After Meeting With Pelosi, Pope Knocks Pro-Abortion Rights Catholics

Topics: Nancy Pelosi

This post was written by Igor Kossov.

(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Benedict XVI met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a pro-abortion rights Democrat, at the Vatican Wednesday.

Following the 15-minute meeting, the Vatican released a statement calling on Catholic legislators – such as Pelosi – to work to end abortion.

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development," the statement said.

Catholics on both sides of the abortion debate saw Pelosi's visit as an attempt to legitimize her own brand of Catholicism - "ardent" but pro-abortion rights, The Hill reported.

Pope Benedict XVI is a conservative theologian who had called secularization and denial of moral truths "the central problem of the 21st century." He has supported the excommunication of pro-abortion Catholic politicians in Mexico City.

(CBS)

Following the meeting, Pelosi did not stress the abortion issue, releasing a statement praising what the church had done "in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel."

But the pontiff stressed that Catholic doctrine must be accepted without exceptions for abortion and contraception.

Pelosi has gotten in trouble with the church before, having said on Meet The Press that the church has been unable to determine where life begins.

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by therealtruth February 28, 2009 8:52 AM EST: Pelosi will pick her faith (which she would if she was Catholic) or her Politics (which was the defining moment Christ was sent to be crucified). It is her choice, faith or power. Sound familiar? Pray for her and everyone in that position. We are lucky we are not put to the test.; Reply to this comment


by ghs4u February 19, 2009 4:00 PM EST: Consider that abortions would not be such an issue if people took care in advance not to get pregnant. People act selfishly beforehand to get that feeling and then act selfishly afterwards when they decide they do not want the outcome. Why risk getting pregnant if you know in advance you do not want a child or cannot afford one? Those who have gone through an abortion are aware of the physical scars and trauma to the psyche that are not easy to get rid of. I find it amazing the number of pro-choice people who claim it is not yet a child yet argued when doctors wanted to make them see the sonogram before they aborted it. If you consider it just a blob, why would you care about seeing it? You might have to admit that truly is a child which you are not giving even a chance. For those who just want to act irresponsibly, have *** without care to disease or children or having any commitment to the person other than for physical intercourse, I believe in making the people who then choose abortion to dispose of the parts them themselves; make them responsible for something. I would go for adoption over abortion. For those who choose that, they might also learn to take better care of themselves in order to give someone a healthy baby and end up learning a lifestyle change for the better for themselves.; Reply to this comment


by Fredfreid February 19, 2009 3:59 PM EST: It is not simply a Catholic belief that life should be protected. I see how the Catholic church is a big target and it seems just fine to target Catholics because of the churches obvious prominence. In the news daily, the church and the Pope is in a position to spread God's word to the world-- and this makes Catholics a target of persecution for our values. But we have thick skin (some of us) and are open to expression of everyone%u2019s views but don't just expect us to give up our notable position and don%u2019t try to keep us from preaching about the importance of life._ Most importantly, as Catholic means "universal" all are welcome to recognize the importance of life. All are welcome to express their opinion but attacking the church Jesus started by mentioning the sins of mankind changes nothing. Church is after all for the sinner or the hypocrite if you will. All have an invitation to gather and celebrate creation and praise the Creator. On the other hand, Pelosi is also invited but she has now been called out once again as taking a stance against God. Spread the word!; Reply to this comment


by ghs4u February 19, 2009 3:58 PM EST: cbs3200 and steeepe, we obviously have views on opposite sides of the spectrum, but I would like to know how you can claim pro-life people have been booted from power and yet you claim they are like an American-style Taliban. Take a look in the mirror as you are the ones committing an outrageous act and somehow think you are right to do as you please without regards to others. The only problem with reversing Roe v. Wade, which has been discussed, is that the jails would be too full of those murderers. An embryo is the beginning of a child. That is the fact. It will not grow into anything else. I am sorry you do not feel a connection with the creation you helped to make or if you feel guilty for your choice and want to make an excuse for yourselves to say it really wasn't anything when it was your child.; Reply to this comment


by ioweign February 19, 2009 12:26 AM EST: Does the pope have a position on banking crimes that cause bankruptcies, economic collapse, global destabilization, foreclosures, job loss, misery, homelessness? Cause in 40 years I've never had need to have a position on abortion.

Posted by CountSlapula at 07:43 PM : Feb 18, 2009

Yes - the Ten Commandants and the Seven Deadly Sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride )cover quite a bit of territory.; Reply to this comment


by jschmidt27 February 18, 2009 11:28 PM EST: The Pope is the leader of the Catholic faith and it is not a democracy. The leader makes the rules and the faithful follow them. If they don'';t there is no one going to come down them usually unless like Pelosi they happen to make an issue of their beliefs that conflict with the church teaching. If you are a pro-choice Catholic it is between you and God but don;t preach publically that you are a faithful Catholic because you are not. Pelosi by being pro-choice is not a faithful Catholic. There is no abiguity here. Now Pelosi will support the FOC act which when passed will terminate the states rights tolimit abortion in any way. That means partial birth abortions would be allowed everywhere. That is a tragedy because in some cases partial birth abortions are of babies who are viable and would be saved if the mother wanted to deliver. So the Pope is correct. You can''t call yourself practicing Catholic and be pro-choice.; Reply to this comment


by omded February 18, 2009 10:51 PM EST: The Catholic Church is so full of contradictions, it really doesn''t matter who''s doing the talking for it. You can say whatever you want to and you can find something to support what you said. I guess the best way to put it is this: The Vatican is the biggest tap dancing act in the world today.; Reply to this comment


by countslapula February 18, 2009 10:43 PM EST: Does the pope have a position on banking crimes that cause bankruptcies, economic collapse, global destabilization, foreclosures, job loss, misery, homelessness? Cause in 40 years I''ve never had need to have a position on abortion.

But it''s terrific that he keeps harping on it like a hundred percent of the world is depending on him to clarify his position for the 12,000th time. It''s not like he''s monomanical and obssessive. The pope and that catholic chruch like all religions are irrelevant... a day late, a dollar short, looking at the wrong things. It sure is easy to make endless declarations and pronouncements though, and never get their hands dirty by getting involved anything muddy.; Reply to this comment


by steeepe February 18, 2009 10:21 PM EST: Abortion is a premeditated selfish act that results in the loss of life. That is murder. The only women I feel bad for are those who have to choose between the life of their baby or their own. The rest are murderers some are serial killers.
If a woman has a right to privacy to kill her unborn baby why does a man not have a right to privacy concerning his DNA in a rape case?
Posted by cbscrash072 at 06:44 PM : Feb 18, 2009

You conflate an embryo with an "unborn baby". A late-term fetus is, indeed, an unborn baby, but a mass of differentiating cells early in pregnancy is not. It serves your argument to make this error, but it doesn''t change the facts.; Reply to this comment


by koko1998a February 18, 2009 10:20 PM EST: If the church is so sure about dying a "natural" death then why was Pope John Paul allowed to refuse food at the end and essentially starve himself to death? Sounds hypocritical to me.; Reply to this comment