A wonderful column by Fr. Thomas Williams on Speaker Pelosi (and others) over at National Review. Excerpts are below. Emphases added.
"People — including apparently some 'ardent' Catholics — seem to forget how central the pro-life issue is to Catholic morality and why that is so. We are not quibbling here about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It is no exaggeration to say that the inviolability and sacredness of innocent human life is to Catholic morality what the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is to Catholic dogma. Both are not only non-negotiable; they are foundational. I would challenge Speaker Pelosi to come up with any moral question on which the Church has expressed itself with greater clarity than on the intrinsic evil of abortion.
A solid core of beliefs or principles undergirds any human organization. These beliefs constitute the cement that binds the society together and determine its identity. Obviously plenty of issues fall outside this fundamental core, and there is a difference between legitimate pluralism of opinion and arrant contradiction. Environmentalists, for example, can disagree about many things — such as strategies, priorities, tactics, funding and the like — but devotion to the environment and its logical corollaries are not up for debate. If you sport a mink coat, you’re out of the club..."
"Some people think that when Catholics compare abortion to slavery or to Nazi anti-Semitism they are engaging in hyperbole. They couldn’t be more wrong. Abortion is not only the greatest social injustice of our century; it is arguably the greatest social injustice of all time. Abortion circumscribes an entire class of human beings (the unborn) as non-citizens, excluded from the basic rights and protections accorded to all other human beings. In this way abortion mimics the great moral tragedies of all time, which always began with the denigration of an entire class of people as unworthy of life or freedom.
The evil of abortion is compounded by the magnitude of the problem. Though completely reliable statistics are unavailable, conservative estimates place the number of legal abortions performed worldwide each year at 25-30 million, a figure that alone makes abortion a social problem of staggering proportions. “Humanity today offers us a truly alarming spectacle,” wrote Pope John Paul in his 1995 encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae, “if we consider not only how extensively attacks on life are spreading but also their unheard of numerical proportion.” The legal, systematic elimination of the most vulnerable members of society is the most heinous crime known to man. To fail to oppose it is to make oneself complicit in it."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Still More Bishops Teach!
From LifeSiteNews:
Bishop Jerome E. Listecki of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Archbishop John Nienstedt of Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis have added their voices to the growing numbers of her Catholic leaders telling Nancy Pelosi she will never qualify as a Catholic theologian. Bishop Listecki said her support for abortion and misrepresentation of Catholic teaching "gives scandal and misleads the faithful."
Bishop Listecki said that Pelosi's assertion that there is ambiguity about when human life begins is "utterly and completely false."
Pelosi, he said, "misrepresented both the writings of St. Augustine and the settled doctrine of the Catholic Church in an attempt to justify uncertainty about when human life begins and thus to defend a right to abortion."
The bishop reminds Pelosi that the issue of the beginning of life is "is science, not theology". He cited "advances in ultrasound and other imaging technology", that clearly show the unborn are human beings.
"It is ironic," he said, "that, in an age that prides itself on scientific knowledge, there are those whose agenda drives them to invoke misinformed theology to cast doubt on some of the most basic biological truths."
Archbishop Nienstedt said in a media release, "On behalf of the 650,000 Catholics of this Archdiocese, I wish to reinforce what Cardinal Rigali, Bishop Lori of Bridgeport, Conn. and Archbishop Chaput of Denver have said about Speaker Pelosi's misinterpretation on the question of when life begins."
"The Church has taught for centuries that life begins at conception and there is no room for misrepresentation of that teaching. In addition, modern medical techniques have been able to confirm what the Church has already known."
Bishop Jerome E. Listecki of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Archbishop John Nienstedt of Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis have added their voices to the growing numbers of her Catholic leaders telling Nancy Pelosi she will never qualify as a Catholic theologian. Bishop Listecki said her support for abortion and misrepresentation of Catholic teaching "gives scandal and misleads the faithful."
Bishop Listecki said that Pelosi's assertion that there is ambiguity about when human life begins is "utterly and completely false."
Pelosi, he said, "misrepresented both the writings of St. Augustine and the settled doctrine of the Catholic Church in an attempt to justify uncertainty about when human life begins and thus to defend a right to abortion."
The bishop reminds Pelosi that the issue of the beginning of life is "is science, not theology". He cited "advances in ultrasound and other imaging technology", that clearly show the unborn are human beings.
"It is ironic," he said, "that, in an age that prides itself on scientific knowledge, there are those whose agenda drives them to invoke misinformed theology to cast doubt on some of the most basic biological truths."
Archbishop Nienstedt said in a media release, "On behalf of the 650,000 Catholics of this Archdiocese, I wish to reinforce what Cardinal Rigali, Bishop Lori of Bridgeport, Conn. and Archbishop Chaput of Denver have said about Speaker Pelosi's misinterpretation on the question of when life begins."
"The Church has taught for centuries that life begins at conception and there is no room for misrepresentation of that teaching. In addition, modern medical techniques have been able to confirm what the Church has already known."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
"The right to life from conception is the pre-eminent social justice and human right’s issue of our time."
So says good bishop Sam Aquila of the Diocese of Fargo, the latest to add his voice to the chorus of outrage over Speaker Pelosi's uninformed comments.
From Catholic News Agency:
"Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota has joined several other U.S. Catholic bishops in refuting Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments that confuse the Church’s teachings about when life begins and abortion. Rep. Pelosi, meanwhile, said through her spokesman that she stands by her comments....
'As your bishop,' Aquila continued, 'I have the responsibility to present to you the authentic teaching of the Church, to correct the misinformation she has given, and finally to warn you that those who oppose the true teaching are not in good standing with the Church.'
Aquila also addressed the issue of Catholics who support 'so-called abortion rights.' These Catholics, he said, 'support a false right, promote a culture of death, and are guided by the ‘father of lies’ rather than by the light and truth of Jesus Christ.'
Aquila also stressed that Catholics who support these 'rights' have 'placed himself or herself outside of visible unity with the Church and thus should refrain from receiving Holy Communion' out of respect for the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Church."
Meanwhile, what can only be called a childish response from the Pelosi camp:
"While (Pelosi Spokesman Brendan) Daly could not deny that Catholic teaching is unambiguous about life beginning at conception, he tried to bolster Pelosi by saying that many Catholics do not agree with the Church’s teaching."
The article cites other bishops as well:
"Late on Wednesday afternoon the number of bishops criticizing Nancy Pelosi's comments grew as Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio and his auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu added their voices.
'We agree whole heartedly with the statement issued by Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Bishop William E. Lori of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine,' their statement said. "
From Catholic News Agency:
"Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota has joined several other U.S. Catholic bishops in refuting Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments that confuse the Church’s teachings about when life begins and abortion. Rep. Pelosi, meanwhile, said through her spokesman that she stands by her comments....
'As your bishop,' Aquila continued, 'I have the responsibility to present to you the authentic teaching of the Church, to correct the misinformation she has given, and finally to warn you that those who oppose the true teaching are not in good standing with the Church.'
Aquila also addressed the issue of Catholics who support 'so-called abortion rights.' These Catholics, he said, 'support a false right, promote a culture of death, and are guided by the ‘father of lies’ rather than by the light and truth of Jesus Christ.'
Aquila also stressed that Catholics who support these 'rights' have 'placed himself or herself outside of visible unity with the Church and thus should refrain from receiving Holy Communion' out of respect for the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Church."
Meanwhile, what can only be called a childish response from the Pelosi camp:
"While (Pelosi Spokesman Brendan) Daly could not deny that Catholic teaching is unambiguous about life beginning at conception, he tried to bolster Pelosi by saying that many Catholics do not agree with the Church’s teaching."
The article cites other bishops as well:
"Late on Wednesday afternoon the number of bishops criticizing Nancy Pelosi's comments grew as Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio and his auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu added their voices.
'We agree whole heartedly with the statement issued by Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Bishop William E. Lori of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine,' their statement said. "
iProtectMarriage.com--Vote Yes on 8!
Here is a fantastic website for young people interested (and why shouldn't they be? it's their future) in the defense of marriage.
The address is http://www.iprotectmarriage.com/ or just click on the image above.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pelosi: More Bishops Teach!
From the Statement of Bishop David Zubik, of Pittsburgh, PA:
"Jesus proclaimed the sacredness of human life throughout his teaching and ministry. In a Roman world where abortion was commonplace, the Church proclaimed its intrinsic moral evil. The Didache, perhaps the earliest known Christian manual of moral teaching dating from the first century, rejected abortion. Early Church councils considered it one of the most serious crimes.
That teaching has remained constant and unaltered for two millennia."
And selections from a statement by Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs: (PDF)
"All other rights are useless if one is denied the right to live. Our founding fathers recognized this when they enumerated life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable human rights. They also recognized that these three rights are not equal in importance. Pursuing happiness means little if one is a slave. And freedom means nothing to someone who has been denied the right to life....
There can be no compromise on this issue. "Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2272). "Those who are excommunicated . . . and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion." (Code of Canon Law 915).
Those Catholics who take a public stance in opposition to this most fundamental moral teaching of the Church place themselves outside full communion with the Church, and they should not present themselves for the reception of Holy Communion."
h/t American Papist.
"Jesus proclaimed the sacredness of human life throughout his teaching and ministry. In a Roman world where abortion was commonplace, the Church proclaimed its intrinsic moral evil. The Didache, perhaps the earliest known Christian manual of moral teaching dating from the first century, rejected abortion. Early Church councils considered it one of the most serious crimes.
That teaching has remained constant and unaltered for two millennia."
And selections from a statement by Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs: (PDF)
"All other rights are useless if one is denied the right to live. Our founding fathers recognized this when they enumerated life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable human rights. They also recognized that these three rights are not equal in importance. Pursuing happiness means little if one is a slave. And freedom means nothing to someone who has been denied the right to life....
There can be no compromise on this issue. "Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2272). "Those who are excommunicated . . . and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion." (Code of Canon Law 915).
Those Catholics who take a public stance in opposition to this most fundamental moral teaching of the Church place themselves outside full communion with the Church, and they should not present themselves for the reception of Holy Communion."
h/t American Papist.
Now Biden's a theologian....
From Ignatius Insight:
"My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine," says Biden, a six-term Democratic senator from Delaware."
Senator Biden is, of course, "pro-choice" on abortion. He says he accepts the church's teaching on when human life begins. Therefore, he thinks it's up to you whether or not you kill what he regards as a child. He does not tell us where in "Catholic social doctrine" he derives a justification for that position.
On Sunday we played a little "Nancy vs. Actual Expert" game on the question of whether anyone actually knows when human life begins. Now we'll do the same with would-be theologian Joe Biden.
Joe Biden: "My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine."
Actual Expert (Francis Cardinal Arinze): "Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that? Get the children for first Communion and say to them, 'Somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time.' And these babies are killed not one or two, but in millions, and that person says, 'I'm a practising Catholic', should that person receive Communion next Sunday? The children will answer that at the drop of a hat. You don't need a cardinal to answer that."
"My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine," says Biden, a six-term Democratic senator from Delaware."
Senator Biden is, of course, "pro-choice" on abortion. He says he accepts the church's teaching on when human life begins. Therefore, he thinks it's up to you whether or not you kill what he regards as a child. He does not tell us where in "Catholic social doctrine" he derives a justification for that position.
On Sunday we played a little "Nancy vs. Actual Expert" game on the question of whether anyone actually knows when human life begins. Now we'll do the same with would-be theologian Joe Biden.
Joe Biden: "My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine."
Actual Expert (Francis Cardinal Arinze): "Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that? Get the children for first Communion and say to them, 'Somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time.' And these babies are killed not one or two, but in millions, and that person says, 'I'm a practising Catholic', should that person receive Communion next Sunday? The children will answer that at the drop of a hat. You don't need a cardinal to answer that."
Pelosi-gate, Day 4
American Papist has a rundown.
And apparently the Obama camp would just as soon not have Nancy on their side...
And apparently the Obama camp would just as soon not have Nancy on their side...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Pelosi: Finally some Response from the Archdiocese of SF
Rick DelVecchio of "Catholic San Francisco," the newspaper of the archdiocese of San Francisco reports on the firestorm ignited by Nancy Pelosi's comments on abortion.
Excerpts:
Pelosi's nationally aired abortion comments "disgraceful', "incompetent", "incredible" USCCB corrects House Speaker's views as "misleading" and outdated
By Rick DelVecchio
Catholic and conservative commentators reacted with outrage and disbelief to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's nationally televised comments that Church teaching is undecided on when life begins and that the question "shouldn't have an impact on a woman's right to choose."
Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said he has had long experience with Catholic politicians disagreeing with Church teaching on abortion but never before with what he called "absolute misrepresentation."
"I have to tell you in 15 years of doing this job this one goes off the end," he told Catholic San Francisco....
The Archdiocese of San Francisco received hundreds of e-mails from around the country, many urging that the Church correct Pelosi. A "horrified" Bill Kelly of Carolina Shores, N.C., wrote: "Since she spoke as a Catholic will there be any action taken by the Archdiocese to refute her?"
Archbishop George Niederauer will address recent comments by Pelosi in a column in the Sept. 5 issue of Catholic San Francisco, archdiocesan spokesman Maurice Healy said."
I personally think waiting until September 5 is a very bad idea.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Excerpts:
Pelosi's nationally aired abortion comments "disgraceful', "incompetent", "incredible" USCCB corrects House Speaker's views as "misleading" and outdated
By Rick DelVecchio
Catholic and conservative commentators reacted with outrage and disbelief to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's nationally televised comments that Church teaching is undecided on when life begins and that the question "shouldn't have an impact on a woman's right to choose."
Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said he has had long experience with Catholic politicians disagreeing with Church teaching on abortion but never before with what he called "absolute misrepresentation."
"I have to tell you in 15 years of doing this job this one goes off the end," he told Catholic San Francisco....
The Archdiocese of San Francisco received hundreds of e-mails from around the country, many urging that the Church correct Pelosi. A "horrified" Bill Kelly of Carolina Shores, N.C., wrote: "Since she spoke as a Catholic will there be any action taken by the Archdiocese to refute her?"
Archbishop George Niederauer will address recent comments by Pelosi in a column in the Sept. 5 issue of Catholic San Francisco, archdiocesan spokesman Maurice Healy said."
I personally think waiting until September 5 is a very bad idea.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Pelosi: Deeper and Deeper...
Now Speaker Nancy Pelosi attempts to justify herself. "The Hill' publishes this statement from Pelosi's spokesman, Brendan Daly (h/t Amy Wellborn) :
“The Speaker is the mother of five children and seven grandchildren and fully appreciates the sanctity of family. She was raised in a devout Catholic family who often disagreed with her pro-choice views.
“After she was elected to Congress, and the choice issue became more public as she would have to vote on it, she studied the matter more closely. Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of Saint Augustine, who said: ‘…the law does not provide that the act [abortion] pertains to homicide, for there cannot yet be said to be a live soul in a body that lacks sensation…’ (Saint Augustine, On Exodus 21.22)
“While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe to that view. The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions. She believes that can be done by making family planning more available, as well as by increasing the number of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education and caring adoption programs.
“The Speaker has a long, proud record of working with the Catholic Church on many issues, including alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and peace.”
"Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of Saint Augustine..."
As we noted in our first post on this issue on Sunday, basing one's decisions on the science of 1500 years ago is a little hazardous.
Fr. Z points out that our beloved St. Augustine also thought "...that males were vivified at 30 days and females at 90 days," and he asks if the Speaker subscribes to that view as well. That's no reflection on the good Saint--he worked with what data had. Pelosi on the other hand, does have the data--she chooses to ignore it.
“The Speaker is the mother of five children and seven grandchildren and fully appreciates the sanctity of family. She was raised in a devout Catholic family who often disagreed with her pro-choice views.
“After she was elected to Congress, and the choice issue became more public as she would have to vote on it, she studied the matter more closely. Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of Saint Augustine, who said: ‘…the law does not provide that the act [abortion] pertains to homicide, for there cannot yet be said to be a live soul in a body that lacks sensation…’ (Saint Augustine, On Exodus 21.22)
“While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe to that view. The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions. She believes that can be done by making family planning more available, as well as by increasing the number of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education and caring adoption programs.
“The Speaker has a long, proud record of working with the Catholic Church on many issues, including alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and peace.”
"Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of Saint Augustine..."
As we noted in our first post on this issue on Sunday, basing one's decisions on the science of 1500 years ago is a little hazardous.
Fr. Z points out that our beloved St. Augustine also thought "...that males were vivified at 30 days and females at 90 days," and he asks if the Speaker subscribes to that view as well. That's no reflection on the good Saint--he worked with what data had. Pelosi on the other hand, does have the data--she chooses to ignore it.
Nancy Pelosi: Cardinal Egan responds
From the website of the Archdiocese of New York:
Emphasis added:
Statement on Remarks by Speaker Pelosi
August 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2008
STATEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE, EDWARD CARDINAL EGAN CONCERNING REMARKS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Like many other citizens of this nation, I was shocked to learn that the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America would make the kind of statements that were made to Mr. Tom Brokaw of NBC-TV on Sunday, August 24, 2008. What the Speaker had to say about theologians and their positions regarding abortion was not only misinformed; it was also, and especially, utterly incredible in this day and age.
We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name.
Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York
August 26, 2008
Emphasis added:
Statement on Remarks by Speaker Pelosi
August 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2008
STATEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE, EDWARD CARDINAL EGAN CONCERNING REMARKS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Like many other citizens of this nation, I was shocked to learn that the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America would make the kind of statements that were made to Mr. Tom Brokaw of NBC-TV on Sunday, August 24, 2008. What the Speaker had to say about theologians and their positions regarding abortion was not only misinformed; it was also, and especially, utterly incredible in this day and age.
We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name.
Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York
August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Nancy Pelosi: The USCCB Responds
Our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has weighed in on Speaker Pelosi's Meet the Press interview.
Bishops respond to House Speaker Pelosi’s misrepresentation of Church teaching against abortion
WASHINGTON--Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:
In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.
The full statement is right on the Bishops' home page: http://www.usccb.org/
The statement also contains three links. The third seems most interesting:
1) "The Catholic Church is a Pro-Life Church"
2) "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life"
3) "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist
h/t American Papist.
Bishops respond to House Speaker Pelosi’s misrepresentation of Church teaching against abortion
WASHINGTON--Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:
In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.
The full statement is right on the Bishops' home page: http://www.usccb.org/
The statement also contains three links. The third seems most interesting:
1) "The Catholic Church is a Pro-Life Church"
2) "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life"
3) "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist
h/t American Papist.
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