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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Aug 27th, 2008 02:36 am |
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WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The chairmen of the U.S. bishops' Committees on Pro-Life Activities and Doctrine affirmed that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi misrepresented Church teaching on abortion during an interview on national TV.
Pelosi was asked on NBC-TV's "Meet the Press" on Sunday to comment on when life begins. She responded saying 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. Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Lori, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, said her answer "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion."
They noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This 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."
And the prelates explained: "In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church's moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.
"These mistaken biological theories became obsolete over 150 years ago when scientists discovered that a new human individual comes into being from the union of sperm and egg at fertilization. In keeping with this modern understanding, the Church teaches that from the time of conception -- fertilization -- each member of the human species must be given the full respect due to a human person, beginning with respect for the fundamental right to life."
For the record
Other bishops also released statements clarifying Church teaching.
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., noted that bishops are entrusted with the responsibility to interpret and teach Catholic doctrine.
"We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops," he said in a statement. "Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record. […]
"From the beginning, the Catholic Church has respected the dignity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death."
And from Denver, Archbishop Charles Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley addressed an online letter to their faithful, titled "On the Separation of Sense and State: a Clarification for the People of the Church in Northern Colorado."
The letter affirms: "Ardent, practicing Catholics will quickly learn from the historical record that from apostolic times, the Christian tradition overwhelmingly held that abortion was grievously evil. In the absence of modern medical knowledge, some of the Early Fathers held that abortion was homicide; others that it was tantamount to homicide; and various scholars theorized about when and how the unborn child might be animated or 'ensouled.'
"But none diminished the unique evil of abortion as an attack on life itself, and the early Church closely associated abortion with infanticide. In short, from the beginning, the believing Christian community held that abortion was always, gravely wrong."
Cardinal Edward Egan released a statement this morning saying he was "shocked to learn" of Pelosi's remarks. He said her statements were "misinformed."
The cardinal affirmed that the unborn have "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."
"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," he added, "should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name."
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On the Net:
Statement of Denver bishops: http://www.zenit.org/article-23469?l=english
Statement of Archbishop Wuerl: http://www.zenit.org/article-23470?l=english
Statement of Cardinal Egan: http://www.zenit.org/article-23476?l=english
The above article is reposted with permission from Zenit.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Aug 29th, 2008 07:00 pm |
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Bishop: Pelosi "Created Confusion" on Abortion
Says Church's Stance Remains Unchanged
FARGO, North Dakota, AUG. 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has "created confusion" with regard to the Church's stance against abortion, says the bishop of Fargo.
Bishop Samuel Aquila said this in a the latest in a series of episcopal statements that have responded to comments made by Pelosi during an interview Sunday on NBC-TV's "Meet the Press."
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. Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Lori, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, said in a statement Monday 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.”
Statements were also released by Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., Archbishop Charles Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley of Denver, and Cardinal Edward Egan, the archbishop of New York.
The Diocese of Fargo released a letter Wednesday written by Bishop Aquila who said that while the remarks "created confusion in regard to Catholic teaching," those familiar with it "can easily recognize the flaws in her remarks."
Respect life
"The Christian teaching on abortion throughout history is unchanged," he continued. "Human life from the moment of conception is to always be respected, treated with dignity, and protected.
"Catholics who support so called abortion rights support a false right, promote a culture of death."
"Out of respect for the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Church," added Bishop Aquila, "any Catholic who supports abortion rights has placed himself or herself outside of visible unity with the Church and thus should refrain from receiving holy Communion."
On Tuesday, Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, issued a similar statement.
"The Church has taught for centuries that life begins at conception and there is no room for misrepresentation of that teaching," he said. "In addition, modern medical techniques have been able to confirm what the Church has already known.
“Surely, there may be some Catholic politicians who will take a different interpretation of this Church doctrine during the coming election campaign, but Speaker Pelosi’s remarks underscore once again the need for Catholics, and especially Catholic politicians, to form their consciences according to the moral truths taught by the Catholic Church.”
The above article is reposted with permission from Zenit
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Truthseeker
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Posted: Sun Aug 31st, 2008 10:10 pm |
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I've heard on EWTN about this misguided info from Pelosi. Has any secular media reported that it has been denied by the actual Catholic church or will they let most of the world think that's what we really believe, so they can press on with their agenda of killing innocents?
Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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JasPax
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Posted: Sun Aug 31st, 2008 10:34 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: I've heard on EWTN about this misguided info from Pelosi. Has any secular media reported that it has been denied by the actual Catholic church or will they let most of the world think that's what we really believe, so they can press on with their agenda of killing innocents?
Laura
I heard the incident reported two or three times on Fox News. Once, on that network, Bishop Chaput of Denver was interviewed about this while the D. Convention was in progress. He did a great job. Anotheer time it was mentioned was on the Fox's "Beltway Boys" and Mort Kondrake (sp?) got it all wrong.
I seldom watch the other metworls and I wouldn't watch MSNBC (the Obama channel) if you paid me.
God Bless,
____________________
James
"Abide in me, and I in you..." John 15:4
"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." John 6:56
RSV-2CE
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JasPax
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Posted: Sat Sep 6th, 2008 07:04 pm |
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I just found this on ZENIT News agency:
Archbishop George Niederauer has invited Speaker Nancy Pelosi in to discuss her erroneous views on abortion which she recently expressed publically.
You can log onto the official publication of the Archdiocese and read the full article at http://www.catholic-sf.org.
I hope that some secular media outlet will report this, but I doubt it will do so.
God's Blessings,
Last edited on Sat Sep 6th, 2008 07:06 pm by JasPax
____________________
James
"Abide in me, and I in you..." John 15:4
"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." John 6:56
RSV-2CE
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JillD
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Posted: Sat Sep 6th, 2008 07:09 pm |
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JasPax wrote: I just found this on ZENIT News agency:
Archbishop George Niederauer has invited Speaker Nancy Pelosi in to discuss her erroneous views on abortion which she recently expressed publically.
I hope that some secular media outlet will report this, but I doubt it will do so.
I did hear this on the secular news on the radio. The newscaster intro'd the piece with "I'd sure like to be a fly on the wall at this meeting..."
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret." Ps 139
"Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men." Ps 140
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JasPax
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Posted: Sat Sep 6th, 2008 07:22 pm |
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JillD wrote: JasPax wrote:
I did hear this on the secular news on the radio. The newscaster intro'd the piece with "I'd sure like to be a fly on the wall at this meeting..."
That's good.
It is very instructive to read the whole article at: http://www.catholic-sf.org
____________________
James
"Abide in me, and I in you..." John 15:4
"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." John 6:56
RSV-2CE
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BodRod
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Posted: Sun Sep 7th, 2008 05:50 am |
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But when all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done. She is a Bigwig and rich and that will be the end of it just like Kennedy, Kerry, et al. "And the beat goes on ....."
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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ChildofGod
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Posted: Sun Sep 7th, 2008 07:52 pm |
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BodRod wrote: But when all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done. She is a Bigwig and rich and that will be the end of it just like Kennedy, Kerry, et al. "And the beat goes on ....."
Cliff, I think you've got that right. I don't like to be cynical, but liberal "Catholic" politicians who have money will only be given a slap on the wrist. Then all will go back to "business as usual." The reputation of the arch bishop of San Franciso preceeds him, and it is not a good one. Only those bishops and arch bishops who have moral courage and fortitude will take a stand on the truth, without concern or regard for the status of the person.
When you think about it, the status of these politicians should be taken into consideration in only one way. That would be in regards to how their visible position has the power to wrongly influence others against Catholic teaching. And let's face it, these liberal "Catholic" politicians have enormous power to influence the masses. (no pun intended) This issue is a matter that will not go away until it is dealt with in a scriptural manner according to Church teaching. Caving in to PC pressure, or the "fear of man" or any other such human weakness, emboldens these deceivers to continue in their sin.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures." These times call for men of God who are willing to take a stand on the Truth, no matter what the world may think of them. "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing." Allowing Pelosi and all these other liberal "Catlick" politicians to take Communion is a scandal that will have a devastating effect upon the Church. It is a public declaration which says, "It doesn't matter if you publicly oppose Church teaching, you can still partake of the Eucharist anyway." What does that message convey about the worthiness of the person receiving the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Darlene
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JillD
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Posted: Sun Sep 7th, 2008 08:23 pm |
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Today's Old Testament reading was Ezekiel 33:7-9, the well-known "watchman" verses.
Does this mean the Archbishop is off the hook?
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret." Ps 139
"Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men." Ps 140
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ChildofGod
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Posted: Sun Sep 7th, 2008 08:34 pm |
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JillD wrote: Today's Old Testament reading was Ezekiel 33:7-9, the well-known "watchman" verses.
Does this mean the Archbishop is off the hook?
Very interesting passage, Jill. I take it your question is couched in sarcasm?  I would say that this passage makes him very accountable to God and answerable for how he handles this issue with Pelosi. Perhaps in reading this passage today, the Holy Spirit used it to convict him. One must always have hope, don't you think?
Darlene
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JillD
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Posted: Sun Sep 7th, 2008 09:32 pm |
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ChildofGod wrote: Very interesting passage, Jill. I take it your question is couched in sarcasm? I would say that this passage makes him very accountable to God and answerable for how he handles this issue with Pelosi. Perhaps in reading this passage today, the Holy Spirit used it to convict him. One must always have hope, don't you think?
Darlene
Well, not entirely sarcastic. Based on what I've heard about what goes on in parishes in the Bay Area, it doesn't seem that there is much oversight. My friend was just up in San Jose and so attended Mass. The homilist was a non-Catholic woman "pastor" who changed the words of the Gospel from "I will build my Church" to "I will build my community of faith" or some such thing.... How does this happen???
I take comfort in the fact that it's obvious from Scripture that even Paul and the other authors of Scripture were already dealing with heresy and problems in the Church. Truly, if not for the grace of the Holy Spirit, if this church were "of man," the Catholic Church probably wouldn't have survived the first century!
So, I have hope. More than hope, I guess. It is frustrating to hear about the failings of churches and of individual Catholics, but it's not new and it's not going away.
I'm reading this book called "More Christianity" by Longenecker. It's a basic apologetics work on the distinctives of Catholicism. But one page had this thought: We're more often correct in what we approve than in what we reject. I've pondered that, and I do believe it's true. I am too often one to nitpick and look for error and I make myself miserable. I find I'm happier if I instead focus on what is good in the Church, what people do that's right and proper, and on what tasks God has given me to do and to do them the best I can. But I have to make an effort to do that. It's so much easier to complain! Lord, help me!
Jill
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret." Ps 139
"Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men." Ps 140
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mg57
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 01:02 am |
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This is a link to the the 9/7/08 Meet The Press interview with Joe Biden. His responses, confidently spoken by him, betray the all too common formation based on cultural / political influence, as with Ms. Pelosi ....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26591000#26591154
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