Transcript of interview of Rep. Nancy Pelosi by Joe Feuerherd

[rlg94086]

I understand your point, but then she should have answered the interviewer with a different adjective.

Q: You were recently quoted as calling yourself a “conservative Catholic.” Are you?
A: I think so.

She should have said, “well, Joe, really I meant to say ‘cafeteria Catholic.’ They both start with ‘c,’ so I was confused.”

If you are opposed to a dogmatic teaching of the Church, you should not consider yourself a “conservative Catholic.” She may confess her opposition regularly, but personally I doubt it. Most Catholics I know who are opposed to Church teaching don’t apologize for it. They don’t feel they are “struggling” with a teaching of the Church - they feel the Church is dead wrong and needs to come around to their way of thinking.

No, not quite. My understanding of Church teaching is that while Free Will allows that we may not all accept every teaching of the magisterium, we should no promote our opinions in such a way as to lead others into scandal. I believe Speaker Pelosi is pro-choice in her heart and cannot represent herself any different. However, being a public figure she must then publicly act in a way that may well lead others.
Is that clearer? Perhaps my understanding is incomplete.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Any respectable prof will tell you, it’s the best and brightest students that will argue with you all the time. And often they make good points.

The Catholic Church is not a “prof.” It is charged with teaching and upholding Christ’s message.

It’s “teaching authority” not mandated conformity

The teaching authority is the Magisterium, which all faithful Catholics are required to accept and uphold.

for that would eliminate Free Will and without that there’s no true act of Faith.

No. Free will to sin remains – and deviation from that which we are mandated to accept and uphold is a sin.

 

[mary_bobo]

You obviously don’t understand what dogma means. Yes, she has Free Will; however, she is in grave error according to God’s laws.

As are quite a number of other “catholics” in government.

 

[vern_humphrey]

As are quite a number of other “catholics” in government.

It is a wonderful thing to be born into a Catholic family. It is a terrible thing to throw that heritage away for a mess of votes.

 

[Riley259]

No, I’ll pray that Bush is impeached along with Cheney for their war crimes and that she becomes president.

Must be a so-called liberal Catholic.

 

[Riley259]

No, not quite. My understanding of Church teaching is that while Free Will allows that we may not all accept every teaching of the magisterium, we should no promote our opinions in such a way as to lead others into scandal. I believe Speaker Pelosi is pro-choice in her heart and cannot represent herself any different. However, being a public figure she must then publicly act in a way that may well lead others.
Is that clearer? Perhaps my understanding is incomplete.

I’m afraid your misinformed, my friend. I’d suggest you read back what you just stated in your post - you don’t actually believe that do you?

 

[Dale_M]

I didn’t totally understand when she was talking about receiving communion… does she or doesn’t she (at her home parish?) She talked about being a “moving target” and homilies she’d hear in the South… what was that?

The transcript was a little confusing to me too. My take: Rep. Pelosi expressed awareness that some Catholic politicians faced the possibilty of being denied the Eucharist. She thinks the pressure is greatest in the American South, although rumblings are heard in California.

Unfortunately, the transcript omits a portion of her answer. It seems she is concerned that she might be turned away. But yet she seems defiant too. Her statement “I’m a moving target” , “I’m in a different church every week” suggests that she might try to evade a ban on receiving communion by playing a sort of shell game. But then she immediately names her home parish as if she doesn’t fear being banned and will take a stand. I don’t know know what to make of it.

 

[bones_IV]

No, I’ll pray that Bush is impeached along with Cheney for their war crimes and that she becomes president.

That’s a pretty arrogant statement to make. And further more, I find your post to be objectionable! Accusing Bush of war crimes is just stupid, you don’t even know what a war criminal is!!! That’s the message you give with statements like that. God help you.

 

[mary_bobo]

It is a wonderful thing to be born into a Catholic family. It is a terrible thing to throw that heritage away for a mess of votes.

Yes, Vern, it is. And it is done everyday. And some of us help them do it.

 

[bones_IV]

Yes, Vern, it is. And it is done everyday. And some of us help them do it.

Unfortunately yes.

 

[tuescat]

No, I’ll pray that Bush is impeached along with Cheney for their war crimes and that she becomes president.

What does that have to do with this thread? Aren’t part the rules here to stay on topic?

 

[Dale_M]

What does that have to do with this thread?

It would seem off-topic, but the very first question of the interview is:

The recently released national security policy states that “Our enemies have openly declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, and evidence indicates that they are doing so with determination … America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed.” Does the “Bush Doctrine” – a policy of preemption – represent a significant policy shift for the U.S.? Do you support it?

 

[MichaelTDoyle]

I am not convinced that democratic policies would decrease abortion.

In any event, as Catholics we need to proclaim the truth. A “Pro choice” message that it is okay in some circumstances to murder your baby is a lie. Truth must trump any efficacy of reducing abortions just as following Jesus must trump all else. If we lie in the hope to reduce abortions by declaring ourselves “Pro-Choice” when we know abortion is murder then we have lied about the truth and are not following Him.

Prochoice then can never be an acceptable position for a Catholic, regardless of the efficacy of worldly means to reduce abortions.

One should not be pro-choice and present oneself for communion, because you have acquiesced to the belief that it is under some circumstance acceptable to murder an innocent. If you are a Catholic and pro-choice, please pray on this.

 

[blackrobe]

I’m curious…do those of you berating now-Speaker Pelosi believe it impossible to be simultaneously pro-choice and still abhor abortion?

I’m not berating anybody, but to be “pro-choice” while claiming to abhor abortion is intellectually and morally bankrupt. It’s like saying I abhor slavery but I can’t impose my beliefs on slaveowners.

Take any “pro-choice” argument that sounds reasonable and substitute slavery for abortion. Does it still sound as reasonable?

JSA

 

[Sabda]

Oh WOW! She’s obviously either is ignorant of Church teaching or flat out does not care.

This part has my really scratching my head:

I would try to find a Catholic church nearby. I heard some of the **sermons **in some of the churches down south, so I understand what some of our colleagues undergo in the church – it was difficult. We’ve had those sermons in California, but a little more subtlety than I was hearing down south. It gave me a better understanding of what some of my colleagues are going through.

She is either;

A. a Protestant in disguise
B. spending way to much time in Protestant churches.
C. the interviewer changed the wording on purpose

Since when do Catholics (cradles at that) go around calling the homily a sermon? I have NEVER heard the homily referred to as a sermon by a Catholic!

I do agree with others we’re missing part of the story here.

 

[MiddleBear]

Q: Is Pelosi a conservative Catholic?

Reply:

No, Pelosi is a Democrat.

 

[Lurch104]

Since when do Catholics (cradles at that) go around calling the homily a sermon? I have NEVER heard the homily referred to as a sermon by a Catholic!

I was out to supper with a priest last week, and it explained it like this: A homily is a reflection on the readings, a sermon is preaching/teaching unrelated to the readings.

The first I have ever heard of such a distinction.

 

[Sabda]

I was out to supper with a priest last week, and it explained it like this: A homily is a reflection on the readings, a sermon is preaching/teaching unrelated to the readings.

The first I have ever heard of such a distinction.

So then was she truly at Mass or was it an event outside of Mass? Can there be a sermon during Mass? Hmmm, interesting.