There has been much talk of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Meet the Press appearance where she talked about her being an ardent and practicing Catholic and then went on to try to make the case that the Church's position on abortion is relatively new. She went on to pick on St. Augustine saying that he said life begins at three months. Well usually they pick on St. Thomas Aquinas for this so I am sure he is glad to have gotten a break this time. As medical science has advanced we now know that life begins at conception. I find it highly ironic that the Church always being labeled as anti-science leaves the definition of the beginning of life to science. Though Ms. Pelosi who supports partial birth abortion won't be called anti-science for her views as she should be. But hey she said she did a lot of studying on this issue!
Her total misrepresentation has not gone without notice in the Church in America.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput: On the Separation of Sense and State. (Best title of a diocesan pastoral letter ever)
U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued a statement of the USCCB's front page.
Archbishop Wuerl responds.
Archbishop Egan responds.
Nancy Pelosi's bishop Archbishop Niederauer issued - crickets chirping.
Post updated to included more responses.
Responding to Nancy Pelosi
Known as 
I emailed Abp. Chaput very briefly to express my thanks for his eloquent defence of life and Catholics in the public square. I actually (!!!) received a very brief email back, apparently from the man himself, thanking me and asking for prayers. Good point. I will try to remember to keep praying for him.
I also emailed Abp. Niederauer, asking him to follow the biblical injunction to correct, first in private, then in public if needs be. Thus far, no response.
What a courageous archbishop! I hope we had more like him in Mexico...
And Margaret, as we say over here, it would be better to way seated for that response..
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I emailed Archbishop Niederauer, as well.
Many Church officials in America really need to get there acts together.
How do I clean coffee out of the crevices of my laptop's keyboard?
It's 4:30 AM and there is an actual cricket chirping around here somewhere.
Check out Cardinal Egan's statement: http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=8803
This is simple. They are lying. They are lying about the Church. They are using their positions to lead others into sin: Excommunicate them. Today.
Hola saludo,
America,
We chimpanzees in Spain have more rights than your babies in the United States.
What you humans in the U.S. need is some kind of law protecting babies.
Hey, that's a good idea (we chimps are smart).
Can someone please post an email address for Archbishop Niederauer? He needs to stop hiding and address this scandalous conduct!
Our archbishop (George Niederauer) may very well be addressing the situation in private, and unwilling to discuss it in public at this time. Given what I know of him, I have no doubt that he takes the issue very seriously, and is giving it the pastoral attention it warrants. If you'll notice the San Francisco Archdiocese's homepage links to this same story, with the title "The Catholic Church is a Pro-Life Church."
Abp. Niederauer is no Cardinal Mahoney, and he's not given to ignoring or excusing evil or heresy. Please give him (and all our clergy) your prayers- not your gripes about how quickly he needs to issue public statements.
Sleeping Beastly,
Previously your bishop said that he has talked to Nancy Pelosi but not on this issue (it was about immigration). He also said he had no idea where she stands on abortion. Even if he has talked to her privately, a statement should still be made as other bishops have done. If he actually told her not to receive Communion then she has been disobedient since she still does. The bishop in Kansas privately told the governor their not to receive Communion, and when she continued to do so he made it a public statement. Their is no doubt that Ms. Pelosi is continuing in manifest grave sin an her bishop can't just sit on the sidelines.
I am pleased with how forceful and direct Cardinal Egan's statement was.
I just recently read Archbishop Niederauer's address of the situation of Pelosi. I am sickened by this man. He allowed this situation to go on and on, knowing her stance, and he being a "Roman Catholic" """"Archibishop"""" allowed this to progress to televized spread of sinful and heretical teachings. He responded only because his hand was finally forced. To what good? He let this monster out from her cave...he is a whithered fig tree...and it seems to me, time for him to go.
Jay Anderson says that Archbishop Niederauer has promised to address the issue on Sept. 5.
If those with the primary responsibility to teach and defend the Faith have to anguish for weeks over this straightforward instance, then what do they do when evil is undertaken in more insidious and manipulative ways?
I have this picture of robbers breaking into a house and assaulting the family members while the father goes off to his PC to search the internet for the current state laws covering the proper use of force in defense of one's home.
Pray? Yes, by all means. But ACT for God's sake!
I am inclined to remark that Cardinal Egan might be, just slightly, understating the case against Speaker Pelosi's level of moral understanding as it pertains to her qualifications to be an elected representative in this nation.
Blessings and regards,
Martial Artist
I don't see that the Archbishop has addressed Pelosi's comments yet. And I really don't think he is obligated to do so publicly. The Church's stance on abortion is not in question, and it seems to me he has every right to approach her privately about this before making a public statement. If this is the first he's heard about her public pro-abortion stance, then he may only just now be instructing her to stay out of the communion line.
Sleeping Beastly,
Your comments on the Archbishop of San Francisco are most charitable and I commend your point of view.
Perhaps I am not as charitable, but it strains my credulity as to how the Archbishop could be unaware of Mrs. Pelosi's views on abortion as he claims. Much of the rest of the citizenry is certainly aware of her stance and how she votes and urges her peers to vote on life issues. Certainly her ardent supporters NARAL and Planned Parenthood are aware of her views. Furthermore, she has espoused those views for many years--quite publicly.
When she chooses to receive the Eucharist in public she causes grave scandal to the faithful of the Church. (Sadly, I watched a Q & A just last night in which a Catholic father was asking how to explain Pelosi's latest comments to his confused children.)
Archbishop Niederauer appears to have had more than ample time to counsel her privately. It is my personal belief that it is long past time for him to be a shepherd the scandalized faithful by admonishing her publicly. I further believe that she should publicly renounce her current political stand on abortion in order to come into full communion with the Church. Should not public sin require public contrition?
As Catholics, we are obligated, with a properly formed conscience, to participate in the public square and to vote. I assume that includes Archbishop Niederauer. It certainly includes learning at least a tad about the candidate for whom we vote!
For whatever reason, the Archbishop has chosen to ignore Pelosi's heretical comments and positions. I don't understand the Archbishop's actions or lack thereof. I can only hope and pray that he is being guided by the Holy Spirit.