The following day, Archbishop Chaput bluntly points out the heresy that Pelosi is preaching and offers correction in an open letter on his web site (read it here, it's worth it). As if that weren't enough, the Archbishop's letter is soon followed by a theological Daisy Cutter dropped by the USCCB. I rarely quote lengthy bits of text but the USCCB's response was worth it:
WASHINGTON--Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:The great thing about this letter is that it is not a broad response to a general topic, veiled in non threatening tones. It is extremely specific, addressing Nancy Pelosi by name. Furthermore, it absolutely and unequivocally refutes everything Nancy Pelosi said, in it's entirety. Most importantly, by issuing this letter the USCCB has completely and effectively removed any excuse that she or any other politician might try to use as a means to support abortion while still claiming to be Catholic. You can no longer claim that you are ignorant of the Church's position. You may not argue that the Catholic Church's teachings are not clear.
In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.
The Church has always taught that human life deserves respect from its very beginning and that procured abortion is a grave moral evil. 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 has long taught 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.
With all of this in mind, I have one simple question. Why doesn't the Catholic Church officially and publicly EXCOMMUNICATE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO PERSISTENTLY AND OBSTINATELY OPPOSE THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH REGARD TO THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE! I'm not just talking about a simple letter stating, "To whom it may concern, Nancy Pelosi is excommunicated. Have a nice day." I'm talking about having a huge 2 hour ceremony in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, with Cardinals and Bishops on prime time TV dressed in black robes burning incense and extinguishing a 3 foot tall candle with Nancy Pelosi's name on it! If you want the Church's position on abortion to be made perfectly clear to all the faithful, THAT's how to do it.
1 comment:
what a joke!
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