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August 27, 2008
Catholics Not Happy With Abortion Lover Pelosi
Bishops say Pelosi misrepresented abortion teaching in TV interview
The chairmen of the U.S. bishops' pro-life and doctrine committees criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying she "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church on abortion" in a nationally televised interview Aug. 24.
Pelosi, D-Calif., who is Catholic, said in an appearance that day on NBC's "Meet the Press" that church leaders for centuries had not been able to agree on when life begins.
An Aug. 25 statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., said the church since the first century "has affirmed the moral evil of every abortion."
"The teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable," the statement said. "Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."
Cardinal Rigali heads the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, while Bishop Lori chairs the USCCB Committee on Doctrine.
The statement recalled how in the Middle Ages "uninformed and inadequate theories" about the development of a child in a mother's womb led some theologians to suggest that 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," the church leaders said.
However, they added, scientists discovered more than 150 years ago that a new human life begins with the union of sperm and egg, making such a biological theory obsolete.
"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 the respect for the fundamental right to life," Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Lori concluded.
The USCCB response came after Pelosi told interviewer Tom Brokaw "we don't know" when life begins.
"The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose," she said.
Citing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, Pelosi said specific considerations must be undertaken during each trimester of a child's development before an abortion can be performed.
"This isn't about abortion on demand. It's about careful, careful consideration of all factors ... that a woman has to make with her doctor and her God," she told Brokaw. "And so I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this."
She also said her goal is to make abortion safe and rare while reducing the number of abortions nationwide.
Other bishops weighed in after Pelosi's interview, reiterating the church's long-standing teaching on abortion.
Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington said that while he respected the right of public officials to address public policy issues "the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops."
Quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the archbishop noted that the church has maintained its teaching on the "moral evil of every procured abortion" since the first century. "From the beginning, the Catholic Church has respected the dignity of all human life from the first moment of conception to natural death," he said.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver, where the Democratic National Convention is taking place Aug. 25-28, called Pelosi a "gifted public servant" but questioned her knowledge of Catholic teaching.
"Ardent, practicing Catholics will quickly learn from the historical record that from apostolic times the Christian tradition overwhelmingly held that abortion was grievously evil," the Denver bishops said. "In the absence of modern medical knowledge, some of the early fathers held that abortion was homicide; others that it was tantamount to homicide; and various scholars theorized about when and how the unborn child might be animated or 'ensouled.'
"But none diminished the unique evil of abortion as an attack on life itself and the early church closely associated abortion with infanticide. In short, from the beginning, the believing Christian community held that abortion was always gravely wrong."
The bishops called the "right to choose" an alibi that contradicts Christian and Catholic belief.
"The duty of the church and other religious communities is moral witness. The duty of the state and its officials is to serve the common good, which is always rooted in moral truth. A proper understanding of the 'separation of church and state' does not imply a separation of faith from political life. But, of course, it's always important to know what our faith actually teaches," they concluded.
Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York said he was shocked to learn of Pelosi's comments, saying that her view on theologians and their positions on abortion was "not only misinformed" but "utterly incredible in this day and age."
He said evidence of the development of human life can be detected at an early age thanks to modern technology, and photographs and video have proven "the living realities within their pregnant mothers."
"No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb," he said in an Aug. 26 statement. "In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any kind."
And there is also this...........
Washington archbishop rips Pelosi on abortion
In a rare public rebuke of a top politician, the archbishop of Washington said Monday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was incorrect when she recently said the moment of conception has long been a matter of controversy within the Catholic Church.
Wuerl noted that Pelosi responded to a question on when life begins by mentioning she was Catholic.
“After Mr. Tom Brokaw, the interviewer, pointed out that the Catholic Church feels strongly that life begins at conception, she replied, 'I understand. And this is, like, maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy,' " the release said.
Wuerl strongly disagrees.
He said, "We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record."
Wuerl pointed out that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, and has been clear for 2,000 years. He cited Catechism language that reads, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception … 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.”
A Pelosi spokesman did not immediately comment for this article.
Wild Thing's comment...........
No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly and obviously are...
Obama and Nancy do not.
She didn't misrepresent ... she lied.
The list of bishops speaking out is growing, it is really getting long, too long to put all the various qoutes here. Pelosi is in trouble big time. LOL
I am not Catholic , I am a Christian but I don't belong to any church and even without being a Catholic, there is NO WAY Pelosi could be “confused” on what the Catholic Church teaches in regards to abortion. Pelosi should be ashamed of herself presuming to speak for the Catholic Church in order to give the appearance that it somehow agrees with her pro-abortion political views.
Also the last few days I have been reading that Catholics are not only upset with Pelois but also Obama on his love for abortion and Biden as well. With Obama's even more radical stance on Obama as if that was possible is sending the Catholics into a frenzy.
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 27, 2008 12:45 PM
Comments
The Democrats really are a party with a big tent. Barack Obama thinks he's God and Nancy Pelosi thinks that she is the Pope.
Posted by: Les at August 27, 2008 02:38 PM
Unfortunately there are not enough people, disgusted by the 100th congress and the outright Godless Communists in power at this time to do anything but snivel. They'll rally behind her and her likes come November 4th no matter how she misconstrues the Judeao-Christian faiths.
Posted by: Jack at August 27, 2008 05:15 PM
Well she is from San Franfreaksville, so the possiblility of her re-election is probably a given.
But yesterday she was told in uncertain terms by the ob**a campaign to shut up. They wanted no part of interpreting the Catholic Church's doctrine. Of course now the it is all over the front pages of every newspaper and every Cardinal, Bishop and Priest are smoting ole Leather face Nancy. I am just waiting for Pope Benidict 16 to weigh in.
I guess she was miffed by the Obama's for excluding her from the strategic planning campaign. They said something like she'd be an impediment to the campaign.
It sounds to me like the democrats are starting to unravel.
Posted by: Mark at August 27, 2008 05:48 PM
I also am not Catholic. I have a daughter and stepdaughter. My stepdaughters daughter (I don't see her as my step-granddaughter, but as my first granddaughter)) she is now going to be 26. I never have had to face this abortion problem with either. I am very much against abortion. However as hypoctitical as it seems, if either my daughter or granddaughter was in that situation and decided for an abortion I would discourage as much as I could but would stand by them in their final decision. My love for both is more than anything else in my life.
Hypocritical? Probably. Honest. YES.
Posted by: Bob at August 27, 2008 07:30 PM
I have seen first hand what abortion does to a woman. I was raised Catholic and so was my first wife. She had an abortion we both signed the papers, she was convinced that the fetus was nothing more than a 'fish' at this point in her pregnancy. We both knew better.
It wasn't so much the abortion that affected her but the guilt afterwards. She tried to take her life several times and finally succeeded. This is the THING Pro Abortion people don't want anyone to know. This was in 1971 before Roe v. Wade.
The guilt worked on her for about a year until she finally snapped.
The point is this, this is a life regardless how small and how insignificant it may seem, but if I can talk someone out of it I will. Stand by them you better watch them like a hawk because regardless of their religion the guilt can destroy them real quick, and then you have lost two people.
Since Roe this country has managed to murder 45 Million babies and with the bat of an eye, Pelosi can say no one knows when life begins,...bullshit.
As McCain said, to Rick Warren it begins at conception.
Posted by: Mark at August 27, 2008 08:17 PM
Nancy is angering the Man upstairs.
Posted by: TomR at August 27, 2008 08:43 PM
Les, hahaha yes what a pair, the wanna be God and the wanna be Pope.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:22 AM
Jack, that is what I was wondering. They seem to be sooo upset, but none of them say anything about not voting democrat.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:24 AM
Mark, LOL good one..... hahahahahaha
"San Franfreaksville"
I agree, they may act like they are happy about Obama or Pelosi but there are enough out there we read about that aren't.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:28 AM
Bob, your love of your daughters and your guidence makes a difference. The most powerful thing there is IMO that drives a child to do what is right in life is the love of their parent or parents.That love makes them want to honor their Dad or Mom or both, it is like a driving force.
Yes sometimes even with all that love and wanting to honor a parent a child will do the wrong thing, make the wrong choices.
I am adopted, I was a baby when I was adopted right after I was born , and all I can really say being honest is that I thank God for my birth mother that she gave me a chance at lifie. And then I thank God for the parents that adopted me and gave me a family and another chance at life.
Being honest is good Bob, and I only know that your influence on your daughters is tremendous and your prayers for them too are a help in their choices they make.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:34 AM
Mark, I am so very sorry, that had to be hard for you to go through. You are such a caring person.
I agree, what MacCain said was exactly the truth. I was so thankful when he answered he did it directly and immediately and a no holds barred kind of answer. I cheered when he answered like he did.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:46 AM
Tom, I sure would think so, I would not want to be getting God mad. Certainly not on purpose.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2008 12:48 AM
A child is a child from conception. I am a pro lifer with those few exceptions-rape, incest, the baby dies in utero, the mother's health-too old, too young, diseases, etc.
There was a teacher at my high school--taught reading and typing. She had two children--the first one-normal by every standard. The younger had spina bifida. She got pregnant again. The third had spina bifida and down syndrome. There was no way her family could afford another child with disabilities. I think God forgives in those situations. I had a baby die in utero and I nearly bled to death. The ER had to do a D & C, which is a form of abortion or I would have died. How heart wrenching it was for me. I wanted that child so bad and God took it away. I had to wait 9 years to get another child--my sweet little Rerun. God put 12 years between my Elly and my Rerun, so I would never have to face the "empty nest" syndrome. He knows what he is doing.
So Nazi just poured and rubbed salt on my wounds.
She is so misguided and stupid.
And yes, I'm a Roman Catholic.
Posted by: Lynn at August 28, 2008 04:43 AM
Lynn--
I am deeply sorry for your loss, but your position scares me to death. I will explain why, but first you need to understand this:
You did not have an abortion. Your baby died in utero. It is not possible to have an abortion when you do not have a living child in your womb. A D&C is not always an abortion. It is the method most commonly used to induce abortion, but it is also used for other reasons, on women who are not pregnant.
Here's why your position, compassionate as it seems to you, frightens me: you are killing people for being handicapped. How can that ever be okay? Why is it all right to kill a handicapped child because her parents "can't afford" her? How is that her fault? How is rape or incest ever the child's fault?
And who is "too young" or "too old"? I was almost 41 when I gave birth. Should I have aborted my son because I was "too old"? Again, how is that the baby's fault?
Posted by: Trish at August 28, 2008 09:40 PM
