[Apologetics] Pelosi's Archbishop Seeks Conversation on Abortion

[Dianne Dawson]

Pelosi's Archbishop Seeks Conversation on
Abortion
Responds as Pastor to Her Errors on Church
Teaching

SAN FRANCISCO, California, SEPT. 5, 2008 (Zenit.org).-
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is being invited by her hometown archbishop
to discuss her erroneous views on the Catholic Church's teaching on abortion.
In a statement released today, Archbishop
George Niederauer of San Francisco joined the list of bishops who have
responded to Pelosi's misrepresentation of Church teaching, which she expressed
during an interview Aug. 24 on NBC-TV's "Meet the Press." 
Catholic San Francisco, the official
newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, published Archbishop Niederauer's
text.
Pelosi, when asked to comment on when life
begins, said that as a Catholic, she had studied the issue for "a long
time" and that "the doctors of the Church have not been able to make
that definition."
Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S.
bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Lori, chairman of
the Committee on Doctrine, responded the next day stating that her answer
"misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the
Catholic Church against abortion."
The prelates noted that since the first
century the Church has "affirmed the moral evil of every abortion."
A series of statements were released by other
bishops across the United States, including Archbishop Donald Wuerl of
Washington, D.C., Archbishop Charles Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley
of Denver, Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of New York, Archbishop John
Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North
Dakota.
Not polling
Archbishop Niederauer's statement said,
"It is my responsibility as archbishop of San Francisco to teach clearly
what Christ in his Church teaches about faith and morals, and to oppose
erroneous, misleading and confusing positions when they are advanced."
After citing the Catechism of the Catholic
Church and reaffirming the teaching of the Church that life begins at
conception and that abortion has always been considered wrong, he added,
"We believe that we are called to trust the Spirit to guide the Church, so
we do not pick and choose among her teachings."
Pelosi's office issued a statement Aug. 29
that said: "While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at
conception, many Catholics do not ascribe [sic] to that view."
"That statement," responded
Archbishop Niederauer, "suggests that morality can be decided by poll, by
numbers. If 90% of Catholics subscribe to the view that human life begins at
conception, does that makes Church teaching truer than if only 70% or 50%
agree?
"Authentic moral teaching is based on
objective truth, not polling."
Communion
Regarding calls for the archbishop to make a
decision to exclude Pelosi from receiving Communion, the archbishop warned that
the Church "should be cautious when making judgments about whether or not
someone else should receive Holy Communion." 
He cited the 2006 document of the U.S.
episcopal conference "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper"
that states: "If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life
were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church,
or knowingly and obstinately repudiate her definitive teachings on moral
issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with
the Church.
"Reception of Holy Communion in such a
situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so
that he or she should refrain."
The archbishop added, "In his or her
conscience, properly formed, a Catholic should recognize that making legal an
evil action, such as abortion, is itself wrong."
"I regret the necessity of addressing
these issues in so public a forum, but the widespread consternation among
Catholics made it unavoidable," the prelate continued. "Speaker
Pelosi has often said how highly she values her Catholic faith, and how much it
is a source of joy for her.
"Accordingly, as her pastor, I am
writing to invite her into a conversation with me about these matters. It is my
obligation to teach forthrightly and to shepherd caringly, and that is my
intent."
 
Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.
Ps 42:1


      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gathman.org/pipermail/apologetics/attachments/20080905/0f9ff908/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 3023 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gathman.org/pipermail/apologetics/attachments/20080905/0f9ff908/attachment.gif>