LifeNews reports on the Sage of San Francisco. It seems that part-time theologian Nancy Pelosi believes that Catholic Church teaching on free will admits the option of abortion.
“I have some concerns about the church’s position respecting a woman’s right to choose, I am a practicing Catholic, although they’re probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith. I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions,, and that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.”
By that logic, why not decriminalize rape, robbery and murder? Shouldn’t those be a matter of choice? Are people not having their free will restrained by such usurpation of moral choice by the government?
Does the chief lawmaker in the House not realize that many behaviors must be constrained by force of law, that violators be incarcerated if they infringe on people’s right to proceed through life unmolested? Of course she does.
It is true that the Church teaches that conscience is inviolable. However, the Church teaches that conscience must be fully formed by divine revelation. Even when acting freely with a fully formed conscience, the individual understands that there is objective guilt that comes with the sin freely chosen. Regarding abortion, the fully informed individual realizes that excommunication is the penalty, with readmission to the Church requiring confession characterized by genuine remorse and a firm purpose of amendment.
Nancy neglected to share that in her interview. Not being very good at crafting just laws with regard to the rights of all people to live lives unmolested, Pelosi should redouble her efforts at being a legislator and leave theology to the professionals.
Speaking of the theologians, will the Bishops continue to allow Pelosi to publicly dissemble, or will one of them finally screw up the moral courage to publicly state that in Pelosi’s war of aggression on the unborn she has separated herself from the body of the Church? In a more enlightened time, among more courageous men, it used to be called excommunication. It used to be understood that excommunication was meant to be medicinal, helping return the sinner to their senses.
The silence of the Bishops is deafening.
Coming Home 
I weep at the thought that none of our Bishops would ever evoke the cry: “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest ?!?!?!”
Jeff,
Pretty good quote coming on the Feast of Saint Thomas Becket. They probably know that some faithful hounds might take them up on it the way Henry’s knights did. 😉
“I am a practicing Catholic, although they’re probably not too happy about that.”
Oh that’s not it at all!
We would love it, if, IF only Nancy would actually practice her faith.
The rest would all fall into place…..
For some reason this hasn’t received much press yet. Perhaps that is why the Bishops have not responded. I am looking forward to Archbishop Chaput’s take on it.
Pelosi is an incredibly determined person. Her comments here reflect an obsession with justifying her position, even to the point of fashioning boutique theology.
It is very clear that tensions have escalated between the Bishops and the Democrats on abortion and health care legislation. First it was Kennedy/Tobin and now it is Pope Nancy vs. the magisterium. Is it a sign of things to come?