Nancy Pelosi and When Life Begins

When Catholic Nancy Pelosi appeared on Meet the Press two days ago, she made a fool of herself.

She pontificated on the Catholic Church's teaching on when life begins.

Transcript excerpt

MR. BROKAW: There was a very well publicized and very effective interview by Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church in California of the two candidates recently. And on the right especially, response from Senator Obama to the question of when life begins has been getting a lot of attention. We want to just share with you how that went, and then you can take a look at it and, and respond to it for us.

(Videotape, August 16, 2008)

PASTOR RICK WARREN: At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is, is above my pay grade.

(End videotape)

MR. BROKAW: Senator Obama saying the question of when life begins is above his pay grade, whether you're looking at it scientifically or theologically. If he were to come to you and say, "Help me out here, Madame Speaker. When does life begin?" what would you tell him?

REP. PELOSI: I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And Senator--St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose. Roe v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child--first trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third trimester. There's very clear distinctions. This isn't about abortion on demand, it's about a careful, careful consideration of all factors and--to--that a woman has to make with her doctor and her god. And so I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this, and there are those who've decided...

MR. BROKAW: The Catholic Church at the moment feels very strongly that it...

REP. PELOSI: I understand that.

MR. BROKAW: ...begins at the point of conception.

REP. PELOSI: 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. But it is, it is also true that God has given us, each of us, a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And we want abortions to be safe, rare, and reduce the number of abortions. That's why we have this fight in Congress over contraception. My Republican colleagues do not support contraception. If you want to reduce the number of abortions, and we all do, we must--it would behoove you to support family planning and, and contraception, you would think. But that is not the case. So we have to take--you know, we have to handle this as respectfully--this is sacred ground. We have to handle it very respectfully and not politicize it, as it has been--and I'm not saying Rick Warren did, because I don't think he did, but others will try to.

Of course, Pelosi's comments are an absolute embarrassment.

I can't believe that this self-professed "ardent, practicing Catholic" thought she could get away with blathering on the way she did about Catholicism and when life begins on such a high profile program without igniting a firestorm.

She had to realize there would be a strong reaction and dramatic consequences to her ridiculous claims.

From The Hill:

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."

Wuerl pointed out that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, and has been clear for 2,000 years. He cited Catechism language that reads, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception … Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”

A Pelosi spokesman did not immediately comment for this article.

I can understand why a Pelosi spokesman didn't immediately respond for the article.

Pelosi was either embarrassingly clueless when she responded to Brokaw's question or she knowingly lied about the stance of the Catholic Church.

Bob Cusack of The Hill writes that Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl made a "rare public rebuke of a top politician."

I hope for non-Catholics and misguided Catholics, the fact that Archbishop Wuerl did rebuke Pelosi makes an impression.

Her comments on Meet the Press were so off base that a correction by a Church authority was required.

I really think this episode has damaged Pelosi's standing as the Speaker of the House. She can't just make stuff up, which is exactly what she did, probably to assuage her guilt for supporting abortion.

Pelosi even "voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life."

This "ardent, practicing Catholic" is an extremist when it comes to working to assure the legal killing of the unborn.

Pelosi can be thankful that she's Catholic and can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.