This is the statement of the Vatican Press Office on Today’s visit by ardent [pro-abort] Catholic Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.
His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.
This is a pretty strong statement compared to the usual diplo-speak.
Still, I think that a little old fashioned Inquisition might have been helpful. Maybe next time.
February 18, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Have I mentioned that I love Pope Benedict? Way to go, Supreme Pontiff!
February 18, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Awesome!!! I’d love a little more smack down but hey, that’s awesome. I hope she takes something away from it all.
February 18, 2009 at 4:22 pm
That will be hard for her to spin, but I’m sure she’ll try. I just love leaders who speak clearly and to the point…and I love my German Shepherd!
February 18, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Lori, you took the words right out of my mouth regarding Pelosi putting some spin on this. My bet is a, “We agree to disagree” type statement coming from her.
IMHO the Pope has done what he can, after all he is the Vicar of Christ on Earth and must behave accordingly.
However I still fantasize about him taking a copy of Humane Vitae and a quart of holy water, dumping them into a blender and pureeing the mess so he can give her an enema while cardinals from the Curia hold her down.
Sick and twisted? You bet. But I can dream, can’t I?
February 18, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Um..ecclesial aenemas aside, I think it might be a good thing to pray for her conversion at this point. If meeting with the Vicar of Christ (or “the leader of her religion”) didn’t have any direct effect, I doubt there is much more anyone on this earth can do for her.
February 18, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I wouldn't be surprised if the administration twisted whatever transpired during the meeting.
Kudos to the Curia for not having any photo shots of the meeting.
That is so street smart as one can foresee how the opponent will use the images to further confuse others as where the Church stands vis-a-vis this administrations program.
But one can see the cold iron fist of this administration as it pursues policies that support & encourage the massacre of the unborn as godlessly as any totalitarian regime would have done then it sends a representative to pose with the Pope.
February 19, 2009 at 2:04 am
Regarding the lack of photos and the brilliantly terse and direct statement…the Vatican gets an A+ for PR on this one.
Maybe they learned a couple of things after the disasterous (in PR terms) handling of the SSPX/Williamson issue a week or so ago.
As far as lasting impact on Pelosi goes, I can’t imagine that being personally “educated” by the Vicar of Christ didn’t make a deep impression on her, regardless of what she might say or do publicly.
A bishop I know mentioned that he and his mother once had the opportunity to dine with then Cardinal Ratzinger. He said that his mother never forgot the brief encounter and often said that “once you look into his eyes, you never forget it.”
I hope Pelosi felt the same way.
February 19, 2009 at 2:57 am
I won’t be happy until I see our bishops DENY her and all of our Catholic-in-name-only politicians Eucharist. Not that I want to see anyone denied the Eucharist as this means their soul suffers, but I’m darn tired of them making a mockery of our faith and betraying the teachings of our faith!!! What a heinous example they set for us as Catholic politicians who fail to protect human life.
February 19, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Her soul is suffering worse by receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin because that’s a mortal sin in and of itself (somebody quote the Bible here, I’m down with a cold and my brain isn’t working — you know the verse about those who receive unworthily are eating and drinking their own condemnation).
February 20, 2009 at 8:15 am
I’m just glad the Vatican Press office was pro-active and issued that press release so quickly after Queen Nancy had her 15 minutes.
Ditto on denying that megalomanaical [sic?] botoxed shrew a photo op!
–MVH
February 20, 2009 at 8:47 am
Brigid @ February 19, 2009 10:09 AM
Paul in First Corinthians:
10:21 and 11:27-29