Embarrassing!: Archbishop Publicly Corrects Pelosi

I’m always mortified for liberal Catholics when their egregious positions on abortion cause them to be publicly rebuked by the leaders of their Church. It’s happened to John Kerry, Rudy Giuliani, Kathleen Sebelius, and now most mortifying of all, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. But what did she expect would happen when she tried to claim that the current Catholic position on abortion is only 50 years old?

I saw this one coming.

The Hill reports:

In a release issued Monday night, Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said Pelosi’s comments on “Meet the Press” on Sunday “were incorrect.”

Wuerl noted that Pelosi responded to a question on when life begins by mentioning she was Catholic.

The release quoted Pelosi as saying the church has not been able to come with a definition of when life begins.

“After Mr. Tom Brokaw, the interviewer, pointed out that the Catholic Church feels strongly that life begins at conception, she replied, ‘I understand. And this is, like, maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy,’ ” the release said.

Wuerl strongly disagrees.

He said, “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. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record.”

Wuerl pointed out that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, and has been clear for 2,000 years. He cited Catechism language that reads, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception … 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.”

Yep, no doubt about it. The abortion issue is an uncomfortable one for pro abortion Catholics, as they flounder and flail helplessly, trying to justify their pro abort positions. Wouldn’t it be easier to just convert to another religion?

Hat tip: Hot Air Headlines.

UPDATE:

And now Cardinal Egan responds to Pelosi’s drival:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2008

STATEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE, EDWARD CARDINAL EGAN CONCERNING REMARKS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Like many other citizens of this nation, I was shocked to learn that the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America would make the kind of statements that were made to Mr. Tom Brokaw of NBC-TV on Sunday, August 24, 2008. What the Speaker had to say about theologians and their positions regarding abortion was not only misinformed; it was also, and especially, utterly incredible in this day and age.

We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with 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. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. 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 should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name.

Edward Cardinal Egan

Archbishop of New York

Ouch!!!

Man, she really put her foot in it.

Not to worry. Catholic League president Bill Donohue is sending her a copy of Catholicism for Dummies, with the thought that the Catechism Of The Catholic Church “is like maybe a bit advanced” for her.

UPDATE II:

Via Captain Ed at Hot Air:

Catholic House Republicans write a letter of response to Pelosi’s words. They would like her to “rectify her errant claims”:

To reduce the scandal and consternation caused amongst the faithful by your remarks, we necessarily write you to correct the public record and affirm the Church’s actual and historical teaching that defends the sanctity of human life. We hope that you will rectify your errant claims and apologize for misrepresenting the Church’s doctrine and misleading fellow Catholics.

The list of signatories, thus far:

Hon. Thaddeus G. McCotter (MI)
Hon. Steve Chabot (OH)
Hon. Virginia Foxx (NC)
Hon. Phil Gingrey (GA)
Hon. Peter King (NY)
Hon. Steve King (IA)
Hon. Daniel Lungren (CA)
Hon. Devin Nunes (CA)
Hon. John Sullivan (OK)
Hon. Patrick Tiberi (OH)

UPDATE III

Let the American Papist walk you through the Brokaw/Pelosi interview. I promise, you’ll be amused.

And then there’s the inimitable Ace:

Here’s how Granny Rictus McBotoxImplants cautiously begins:

REP. PELOSI: I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time.

Cardinals and bishops are correcting her, but as of yet, no response. She must be busy in her library of Catholic theology, researching the question further.

Probably wearing a mitre. And maybe two more mitres on each of the saline-filled medicine balls she calls her cans.