Pope makes firm statement to Pelosi on abortion.

I’m going to put up the full text of the Vatican’s statement about Nancy Pelosi’s visit with the Pope, because I suspect that they want this put out there:

Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.

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.”


Based on what I wrote earlier, I’m thinking that while the Church is hopeful to avoid a confrontation in the American Church over abortion, it is not expectant that they can avoid it. Ed Morrissey is right when he notes the use of the word “consistent” in the above: it’s in direct contradiction to the excuse Pelosi uses to justify her heresy on abortion. I keep using the term “heresy” here because that’s what it is, by the way: pro-choice Catholics are not having a debate with the Church on this doctrine, much as they’d like to pretend otherwise. That would imply that the Roman Catholic Church recognizes their right to have a variant opinion on this topic and still be a good Catholic, which it pointedly does not – which is why Benedict XVI made sure to have this statement sent out.

Fortunately, it’s really easy to leave the Church these days, and it’s perfectly safe to do it, too. Unfortunately, there’s no indication that the Speaker of the House will take the hint and either reform her ways, or switch her sect. Really unfortunately, that means that we’re not any less likely to see a showdown over FOCA, which is probably going to end with a lot of Catholic hospitals permanently closing their doors, rather than provide abortion services.

Personally, I don’t see where parent-notification laws and mandatory ultrasounds are such an intolerable burden to the American people that they justify shutting down health-care providers that disproportionately treat the poor, but that’s just me.

Moe Lane

Crossposted at RedState.

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