Part 2: The Heretics
From the Meet the Press August 24, 2008 transcript of Tom Brokaw interviewing Speaker Nancy
Pelosi:
Mr. Brokaw: “There was a very well publicized and very effective interview by Pastor Rick Warren
at the Saddleback Church in California of the two candidates recently. And on the right especially,
response from Senator Obama to the question of when life begins has been getting a lot of
attention. We want to just share with you how that went, and then you can take a look at it and,
and respond to it for us.”
(Videotape, August 16, 2008)
Pastor Rick Warren: “At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?”
Senator Obama: “Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological
perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is, is
above my pay grade.”
(End videotape)
Mr. Brokaw: “Senator Obama saying the question of when life begins is above his pay grade,
whether you're looking at it scientifically or theologically. If he were to come to you and say,
"Help me out here, Madame Speaker. When does life begin?" what would you tell him?”
Speaker Pelosi: “I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have
studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not
been able to make that definition. And Senator--St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know.
The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose. Roe v. Wade talks
about very clear definitions of when the child--first trimester, certain considerations; second
trimester; not so third trimester. There's very clear distinctions. This isn't about abortion on
demand, it's about a careful, careful consideration of all factors and--to--that a woman has to
make with her doctor and her god. And so I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins,
human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this, and there
are those who've decided...”
Mr. Brokaw: “The Catholic Church at the moment feels very strongly that it...”
Speaker Pelosi: “I understand that.”
Mr. Brokaw: “...begins at the point of conception.”
Speaker Pelosi: “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. But it is, it is also true that
God has given us, each of us, a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And we
want abortions to be safe, rare, and reduce the number of abortions. That's why we have this fight
in Congress over contraception. My Republican colleagues do not support contraception. If you
want to reduce the number of abortions, and we all do, we must--it would behoove you to support
family planning and, and contraception, you would think. But that is not the case. So we have to
take--you know, we have to handle this as respectfully--this is sacred ground. We have to handle it
very respectfully and not politicize it, as it has been--and I'm not saying Rick Warren did, because
I don't think he did, but others will try to.”
MR. BROKAW: “Madame Speaker, thanks very much for being with us.”
REP. PELOSI: “It's my pleasure. Thank you.”
This is about as clear and fine example of modern heresy from a national Catholic figure as you
could ask for. Many modern Catholics have sloughed off the teachings of the Catholic Church in the
past thirty years, as liberals have degraded the meaning and substance of the church in America.
Stop teaching what Catholicism is, and people will stop practicing what Catholicism is.
The structure of the church in the US and the USCCB is mainly responsible for this decline.
Liberals infiltrating the priesthood in the 60’s and 70’s brought a 'social justice' aspect to the church
that infected a generation. These priests moved up into the levels of bishops and that rot spread. It
is only now as a new generation of priests dedicated to returning the church to its primal role this rot
is being excised. But the damage has affected a whole generation of American Catholics. They don't
know their faith.
The lack of formation of Catholics in their education has led many to the mistaken belief that
Church dogma is 'optional' and that the individual 'conscience' is the true core of individual morality.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Conscience can be thought of as a moral compass in your
head telling you where the right morality lies. It isn't the morality itself. If one has a poorly
developed knowledge of morality then your conscience will fail in being a compass.
For Catholics that morality is found in the Catholic Church’s teachings. They have 'manuals' to help
in the formation of individual conscience. One is the Bible. Another is the Catechism of the Catholic
Church, the teaching manual for 'ardent practicing Catholics.'
The Catechism states the following on abortion and the right to life: 2270 Human life must be
respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.
From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the
rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.[71]
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.
[72]
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in
the depths of the earth.[73]
(For someone studying the issue this first citation seems to have settled the matter quite clearly.
You wonder how the speaker could have missed it...but of course you know she didn't.)
2271 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:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.[74]
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men
must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves.
Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and
infanticide are abominable crimes.[75]
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.
The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human
life.
"A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"[76]
"by the very commission of the offense,"[77] and subject to the conditions provided by
Canon Law.[78]
The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy.
Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the
innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element
of a civil society and its legislation:
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and
the political authority.
These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they
represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are
inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin.
Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right
to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death."[79]
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil
legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law.
When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in
particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are
undermined....
As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child
from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every
deliberate violation of the child's rights."[80]
2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its
integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.
Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the
human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual....
It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing
an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death
sentence."[81]
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