted.

For those concerned that Pelosi was very liberal but nevertheless a skilled political warrior, she has shown herself to be very clumsy in her first foray.

[mystery-ak]

Don't expect that to happen....example...Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd..I've never heard the Church come out and denounce their stand on abortions.

[Aquinasfan]

She raised the issue of her so-called Catholicism - it is now the obligation of the Archbishop to refute publicly the public declaration of a public person who maintains such a demonstrably false fiction. The Archbishop will lose credibility if he does not act - failure to act, to right wrongs about which it is aware has gotten the Catholic Church into the mess it is right now - witness the molestation cases presently wending their way thoughout the land in various judicial forums. The public rebuke of her for her positions and her statement should not redound well to her politically.

There's the rub. This nonsense has been going on in Massachusetts for thirty years. Kennedy and Kerry have always called themselves Catholics (and the Globe never misses a chance to mention this fact) yet they have never been challenged by the bishop or cardinal here. It's simply nauseating.

But putting my nausea aside for a moment, what is truly tragic is the fact that generations of Catholics have grown up assuming that it's "OK" to be Catholic and "pro-choice." How many lives have been ruined by their bishops' refusal to speak out?

[eeriegeno]

You are absolutely right! The archbishop should reduce Pelosi's status to 'excommunicated' conservative catholic because of her position on abortion. But he won't.......

[randita]

In the off chance that the Archbishop of the San Francisco Diocese heard her comment, she may actually face some cannonical and then political problems.

Did the Archbishop of the Boston area ever call the Kennedy's to account? They hold similar views on abortion to Pelosi.

Pelosi will get away with her statements as far as the church hierarchy is concerned, but she won't get away with them with the public.

Now I'm starting to see the wisdom behind Trent Lott's statement that one of the first issues he'll bring up in the next Congress is PBA. That will blow Pelosi and all the other so-called "centrists" right out of the water. They'll be on the defensive from the get go--a great way to start the next two years.

[TankerKC]

The Archbishop will lose credibility if he does not act...

See how the Church handled this one.