Via The Deacon’s Bench.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
said she, unlike other Catholic politicians who support abortion
rights, has not clashed with her church about receiving communion.
In an interview on C-SPAN that aired on Sunday, Pelosi was asked about
how some church officials have raised objections about whether former
presidential contenders — such as Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and former
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) — should receive communion.
Pelosi, a Roman Catholic whose district includes most of San Francisco,
said she has not encountered such difficulties in her church.
“I think some of it is regional,” she said, “It depends on the bishop
of a certain region and fortunately for me, communion has not been
withheld and I’m a regular communicant so that would be a severe blow
to me if that were the case.”
The hour-long interview tackled religion, which is addressed throughout
the Speaker’s new book, “Know Your Power.”
Pelosi did not directly talk about how her view on abortion is at odds
with the Catholic Church. Instead, she noted that there are many issues
that the church cares about. Pelosi said the Bible mentions poverty
over 2,000 times, and referenced the Gospel of Matthew. She also
indicated the importance of recognizing God’s creations, citing the
environment.
The Speaker, who wrote in her book that “my parents didn’t raise me to
be Speaker, they raised me to be holy,” said if more people followed
the principles of love thy neighbor and do unto others as they would do
to you, “the world would be a better place.”
It is rather sad that she has not felt
any pressure on this. I do wonder if her Bishop Archbishop
Niederauer has ever talked to her about this at all about this?
He has talked to her in the past, but it was about
immigration. Last year the Archbishop said:
We haven’t had an opportunity to talk
about the life issues. I would very much welcome that opportunity, but
I don’t believe that I am in a position to say what I understand her
stand to be, if I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about it.”
I wonder if the Archbishop has heard of
Google or the myriad resources that would show her 100 percent
pro-abortion voting record. I guess the Archbishop doesn’t have the
time to discern her record, yet NARAL found the time to giver her a
100% score. I guess having the majority leader living in your
diocese who supports many things that are intrinsically evil is
somewhere on the list. Though for all I know maybe he has,
but if he has I wish he would be as upfront about it Naumann was with
Governor Sebelius. In addition to the primary importance of
teh care of her soul there is also the issue of scandal to be addressed.
Mrs. Pelosi says that not receiving
Communion would be a great blow to her. Well maybe this act of charity
would get her to rethink supporting murdering the unborn.
Look at the number of people excommunicated in Archbishop
Burke’s diocese that later were reconciled. I guess as long
as ecclesial disciplines are shown as a punishment instead of as an aid
to help someone to repent we will continue to have such a negative
reaction to denial of Communion and excommunications.
I find it interesting that the media seems
to enjoy what they call the “Communion wars” and that they really build
it up when a pro-abortion politician is denied Communion or it is even
talked about. They see that it is wrong for them to be denied
Communion and that giving them Communion is very important.
Yet when some professor desecrate a host, then they really
don’t want to cover it at all. The Eucharist is only
important to them when it comes to pro-abortion politicians.
17 comments
“recognizing God’s creations…”
Like cute little babies still in the womb.
Pelosi said the Bible mentions poverty over 2,000 times,
… and the sky is blue. What an inane statement. Like her implicit caring for the poor absolves her from destroying life.
Pro-life Protestant with friends in the Catholic Blogocracy
“I think some of it is regional, It depends on the bishop of a certain region… “
Exactly right Sister Pelosi, and as the Catechism clearly states: “The communicant’s formal cooperation in grave sin is only valid if the communicant’s Bishop gripes to them about it.”
Clearly, Ms Pelosi presents a case of “obstinate persistence in manifest grave sin”,
one of the conditions where a minister may refuse to distribute Communion. The only question whether it is feigned ignorance or the lack of full knowledge. But it is very strange if lawmakers (professing themselves devout Catholics), would get to study social issues seriously yet neglect a conscientious study of Church teachings. One wonders if she ever took the trouble to read Humanae Vitae or maybe even the Catechism. If the good Bishop hasn’t yet talked with her about this, what on earth is he waiting for?
I don’t get these bishops trying so hard to be “pastoral” to one person at the cost of so many other souls who are being scandalized by their behavior.
Even though Sen. Pelosi spends most of her time in DC, according to Archbishop Wuerl, he really has no jurisdiction in this matter. It is up to the local bishop to handle.
Mr. Flaptrap has it soo correct.
Pelosi did not directly talk about how her view on abortion is at odds with the Catholic Church. Instead, she noted that there are many issues that the church cares about.
Indeed! However, to use those other issues to side-step the abortion issue in order to maintain the current status quo is clearly wrong. Pelosi mentions Matthew’s Gospel and for him, being a disciple means “fulfilling all justice” (Matt 3:15). For Matthew, righteousness means doing all the will of God, not just the parts which are politically expedient and to our liking: “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded” (28:20). Not without reason does our Lord tell Satan that man lives on “Every word that comes from the mouth of God” (4:4).
In many ways politicians like Pelosi (on both left and right) remind me of King Jehu. Elijah went to the mount of Horeb (Sinai) and declared his zeal for the Lord and laments the breaking of the Covenant (1 Kings 19:10); and he was told to anoint Jehu as ruler of the Northern Kingdom 1 Kings 19:16). Jehu, in imitation of Elijah, declared his zeal for the Lord (2 Kings10:16) but does nothing to re-establish the covenant, the basis of a right relationship with God. As a result, God began to dismantle the northern kingdom during Jehu’s reign. His dynasty would last only four generations, the exact length of that of Jeroboam I, who established the “sin of Jeroboam”, the original sin/covenant infidelity of the northern kingdom which led to its eventual downfall (2 Kings 10:28-33).
Pelosi drinks the blood of the new covenant and “recrucifies the Son of God…holding Him up to contempt” (Heb 6:6). Like Jehu, Pelosi’s has her political power today, but what will she have tomorrow?
Ms. Pelosi is the master of talking past the point, rather than to it. Check out her responses to George Stephanopolis when he challenged her on why she won’t allow a vote on offshore drilling. She never says what she means, which is that a vote would be hot death for democrats. Rather, she blames the president and anybody else she can think of. I suspect that is a mortal sin as well–false witness is one of the big ten.
Still, murdering babies has to take the cake. If communion is the most important thing in her life, she should know that she is receiving condemnation according to St. Paul, who knew a thing or two about Jesus and Holy Communion. Suppose that message is a part of the “pastoral” approach out there in Mosc…, uh, San Fran? What is pastoral about allowing one’s sheep to march into everlasting fire? I’m pretty sure Jesus would object to that, too….
It is readily apparent that Ms. Pelosi has never clearly thought through the myriad implications of “do unto others…” which she has so carefully included in her book. No doubt this is in reference to women who would have abortions and not the innocent who are being murdered. If she took the time to develop a “well-formed” conscience, to examine it, and THEN follow it, life for her and many others would be drastically changed for the better!
AS far as I am concerned, Ms. Plosi should “face such difficulties in herChurch”. One thing that would go along way in helping the credibility of the Catholic Church would be if Bishops and Cardinals who will not enforce Catholic teaching and discipline pould be replaced by those who would. What is the purpose of having doctrines practices and rules if they are not going to be enforced How can the Church be the voice of Truth if the faithful have to examine their leaders all the time to fogure out which ones are faithful to the Churc? The Church needs to tighten thinggs up so when a Priest, Bishop or Cardinal speaks we don’t have to guess as to whether or not he speaks with the mind of the Church
AS far as I am concerned, Ms. Pelosi should “face such difficulties in her Church”. One thing that would go along way in helping the credibility of the Catholic Church would be if Bishops and Cardinals who will not enforce Catholic teaching and discipline would be replaced by those who would. What is the purpose of having doctrines practices and rules if they are not going to be enforced? How can the Church be the voice of Truth if the faithful have to examine their leaders all the time to figure out which ones are faithful to the Church? The Church needs to tighten things up so when a Priest, Bishop or Cardinal speaks we don’t have to guess as to whether or not he speaks with the mind of the Church.
We need to pray for this poor sad woman.
Hey Nancy-it’s not YOUR CHURCH! It’s OUR LORD’S CHURCH! Somebody ought to slap her aside the head!
The archbishop shares in her guilt in the continuing scandal. But then what do we expect considering all the other perversities that are also allowed and not addressed?
We must pray for their conversions.
One begins to wonder if certain archbishops actually believe what the Church believes when their actions indicate the exact opposite.
I agree with both Joe and irishgirl. St Michael the Archangel, protect us. Ms. Pelosi’s ignorant opinions are scandalous.
“Mrs. Pelosi says that not receiving Communion would be a great blow to her. Well maybe this act of charity would get her to rethink supporting murdering the unborn.”
Exactly, someone should let her know that not getting a chance at life is a seriously blow to the infants murdered in the name of convenience.