House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (left) prepares to pour water on the feet of Yamile Cruz, 10, with the help of Bishop Marc Andrus during a Holy Week foot-washing ceremony at Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Photo: Leah Millis, San Francisco Chronicle
Double Barf. If such immigrants voted Republican, she would be chopping their feet off to keep them from crossing the border.
Triple Barf.
April 19, 2014 at 5:17 pm
A photo op she jumped at. Does this mean that she'll be converting to the Episcopalians? Please, God, may it be so.
April 19, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Maybe she's considering converting? Please, do it.
April 19, 2014 at 6:11 pm
Because by the time they turn 18 she doesn't expect to need votes any more?
April 19, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Actually, Pelosi have used the word "devout" to describe her Catholicism on at least on occasion.
April 20, 2014 at 4:51 pm
The former House Speaking is full of surprises.
April 20, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Well it does, at least, indicate the enormous prestige of the papacy. Do you think she would be doing this if it was a tradition of the mormons or baptists?
April 21, 2014 at 1:44 pm
did she receive Episcopalian communion? Would that tell us something?
April 21, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Democrats 'convert' people through some pretty insidious newspeak. Otherwise, they would simply be aborting their voting base. Now if republicans werent so useles…
April 21, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Finally, she made a good decision. Convert to the religion of convenience and stop giving Catholics a black eye.
April 21, 2014 at 6:52 pm
The "popular" foot washing wasn't about what Jesus did, but what he commanded when he did it: "For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." And this is why there were two foot washings, one as a commemoration of what Jesus did, one to fulfill in a literal and ritualistic way what He commanded.
We should always be wary of spectacle, but if something like this becomes a source of pride for the laity, there is a very profound spiritual sickness in that parish. I've been one of the 12 men before and it was probably more humbling for me than it was for my kneeling priest. Peter's reaction is the natural one.
The risk of eclipsing is the real risk to me.
April 21, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Yes, I understand why there were two foot washings. Simply answer is to keep the one for the laity out of the liturgy and leave that reserved to the symbolism of the institution of the priesthood. We can do volunteerism and charity at a different time and truthfully when you set up an event to simply wash the feet of the poor as an example of charity, it kind of misses the mark. Seeing Nancy Pelosi do it really accentuates that as it looks too contrived.
And if this is needed in the liturgy as a measure to keep prideful priests in check, then there is also a more profound spiritual sickness in the parish. So your point cuts both ways.
But at the end of the day, it's already now become a spectacle.
April 21, 2014 at 7:18 pm
I think I largely agree with you. But in the face of the risks, I tend more to the line of thinking that we should do it right rather than not do it all. But I certainly understand the inclination to prefer not to do it at all and simply avoid the problem.
One final point as clarification though. I don't see the rite as a cure for prideful priests, but a counteraction against clericism. Seeing even a ritualized act of humility is not just good for priests, but perhaps even moreso for the laity.
April 21, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Understand your last point and noted.
So given it all, I will put forth my recommendation that I had last year when this all transpired. (If I haven't already).
That is, the Holy Father could have easily kept the traditional and symbolic washing of the twelve men for the purposes of the liturgy (in his case priests) and then right after the Mass, sent them out to wash the feet of the poor right on the streets. Win-win.
April 21, 2014 at 8:21 pm
That would have been awesome, especially if he joined them.
April 21, 2014 at 9:54 pm
She's lied on many more occasions than that.
From The Weekly Standard on June 13, 2013:
"Asked what the moral difference is between what Dr. Kermit Gosnell did to babies born alive and aborting those same infants moments before birth, Pelosi refused to answer.
"As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this." "
Sacred ground?