August 26, 2008 8:27 AM
Archbishop rebukes Pelosi
This just in: Part 3 of Pelosi Lies:
Washington archbishop rips Pelosi on abortion
By Bob Cusack
Posted: 08/25/08 11:29 PM [ET]
In a rare public rebuke of a top politician, the archbishop of Washington said Monday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was incorrect when she recently said the moment of conception has long been a matter of controversy within the Catholic Church.In a release issued Monday night, Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said Pelosi's comments on "Meet the Press" on Sunday "were incorrect."
Wuerl noted that Pelosi responded to a question on when life begins by mentioning she was Catholic.The release quoted Pelosi as saying the church has not been able to come with a definition of when life begins.
"After Mr. Tom Brokaw, the interviewer, pointed out that the Catholic Church feels strongly that life begins at conception, she replied, 'I understand. And this is, like, maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy,' " the release said.
Wuerl strongly disagrees.
He said, "We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record."
Read entire article here.
Amen, amen, and amen. Makes me proud to be a Catholic that my fellow Catholics are not free to misrepresent doctrine according to their whims and striving for power.
Now, how about she stops receiving Communion (hypocrisy) and joins a church which conforms to her own theology? Or maybe she could start her own - that's a popular route.
Posted in Campaign 2008, Catholicism | Permalink
Comments
I keep noticing that Pelosi is quoted as saying that being refused communion would be a "severe blow." That sounds to me like it would be an effective way of communicating the Church's position; they really should do it.
BTW, I was just noticing the similarity between the words "communion," "communicant," and "excommunication." Does being refused communion = excommunicated?
Posted by: Michelle Potter | August 26, 2008 9:27 AM
She's just so icky. I am hoping most people don't view her as what a typical "practicing Catholic" looks like. Hypocrite.
Posted by: Amanda | August 26, 2008 9:45 AM
Things are getting more and more out of hand with political agendas. Everywhere you turn you find someone that is claiming to be this but then does something completely to the contrary just to gain votes when in fact - they are actually turning people away!
Thanks for showing the brutally honest parts - not many do!
Posted by: Krystal - momofautism | August 26, 2008 11:13 AM
Denver Archbishop Chaput responded with a powerful smackdown too - pointing out the need to learn what the Church actually teaches before spouting off (especially when one self-identifies as an "ardent, practicing Catholic".) It was the kind of no nonsense pastoral response that warms the heart. I just wish I was technologically saavy enough to link ...!
Posted by: Anne | August 26, 2008 11:32 AM
I am sooooo tired of being scandalized by the likes of "Catholic" pro-choice politicians like Pelosi, Biden, Kenndy, and Kerry. Horay for Archbishop Wuerl! We need all our Bishop to answer like he did! We need to pray for these pro-choice politicians conversions or hell may well be thiers! REALLY SCAREY!
Julie c.m.
Posted by: Julie Klekas | August 26, 2008 12:14 PM
Since Ms. Pelosi's views on abortion are so well know, why isn't she being denied the Eucharist? Why does the Catholic clergy fail to abide by the teachings of the church and continue to allow pro-abortion congregants to recieve communion?
And why aren't more people outraged?
Posted by: Anna | August 26, 2008 5:31 PM
I believe that many people are in fact outraged by Pelosi's comments and all the so called Catholic polititians that continue to receive the Eucharist. As far as not allowing them to receive Communion that is actually easier said than done. First of all, as Catholics we have the opportunity to go to confession. Who are we to know when the last time any particular person went to confession. Maybe Senator "Jane/John Doe" had been to confession the previous day and had brought into the confessional their voting record. Once they have been absolved of their sins and done their penance, they are free to receive Communion. Who are we to really know? This is the same for the priest that is distributing the Eucharist, how is he to know if that individual is in a "state of Grace" as they should be when receiving the Eucharist? It's a hard situation, imagine how the world would be if everyone followed the rules and was honest!
Posted by: Margaret | August 26, 2008 9:52 PM
I have linked to your post from Pelosi on when life begins
Posted by: Wayne | August 26, 2008 10:40 PM
Thank you for posting this. We listened to this on the radio today and were trying to jot down the source.
EXCELLENT!
Thank you Barbara!!!
Posted by: Kathy | August 26, 2008 10:54 PM
Margaret,
You asked how is a priest to know if a pro-choice politician is in a state of grace or not. The answer is simple: any politician who campaigns or votes for abortion is not in a state of grace. This isn't just my opinion; it comes straight from the Pope. In 2004 Pope Benedict wrote a paper called "Worthiness to Recieve Communion" which states that pro-choice politicians should be denied the Eucharist. Pope Benedict left no room for ambiguity on the subject.
Yet Pelosi still recieves communion, and according to her has never once been denied it. The first wrong is that she is presenting herself at the alter rail to recieve the sacrament. The second, and in my opinion, greater wrong, is that no priest or bishop has followed the instruction of the Pope and denied her the Eucharist.
Obviously, if whoever is administering the Eucharist doesn't know who Pelosi is or doesn't know her stand on abortion he cannot be expected to know to deny her. However, I find it hard to imagine that everyone who as ever given her communion is ignorant as to her identity and beliefs.
Posted by: Anna | August 27, 2008 9:55 AM
