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Not what she claims to be

Sep 13, 2008 - 04:06:13 CDT

By WILLIAM SCHUH
Mandan

On Meet the Press (Aug. 24), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, regarding abortion, that “as an ardent, practicing Catholic,” and one who has “studied the issue for a long time”, she believed that the doctors of the church were sufficiently confused on the matter of human life, that “it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s right to choose [abortion].” Pelosi was basing her argument on scholastic debates over the moment of animation (infusation of the soul), which, some believed to occur at the “quickening” of the child in the womb.

Pelosi’s self-serving sorti into moral theology is way off base. Archbishop Chaput of Denver responded in a pastoral letter that the issue of animation has never affected the church’s teaching that abortion is a grave evil, and that this moral position has been consistent from its earliest times; a position clearly explained and upheld in the Catholic Catechism (CC2270-2275), and documented by the authoritative historical work the Jesuit theologian John Connery. Chaput further quotes the eminent Lutheran theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (who died by hanging in a concentration camp for opposing the nazi extermination of the Jews), that: “Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed on this nascent life. To raise the question of whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.” Chaput states, finally, that “Catholics who make excuses for it [abortion] fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and their Catholic faith.”

In his diplomatic reply, Chaput refrains from pointing out that the church imposes a canonical penalty of excommunication latae sententiae (automatic by the very commission of the act) on any “Catholic” who cooperates formally in an abortion (CC2272). How “formal” the cooperation of someone who establishes, defends, and sustains the legal structure that abets the murder of unborn children would be, is beyond my judgement. But it’s clear that Pelosi’s public claim to ardent Catholic practice is hypocritical nonsense.

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Comments

Michael wrote on Sep 17, 2008 9:52 AM:

" A couple weeks ago I stood outside of the Red River Women's Clinic praying for justice that the rights of the preborn would be upheld - that the young women would realize what is about to happen to them and their baby. That the Church would wake up to Holocaust that happening in our state and nation. And I watched 22 pregnant women walk in to the abortion clinic, most of them being pushed by their boyfriends, some of them walking in proudly as their right to destroy their baby was defended by the US Supreme Court...but no matter what when they walked out all of them had the same expression, the same limp. Any fear they had was replaced with severe physical and mental trama. It wasn't until after they realized what they had done, but it was too late. This will affect us more than anything else out there, more than we know. "

WHATEVER wrote on Sep 15, 2008 12:13 PM:

" To facts: You stated that "On Judgement Day, she (Pelosi) will be required to stand before God and be held accountable for her words and actions." Yes, and this also applies to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and other Republican neocons who will have far more to answer for than Pelosi. "

Point to Ponder wrote on Sep 14, 2008 2:01 PM:

" To Facts: Sometime last week, someone in America had an abortion. My property taxes haven't changed last week. Which one do you guess has an tangible impact on my life? If you want to live vicariously through the lens of the national political platforms, knock yourself out. But don't whine and complain about rising property taxes if you don't pay attention to local politics! "

kk wrote on Sep 13, 2008 7:38 PM:

" hey this is ND and who cares what Pelosi is doing in CA it is time for our leaders to do something for us the taxpayers of ND . AND please~ your plans are great BUT show us HOW and WHEN you are going to implement all of this "

Facts wrote on Sep 13, 2008 2:11 PM:

" To Point to Ponder: Thank the Lord that Nancy Pelosi won't affect property taxes in Mandan, the quality of education in North Dakota, job growth on a local and state level, redevelopment in downtown Mandan, etc! Could you imagine the damage in Mandan if she did? Putting an end to the murdering of innocent human life is a lot more important and a higher priority than local politics or the open Morton County Commission seats! Ponder that!!! "

Point to Ponder wrote on Sep 13, 2008 11:28 AM:

" Nice letter and the author makes some good points. However, bashing Nancy Pelosi won't affect property taxes in Mandan, the quality of education in North Dakota, job growth on a local and state level, redevelopment in downtown Mandan, etc. Too much focus is paid to issues like abortion while the local politics are skimmed over or simply ignored. Ask yourself this, do you know more about Sarah Palin's personal life and favorite shades of lipstick than the political platforms and positions of those running for available Morton County Commissioners' seats? Just making a point to ponder. "

Facts wrote on Sep 13, 2008 9:06 AM:

" 'Not what she (Nancy Pelosi) claims to be'. I'm not suprised. On Judgement Day, she will be required to stand before God and be held accountable for her words and actions. Beware of God's judgement Nancy, God is not Democrat nor is He Republican!!! "

jim wrote on Sep 13, 2008 7:53 AM:

" last i heard, congress had an approval rating of less than 10 percent.

AMAZING, SIMPLY AMAZING.

coffee's brewin', can you smell it?

jim "

Rugby Reader wrote on Sep 13, 2008 7:10 AM:

" While this letter may contain good and credible information, North Dakota voters do not cast ballots in California's 8th District.

Nancy Pelosi's refusal to initiate impeachment proceedings demonstrates that she is an integral component of our two-party charade. "

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