In an interview with Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi criticized the Church for its position on abortion and gays rights and stated that her Bishop has “tried to change my mind”
Pelosi responds to questions about abortion in the health-care bill and her insistence that the original pre-Stupak bill did not fund abortion and says of the Bishops “they are not willing to accept facts.”
It was reported that you were negotiating with the conference of bishops.
I talked to one of the cardinals. I said to him that I believe that what we are doing honors the principles we talked about: we want to pass a health-care bill, we want it to be abortion neutral, and we want it to [have] no federal funding [for abortion], which is the law. And we believe that our language does that. They said, “We believe that it does not.” I said, let’s sit down at the table and our lawyers can compare language. That’s what the meeting was about—to make our case. Clearly, the people at that table were not willing to accept what we know to be a fact.
Pelosi goes on to criticize the Church for its position on abortion and gay marriage while still claiming to be a “practicing” Catholic
I think you have had some brushes with [church] hierarchy.
I have some concerns about the church’s position respecting a woman’s right to choose. I have some concerns about the church’s position on gay rights. I am a practicing Catholic, although they’re probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith. I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.
And finally admits that her Bishop has tried to change her mind on the subject, but she is not listening.
Is it difficult for you to reconcile your faith with the role you have in public life?
You know, I had five children in six years. The day I brought my fifth baby home, that week my daughter turned 6. So I appreciate and value all that they want to talk about in terms of family and the rest. When I speak to my archbishop in San Francisco and his role is to try to change my mind on the subject, well then he is exercising his pastoral duty to me as one of his flock. When they call me on the phone here to talk about, or come to see me about an issue, that’s a different story. Then they are advocates, and I am a public official, and I have a different responsibility.
What we know is that Nancy Pelosi continues to publicly represent herself as a faithful and practicing Catholic while continuing to to publicly oppose the Church on grave moral matters. We also know that her Bishop has apparently contacted her privately to try and change her mind, to which she has responded publicly by saying she will not be swayed. This is a text-book definition of scandal and should, at this point, be dealt with in a direct and public way lest no one else think that you can hold these positions and consider yourself a “practicing” Catholic.
ht to Newsbusters for the interview.
December 30, 2009 at 12:02 am
Shouldn't she be formally excommunicated for these statements? (It seems as though she is being obstinate.) Preferably in the style of St. Thomas Beckett, who we commemorate today, as depicted in the movie. That scene leaves no doubt!
December 30, 2009 at 12:42 am
No need, Thomas.
As I mentioned earlier, Pelosi appears to have placed herself under "latae sententiae" excommunication, which is imposed by canon law for certain actions. No public pronouncement is necessary.
That she attempts to deny this excommunication whe has brought on herself by public protestations of "having faith", or acting "as if" she were a Catholic in communion with the Church doesn't change anything.
Questions of "why isn't she being publicly excommunicated?" may actually increase her belief that she isn't under excommunication, and that her denials are sufficient to keep her in "good standing" with the Catholic Church.
As hard as it may be, all that can really be done for her is prayer that whe will come to realize that she needs to humble herself, & realize her error in rejecting the authority & faith of the Church.
Chris
December 30, 2009 at 12:55 am
She says she is "a practicing Catholic", but she doesn't really understands what that means. It also means being a disciple of Jesus Christ, although there are alot of practicing Catholics who are not converted into becoming a follower of our Lord, we see that in our pews. If she is a practicing Catholic she would love God with ALL her being and love his written Word, which is Christ the Word became flesh, and his word says "children are a gift of the LORD" Psalm 127, also "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb" Jeremiah 1:5. Scientists said that from the moment of conception there is a person with his/her own DNA, a Zygote.
She should pay close attention and contemplate on this scripture "The Son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of falling and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace" Matthew 13:41-42. She could become a cause of falling. We are called by Christ to be a light unto the world of darkness to minister to people to let them know that our free will is not to do what we want, but to do the will of the Father, who loves us Eternally.
December 30, 2009 at 1:20 am
There are only (2) solutions to Cafeteria Catholic politicians, and non Catholic politicians that live in the SUBJECTIVE – (which ever the way the wind blows kind of thinking), instead of being transformed (through surrender and trust in Jesus) in the OBJECTIVE norms of truth and that is to pray for their conversion or vote them out. Voting them out will be a lot easier, while you also pray for their conversion.
Mark
Birmingham AL.
December 30, 2009 at 1:38 am
Ms. Palosi will NEVER understand the meaning of ABORTION. She's never witness one or even seen one on video so it's not a big deal to her.
Herods mandate still lives today "KILL ALL THE BABIES"
December 30, 2009 at 3:03 am
Re; Anonymous,
Ms. Pelosi doesn't give a rat's behind about anyone but herself, born or pre-born.
Aside of which, since she has now been brought before the Church and will not listen, does that officially a tax collector (as well as a tax-robber)?
December 30, 2009 at 3:19 am
Anon said…Given this woman's rigid mentality and public position, she needs to be excommunicated.
Indeed.
December 30, 2009 at 5:13 am
Nancy Pelosi needs to be excommunicated!!!! She is anticatholic…
December 30, 2009 at 7:09 am
She belives in a lie,There is no middle ground.Ethier you are for God or for Satan.
Being Catholic,she believes in spiritual matters.
Her so called free choice in none other than following what the God of this world lays down in her path.
The freedom of choice which she is dearly promoting is no more than a freedom to sin some more.Until she comes to God,She won't be free
of this slavery to The God of this world.
Unless she is more powerful than Satan.
Pelosi,between Evil and Good your vote don't count.There is no third party who could save you
across the veil?
December 30, 2009 at 12:53 pm
During our lifetime, the damage inflicted by those who misrepresent the Catholic faith will cause irreparable suffering on many innocent. The Blessed Virgin Mary in her Magnificat summarizes best the justice of God [through Christ] who prayed "He hath put down the mighty from their seat,and hath exalted the humble." Woe to those who preach error and deceive the nations for when they fall, their fall will be great. Sadly for us faithful Catholic we must endure the embarrassment of Pelosi who disgraces not only Catholic also all children and mothers who love the creation of God through mankind. Pelosi's brand of so called "faith" is putrid to the smell and disgusting to the eyes. Whatever beauty she once owned is now grown rotted and shriveled.
December 30, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I would like to pose this to Nancy:
So let's say Hitler was a Catholic. Killing Jews is against Catholic teaching, but hey – it's his faith.
December 30, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Did Jesus agree with the government of the Romans? No,but He knew that He must obey the teachings of His faith even unto death. So Should Ms. Pelosi exercise her own discretion on matters governmental, or forgo her own opionions to defer to those who teach the faith? Is she Catholic or is she simply and perhaps less importantly Speaker of the House?
December 30, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Pelosi is a cheap "dimestore" Catholic.
December 30, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The harm done by this dreadful sin is going to be passed down to her children for four hundred generations. Ms. Pelosi is this what you want for your family, pain and heartache for the next four hundred generations. God will forgive you if you ask, but you must do it publicly. Since politicians speak out in public so must they ask for forgiveness in public.
December 30, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Simply, she is not a practicing Catholic. She is a CINO – Catholic in name only – which means she really stands for nothing. She is drunk on her power, given to her by a secular, now pagan, world. Congratulations!
She breaths with one breath that she is a "practicing Catholic" – that is, up until she begins the use of her powerful secular influence that is responsible for enlarging the massive slaughter of innocent creation. She has been counseled by Catholic representatives admittedly, so now she must stand, with all of that evidence, before the Divine Judge, the Creator of all of the life so easily dispensed with by just such powers as herself, life intended for His Divine Will, and for the world.
She is nothing more than the easily duped of today's pagan world; another arrogant narcissist who wishes to take the place of God Himself in the lives of the vulnerable. That old saying, "having your cake and eating it too", is always outside of the realm of reality and truth!
December 30, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Dear Fellow Americans,
It is written that those Catholics, indeed all God's human creation, that follow their own "road in life/will" end up in "perdition/hell"….repent, Madame Speaker!
We need to pray for Mrs. Pelosi!
lja/JMJ
December 30, 2009 at 3:37 pm
A woman's right to choose is the right to choose not to become pregnant at the wrong time, with the wrong man, in a manner in which she cannot care for the child she is bringing into the world. This is the 'right to choose'. Not the right to have irresponsible sex and then 'fix' it with an abortion.
December 30, 2009 at 3:44 pm
When are we going to refer to it as it is, "The freedom of choice to kill their baby!"
December 30, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I love the way everyone tries to explain faith and religeous rules. If the Lady wants to do other than her faith allows then she needs to join another faith. I would list some but I could find none that would accept her beliefs. You see the rules of faith are that you believe what you are taught and not what you think it should be. The Catholic Church is not a Democracy!!!!!!!!
December 30, 2009 at 4:16 pm
"Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision." – Chesterton- Orthodoxy, 1908.
Pelosi is doing what the left does, destroy the values of society or the dogma of our faith by pretending they are optional.