| Politics

"Authentic moral teaching is based on objective truth, not polling. Accordingly, as her pastor, I am writing to invite her into a conversation with me about these matters."

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Zenit) - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is being invited by her hometown archbishop to discuss her erroneous views on the Catholic Church's teaching on abortion.

In a statement released today, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco joined the list of bishops who have responded to Pelosi's misrepresentation of Church teaching, which she expressed during an interview Aug. 24 on NBC-TV's "Meet the Press."

Catholic San Francisco, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, published Archbishop Niederauer's text.Pelosi, when asked to comment on when life begins, said that as a Catholic, she had studied the issue for "a long time" and that "the doctors of the Church have not been able to make that definition."

Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Lori, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, responded the next day stating that her answer "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion."

The prelates noted that since the first century the Church has "affirmed the moral evil of every abortion." A series of statements were released by other bishops across the United States, including Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., Archbishop Charles Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley of Denver, Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of New York, Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota.

Not polling

Archbishop Niederauer's statement said, "It is my responsibility as archbishop of San Francisco to teach clearly what Christ in his Church teaches about faith and morals, and to oppose erroneous, misleading and confusing positions when they are advanced."

After citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church and reaffirming the teaching of the Church that life begins at conception and that abortion has always been considered wrong, he added, "We believe that we are called to trust the Spirit to guide the Church, so we do not pick and choose among her teachings."

Pelosi's office issued a statement Aug. 29 that said: "While Catholic teaching is clear that life begins at conception, many Catholics do not ascribe [sic] to that view." "That statement," responded Archbishop Niederauer, "suggests that morality can be decided by poll, by numbers. If 90% of Catholics subscribe to the view that human life begins at conception, does that makes Church teaching truer than if only 70% or 50% agree?Authentic moral teaching is based on objective truth, not polling."

Communion

Regarding calls for the archbishop to make a decision to exclude Pelosi from receiving Communion, the archbishop warned that the Church "should be cautious when making judgments about whether or not someone else should receive Holy Communion."

He cited the 2006 document of the U.S. episcopal conference "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper" that states: "If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately repudiate her definitive teachings on moral issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church.

"Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain." The archbishop added, "In his or her conscience, properly formed, a Catholic should recognize that making legal an evil action, such as abortion, is itself wrong."

"I regret the necessity of addressing these issues in so public a forum, but the widespread consternation among Catholics made it unavoidable," the prelate continued. "Speaker Pelosi has often said how highly she values her Catholic faith, and how much it is a source of joy for her.

"Accordingly, as her pastor, I am writing to invite her into a conversation with me about these matters. It is my obligation to teach forthrightly and to shepherd caringly, and that is my intent."

Today, tomorrow

Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, also contributed a statement this week. He said that public policy issues are often misrepresented in the midst of political campaigns."While everyone could be expected to know the Church's position on the immorality of abortion and the role of law in protecting unborn children, it seems some profess not to know it and others, even in the Church, dispute it," he said.

The cardinal went on to clarify: "The Catholic Church, from its first days, condemned the aborting of unborn children as gravely sinful. [...] The teaching of the Church was clear in a Roman Empire that permitted abortion. This same teaching has been constantly reiterated in every place and time up to Vatican II, which condemned abortion as a 'heinous crime.'"This is true today and will be so tomorrow. Any other comments, by politicians, professors, pundits or the occasional priest, are erroneous and cannot be proposed in good faith."