The Speaker's war with the Catholic Church has now spilled over to the
Congress. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has challenged when life begins.
The Roman Catholic Church says life begins at conception. The Speaker,
who claims she is an ardent Catholic, says down through the years the
Catholic Church has not been able to agree when life begins. Church
authorities have hotly disputed her view. Now a group of Pelosi's fellow
House Members has weighed in with a sharply worded letter, organized by
Representative Thaddeus McCotter, of Michigan. McCotter is part
theologian, part street-fighter. Clearly he is one of the most
articulate Members who have graced the Floor of the House of
Representatives.
McCotter's letter begins by pointing out that Pelosi claimed she had
studied the abortion issue "for a long time." The letter says, "As
fellow Catholics and legislators we wish you would have made a more
honest effort to lay out the authentic position of the Church on this
core moral issue before attempting to address it with authority."
The letter cites Pelosi's interview with Tom Brokaw, which the letter
said mangled Catholic Church doctrine regarding the inherent sanctity
and dignity of human life. The legislators stated that they are
compelled to refute her error.
The legislators said that Tom Brokaw reminded you that the Catechism of
the Catholic Church professes the sanctity of human life from conception
to natural death. The Catechism says the embryo must be defended in its
integrity, cared for and healed, as far as possible, like any other
human being.
To this Pelosi responded, "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 in controversy." The Members told Pelosi that her statement
demonstrates a lack of understanding of Catholic teaching and belief
regarding abortion.
They told Pelosi, "From the apostles of the First Century to Pope John
Paul the Great, the Church has reaffirmed the moral evil of every
procured abortion. The 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." They cite the
Catholic Catechism, Item 2271, as their source.