It appears the Catholic Church is not about to let Nancy Pelosi have the last word on abortion.
As discussed here yesterday, high Church officials rebuked Pelosi for her erroneous statements about Catholic abortion doctrine on a Sunday news show; undeterred, Pelosi had a spokesman announce that she stood by her statements.
Wednesday, the Church made it clear it was standing just as firm:
The latest came Wednesday from Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, who said Pelosi, D-Calif., “stepped out of her political role and completely misrepresented the teaching of the Catholic Church in regard to abortion.”
Pretty strong stuff.
Furthermore, she has ruffled feathers to the point that the Archbishop of San Francisco, Pelosi’s hometown, will discuss this very issue in next week’s edition of the archdiocesan newspaper.
As the article points out, Pelosi had to do little more than consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church if she really wanted to accurately characterize Church teaching:
“This teaching has remained unchanged and remains unchangeable,” according to the Catechism. “Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”
Not only have Church officials sought to correct the wayward Speaker of the House, but Catholic scholars have weighed in as well:
The Rev. Douglas Milewski, a Seton Hall University theologian who specializes in Augustine [who Pelosi cited as supposed support for her statements], said Pelosi seems to be confusing church teaching on abortion with the theological debate over when a fetus receives a soul.
“Saint Augustine wondered about the stages of human development before birth, how this related to the question of ensoulment and what it meant for life in the Kingdom of God,” Milewski said.
Questions about ensoulment related to determining penalties under church law for early and later abortions, not deciding whether the procedure is permissible, according to the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
Augustine was “quite clear on the immorality of abortion as evil violence, destructive of the very fabric of human bonds and society,” Milewski said.
Regarding individual decision-making, the church teaches that Catholics are obliged to use their conscience in considering moral issues. However, that doesn’t mean parishioners can pick and choose what to believe and still be in line with the church.
Lisa Sowle Cahill, a theologian at Boston College, said conscience must be formed by Catholic teaching and philosophical insights. “It’s not just a personal opinion that you came up with randomly,” she said
(I could not help but think that this last comment all-too-accurately describes the moral relativism espoused by many liberals, as well as, sadly, many “cafeteria Catholics.”)
In fact, the article points out that the Catholic bishops have written that voting for a candidate specifically because that candidate supports an “evil” like abortion constitutes “formal cooperation in grave evil.”
It is hard to believe that Pelosi, a product of Catholic schools, could be so ignorant of Catholic doctrine. Either she has allowed her zeal in support of abortion to overwhelm her faculty for reason, or her remarks are just cynical - and shameful - politics. While it is true that indvididuals in society, including many Catholics (to their discredit), still argue for abortion as a political and social matter, there is no such debate doctrinally-speaking.
Catholic theologians today overwhelmingly consider debate over the morality of abortion settled. Thinkers and activists who attempt to challenge the theology are often considered on the fringes of church life.
Given our precious rights to speak our minds, Catholics like Pelosi are free to disagree and criticize the Church for its moral stance on abortion. What she should not be free to do - and what it appears the Church will not let her do - is misrepresent that stance.
I am wondering if the day is coming when some bishops will have had enough, and actually take the fateful step, which has been threatened, of refusing communion to pro-abortion politicians. The resulting firestorm would surely make this week’s events look like a love fest.
Filed Under Front Page ·
Comments
17 Responses to “Pelosi slapped down by Catholic Church — again”Search
Our Sponsors
Poll
Loading ...LST Book Club
-
Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy
by Natan Sharansky -
Fear No Evil
by Natan Sharansky -
The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror
by Anatoly Shcharansky -
The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel's Soul
by Yoram Hazony -
Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There
by David Brooks -
Snobbery: The American Version
by Joseph Epstein -
A Conflict of Visions: Idealogical Origins of Political Struggles
by Thomas Sowell
I applaud the Catholic Church for rebuking Pelosi and making their official doctrine and positions regarding abortion publicly known.
How much damage would people say Pelosi’s done to the integrity of the Church and what would be the grounds for excommunicating her?
Nancy PeLOUSY had better be careful she doesn’t alienate the Catholic voters of which there are plenty in the Dimwit party. Questioning the priest, the bishop and all those others more knowledgable than her is definitely an area she doesn’t want to tread on.
Reminded me of those who say they are not religious but “spiritual” whatever the hell that means.
She’s not ignorant; she just doesn’t care.
It will never happen because, alas, they, too, are politicians. .
Since when did liberals ever let facts, logic, or common sense stand in the way of stating their position?
The amazing thing is that a highly prominent politicain like Pelosi would say something she knows to be untrue and knows well the Catholic Church would rise up and deny with vehement objection. She is either very stupid (more than I thought) or she had some calculating reason (which I cannot fathom) for appearing to be an idiot.
5.
I’m with you, texpat. She has be baffled on this one. What in the heck was she doing?
Soon, one would hope. Excommunicate them as well.
Bring it. I would much rather have a smaller, more vibrant and consistent Church than one that has gone the way of the CofE in England (whaich has gotten much smaller anyway).
Perhaps her bishop should use his powers with military brute force to get her attention.
#8 b45
Yeah. That’ll work. Smite her.
Ah heck WB. Might as well use this on her too.
The holy handgrenade of Antioch!
I heard several priests and Roman Catholic theologians debate this issue at Fordham University. According to them excommunication is not going to happen.
Being barred from receiving Communion is a pretty stiff penalty by itself.
Pelosi has REALLY confused her Catholic teachings.
First, she totally forgot the lesson we Catholics are taught from our first breath - that abortion is evil and absolutely verboten.
Second, she has forgotten how Popes are elected. She is assuming that she can appoint herself Pope. And either she thinks she’s male, or she forgot that only men can ascend to the papacy. Surely, she’s emasculated a few men along the way (but not from San Francisco - they don’t have the equipment to be emasculated from), so maybe she has an extra pair laying around somewhere. Superglue is an amazing invention!
Third, she has forgotten that the Pope is the Bishop of Rome. Which means she must move to Rome to exercise her newly found spiritual powers to rewrite doctrine. Not that I would mind her moving thousands of miles away, but I would feel badly inflicting her on the poor Roman citizens.
As someone who has “studied this for years,” she is not only trying to maneuver herself politically for more votes, but she is a moron to boot. There is NO way she thought she could get away with this, is there?
I mean, really, did she think she could get away with this?
Really?
Oh, and she’s totally thrown out the concept of papal infallibility, as well. Papal infallibility keeps modern popes from creating heresy because, if popes cannot issue erroneous statements under the rules of infallibility - speaking “ex cathedra” and on the topics of values and morals and faith - then previous popes also could not be wrong.
If previous popes cannot be wrong, then current popes cannot contradict the truth that has been established.
Therefore, the Church must follow the doctrines established from the very early days of the Church, from the days after Jesus’ resurrection on.
Pelosi has just thrown all of that out the window.
She is just stupid enough to drown as she attempts to walk on water.
#14 tedtam
It’s not just Catholics who know the Church’s position. Pretty much anyone who can fog a mirror can tell you its position on the issue; it hasn;t really been a secret or anything.
#16 Wagonburner
I agree.
It’s the sheer audacity of her stand that leaves me absolutely breathless.
And not in a good way.
And people that can identify themselves with the adjective “audacity” lately have all seemed to be cut from the same cloth.