Further rebuke and lessons for Pelosi

As you likely know, a spokeswoman for Nancy Pelosi issued a statement yesterday. It was unrepentant and arrogant, which seems, sadly, the way that the House Speaker has decided to respond to any and all criticism, even from bishops. It said, in part:

While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe to that view. The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions. She believes that can be done by making family planning more available, as well as by increasing the number of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education and caring adoption programs.

Once again, as with Tim Rutten, there is the defiant use of argumentum ad populum; that is, since many believe it is so, it must be so. There is also the thinly veiled (and equally defiant) "argument" that since Pelosi supports the use of contraceptives ("family planning"), she is somehow all for reducing abortion. Since when did the belief that two wrongs make a right become an article of Catholic social teaching?

Amy Welborn has the full response and some commentary.

Meanwhile, George Weigel has penned a good article for Newsweek titled, "The Democrats and the Abortion Wars."

And the Associated Press has has a piece, "Pelosi gets unwanted lesson in Catholic theology," by Rachel Zoll:

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.

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.

Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh has issued a statement about Pelosi's remarks.

And now Bishop MIchael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs has issued a statement (PDF):

All other rights are useless if one is denied the right to live. Our founding fathers recognized this when they enumerated life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable human rights. They also recognized that these three rights are not equal in importance. Pursuing happiness means little if one is a slave. And freedom means nothing to someone who has been denied the right to life.

Pope John Paul II echoed these sentiments when he wrote “The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights . . . belong to human nature and are inherent in the person . . . from the moment of conception until death.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2273, quoting CDF, Donum vitae III).

The teachings of the Church on abortion are consistent and unambiguous, and it is very disturbing to hear someone who claims to be a Catholic distort these teachings and sow seeds of confusion among the faithful by attempting to relativize the right to life.

There can be no compromise on this issue. “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2272). “Those who are excommunicated . . . and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.” (Code of Canon Law 915).

Comments

[M. Jordan Lichens]

I am thinking Ms Pelosi needs a little guide to the Early Church Fathers. Any suggestions?

[Nick]

That is all the proof I need that Pelosi is not ignorant, but rather willingly defiant of Church teachings and an acknowledged accomplice to murder of infants for political gain.

That kind of comment is sufficient grounds for a formal warning by the Bishop and a follow up formal excommunication. (I think abortion supporters actually are subject to sudden excommunication, even without Bishop's formal statement).

[Distressed Observer]

As an observer from Australia can I offer the following comment:

It seems to me Ms Pelosi is sowing scandal in your Catholic community, in the true theological sense of the word. She is creating a stumbling block for the reception of the Gospel by other people of goodwill.

How can a "Catholic" not subscribe to the view that life begins at conception - whatever else one thinks of the merits of legal abortion? Apart from being obviously un-Catholic, the view that there is no "life" at conception is grossly unscientific.

I have never held this view before but it seems to me that Ms Pelosi's Local Ordinary has obligation to deny her communion while she publicly persists in her stance.

What does it say to other Catholics, who struggle to be obedient to the demands of their faith, that a person can call themsleves an "ardent Catholic", mock that faith with impugnity - and expect no conseuqence simply because they hold high public office.

It is an absolute scandal.

[Dan Deeny]

I suppose Rep. Pelosi and the others will say that they have not "formally cooperated in an abortion" and have not, therefore, committed "a grave offense" and can, therefore, receive communion in good conscience. Well, now what can be done? Let us pray for the Catholics involved in the abortion business. Let us also pray for ourselves. Perhaps we can think of Blessed Cardinal von Galen of Muenster, Germany.

[LJ]

"She believes that can be done by making family planning more available"

This is the same argument Sean Hannity made when he was called out by and got so belligerent with Father Thomas Euteneuer. This problem sometimes transcends politics, although I will say Hannity is vocally pro-life.

[lizaanne]

I'm just so happy to see the main stream media actually TALKING about what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches!! I mean, my goodnes, there are actually reporters researching what the Church believes!! You couldn't BUY that kind of media coverage!!

There are no mistakes - yep, she made a boneheaded statement, and needs to get right with God and His Church. But she has also brought this out in the open so it's being seen all over the world!! What a great thing that is!!

God Bless,

lizaanne

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