Opinion: An Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Master of Hypocrisy

By Jennifer Hartline
5/11/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

You are misleading people, Ms. Pelosi, and in my opinion, you take a rather cheeky satisfaction in doing so. I read your remarks from the Catholic Community Conference on Capitol Hill last week, and the nicest way I can say it is: you sure have a lot of nerve.Your platform gives you a nationwide microphone; your political authority can lead the ignorant and the gullible to think that you speak with authority on matters of faith as well. You do not.

For the Speaker, protecting a tiny, powerless, still-forming child is not the same thing as protecting a voter.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Madam Speaker,

In the interest of honesty, I will say up front that I'm not a supporter of yours. I am a woman who deeply loves the Church you claim as your own, and I am disgusted at your most recent attempt to exert your power under the guise of Christian love. The political games you play are bad enough, but your public perversion of the Catholic faith simply cannot go unanswered.

Your platform gives you a nationwide microphone; your political authority can lead the ignorant and the gullible to think that you speak with authority on matters of faith as well. You do not. In another profession, your errant views might only go as far as your immediate friends and family, but due to your position, your error can potentially spread like a deadly virus among thousands.

You are misleading people, Ms. Pelosi, and in my opinion, you take a rather cheeky satisfaction in doing so. I read your remarks from the Catholic Community Conference on Capitol Hill last week, and the nicest way I can say it is: you sure have a lot of nerve.

You told those gathered that Catholics who opposed your version of immigration reform needed to be reminded that this is "a manifestation of our living the gospels." You let it be known that you felt the need to instruct the bishops, cardinals and archbishops on what they should say to their congregations regarding immigration reform. You, who obstinately refuse to heed the instruction and correction of your own bishop, as well as many other bishops, regarding your public actions and statements concerning the teachings of the Church, now establish yourself as an authority on the Church's role in matters near and dear to your heart.

You stated with shocking audacity that "We have to respect that dignity and worth of the individual and recognize that the Church has an important role to play in that." Your hypocrisy is simply staggering! You see no obligation to recognize the dignity and worth of the preborn child in the womb - only the dignity and worth of the post-born person who can applaud and cast a vote in your favor.

Where was your conviction that we must respect the dignity and worth of the individual when you insisted, "To me it isn't even a question.[of being a faithful Catholic while being pro-abortion] God has given us free will. We're all responsible for our actions. If you don't want an abortion, you don't believe in it, then don't have one. But don't tell somebody else what they can do in terms of honoring their responsibilities." (Newsweek magazine interview Oct 2006) Funny. I never knew that honoring my responsibilities meant I could kill a baby. And I certainly never knew that it was a "choice" my Church and my God would support.

In case you've forgotten, here was Bishop Vasa's reply to your errant statement: "It is categorically impossible for the same person to state that he or she believes simultaneously both what the Catholic Church teaches and that abortion is just a choice.Furthermore, it is an unjust choice which is diametrically opposed to the clear and consistent teaching of the Catholic Church as well as to the clear and consistent teaching of God Himself in the Ten Commandments. The direct, intentional taking of the life of an innocent human being is inhumane and unjust. It is not just a choice!"

Where was your conviction that we must respect the dignity and worth of the individual during the health care reform debates when the Catholic bishops spoke out in unison against the federal funding of abortion? Oh yes - your reply was denial. "No taxpayer funding of abortion in here, no sir!" No one with an ounce of common sense believed that patronizing lie. We all knew it was in there as well as you did.

But again, let's not pretend that protecting a tiny, powerless, still-forming child is the same thing as protecting a voter. Surely even the Church must understand that as a politician, you have to have your priorities straight. It's your survival in Washington that matters.

After all, there's nothing to be gained personally by insisting on the dignity and worth of the person in the womb. They can't do anything for you; they must simply be served - lovingly and without repayment. They don't generate income for decades, and by the time they can vote, it'll be someone else's election. There's nothing in it for you now, and far too much money from the abortion lobby at stake. Yeah, those babies simply cost way too much.

Time and time again, you deny the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception, deny that we have an obligation to the preborn as fellow human beings, and even try ...

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1 - 10 of 76 Comments

MICHAEL G. ALBANO
3 years ago
POLLY, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND I WILL TRY TO DO MY RESEARCH ON THE MATTER. I THOUGHT YOU WHERE NOT FROM THE U.S. SINCE YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ALREADY HAD SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. BECAUSE OF THIS I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS PROPER FOR ME TO DISCUSS THE NEW U.S. MEDICAL LAW. ONCE AGAIN, POLLY, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
michael
3 years ago
Thank you for your clear and strong stand with the Church for Truth. God bless you and your family
polly
3 years ago
Hi Michael G. In response to your request may I suggest you google Chocolate/Child slavery or Chocolate/The bitter truth. I recently saw the BBC program on Four Corners and it may be available on line There is no need for an apology Michael, I am not insulted. As I'm not an American much of what you have listed is not my experience so I won't comment. May God bless you too.
MICHAEL G. ALBANO
3 years ago
DEAR POLLY: I TOO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS. AND YES, HYPOCRISY HAS MANY FACES. AND YES, I AM A SINNER. HOWEVER, I AM UNAWARE OF ANY COUNTRY OR COMPANY THAT HAS KIDNAPPED ANY CHILDREN TO PRODUCE THEIR PRODUCTS. TRULY, I'M NOT! DO YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT I MAY REVIEW. MY E-MAIL IS 862.ALBANO@GMAIL.COM. IF THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE, I WOULD BOYCOTT THOSE PRODUCTS. THANK YOU.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR THOUGHT, I AM BY NO MEANS A RICH MAN! BUT, TO GIVE UP ALL OUR TECHNICAL ADVANCES WOULD BE FOOL HARDY. I AM SURE YOU AGREE THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS GIVEN US SO MANY GOOD THINGS THAT ARE USED TO HELP SO MANY PEOPLE. YES, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD NEVER BE COMFORTABLE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH INJUSTICE AND CRUELTY IN THIS WORLD. BUT, NO GOVERNMENT WITH ALL ITS LAWS, CAN MAKE A PERSON STOP HATING, CHEATING, DECEIVING, ETC. ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL WITH AN INFORMED CONSCIENCE WHO LOVES GOD AND NEIGHBOR CAN DO THAT.
REGARDING YOUR COMMENTS FROM "A READER", SOCIALISM/COMMUNISM, CAPITALISM/FASCISM, I WOULD RATHER PUT IT THIS WAY: SOCIALISM/FASCISM/COMMUNISM. (BUT THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.) WHAT THE PRIEST IS SAYING IS THAT THROUGHOUT RECENT HISTORY SOCIALISM HAS LED TO COMMUNISM, AND OF IT'S VERY NATURE IS GODLESS. THIS IS TRUE. IT'S FACT. LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OWN SOCIETY: NO PRAYERS IN SCHOOL, A STUDENT IS NOT PERMITTED TO WEAR THE ROSARY AROUND HIS NECK, RELIGIOUS STATUES MUST BE COVERED WHEN OBAMA TALKS AT A CATHOLIC INSTITUTION, VOLUNTEERS ARE ASKED TO REMOVE THEIR SHIRTS SHOWING THE SALVATION ARMY ON THEM. I AM SURE THAT YOU COULD ENUMERATE MANY MORE INCIDENCES.
AS FOR GREECE, I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IT WAS NOT THE RATINGS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM. IT'S GREECE'S INABILITY TO PAY OUT MORE THAN IT RECEIVES, MEANING THAT ITS TAX RECEIPTS (INCOME) ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE ON ITS CURRENT OUTSTANDING DEBT, THE SOCIAL PROGRAMS, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' PENSIONS, AND THE RUNNING OF THE GOVERNMENT, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF ITS PROBLEMS. NO MATTER WHO THEY BLAME , IT'S STILL THEIR MISMANAGEMENT. THEY MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SUCH A ONCE GREAT SOCIETY IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN!
IF I SOUND PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I AM SAYING AND YOU OR OTHERS ARE INSULTED BY IT, I TRULY APOLOGIZE. IT IS NOT MY INTENT. I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF INSULTING OR HURTING ANYONE.
GOD BLESS!
Lisa
3 years ago
Dear Bernard -

I commend your defense of Nancy Pelosi's career and intentions. What we need to remember is what prompted this thread. Is she a hypocrite in calling upon the Church to further her policies when she does not espouse Catholic beliefs? I fundamentally disagree with your assessment that, "...corruption, enquality (sic, I think you mean inequality), capitalist greed and the complete disregard for the environment..." represent more serious ills than abortion. More to the point, Pelosi's good deeds don't negate her hypocracy. Let's return to a basic premise, Catholics believe that there is *no* ceiling on helping humanity (we can and *should* always do more). We find ourselves continuing to argue that there is a floor and, as such, there are only two explanations for Pelosi's stance on unrestricted abortions. Either: (1) she believes that a fetus is not a life (which would run counter to science - both secular and non-secular); or, (2) she believes it is a life but it can be ended in the pursuit of convenience for another life. If it is (1), than she should defend why a fetus is not really a life, which I have not heard her do. If it is (2), then, not only are her beliefs explicitly against Catholism, but, a logical extension is that Pelosi would believe any life could be ended at any time for the convenience of another. Why and how could one truly distinguish the value of a life at 17 weeks to one at 17 years? It is a pretty slippery slope because one quickly goes down the path that, based on arbitrary criteria, one life is more worthy/valuable than another. I can think of few things that are more contrary to Catholic teachings.
Bernard Phillips
3 years ago
Aboration is ugly and cruel and I do not think many people regardless of their religious convictions support it. However there may be some people who may resort to it for reasons best known to them. They should not be playing God but those people who oppose abortion should also not play God. Let the woman who decides on it be herself responsible for that act alone.
But I take offense to your comments on the Speaker. I do believe that she has done much to help the poor and the needy in ways which you may not be able to do.. She does have some faults but these are eclipised by her numerous acheivements the latest being the pivitol role she played in the Health Reform Bill. Perhaps you like so many others may not fully appreciated what this entails for millions of Americans but the reality she was also doing God's work fighting for the poor and needy. I would say she has done Our Lord proud. As I am of her.
So PLEASE dont speak ill of her. But if you must speak then lets talk about the more serious ills in our society. The corruption, the enquality, the capitalist greed, the complete disregard of the environment that is damaging the US so much.
polly
3 years ago
Michael G Firstly I respect your opinion and appreciate the polite manner in expressing your differences to Ed Nester. However I beg to differ on some points.

The examples of chocolate and cell phones are very significant when you realize what happens in the harvesting of the coco beans and mining of coltan for phones etc.
This is not just a case of people being reduced to slavery. It is children kidnapped from their families and forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions with no escape. They are held captive with no idea where they are or where their families are. I can't look at a piece of chocolate the same way after discovering these facts.

Hypocrisy has many faces. We are all like the rich young man who came to Jesus asking what more can he do besides keep the commandments. He could't go that step further and give up something to enter their (the poors) world and know their suffering. Nor can we give up our comforts and technology en masse to force a change in the practice of how these commodies come to us. We divorce ourselves from this reality because it makes us uncomfortable.

Addressing the comments of "A Reader" I am always puzzled why some mention socialism as socialism/communism. It makes as much sence as writing capitalism as capitalism/fascism. One does not necessarily become the other.

As for the demise of Greece much of that is due to their economy being downgraded to "junk" by the very corporate agencies that gave a triple A rating to the billions of dollars in sub-prime mortgage securities that caused the economic collapse of 2008. I live in a country with a highly regulated banking system and so we have not suffered as much as some from the collapse. We also have a "socialized" medical system and I consider it a blessing to our country. I don't find it offensive if our tax dollars actually help our citizens in need "There but for the grace of God go I".
barney
3 years ago
I have been watching most of the politicians there only there for their personal gain . Believing in them has made my heart cold to the way our country . Has been handling the abortion isue. Doesn't it say in the bilble thy shall not kill. Will as I see it not following this comandment is you straight ticket to hell. God gives us free will to belive or not . Me personally i"m not going to take a chance. Belive in God in his teaching and not second guess God. Putting God to the test and you will lose. May the peace of christ of christ touch your heart.
MICHAEL G. ALBANO
3 years ago
POLLY, YOU ARE SO ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE CHOCOLATE, CELL PHONES, AND COMPUTERS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET AT. NO MATTER, I UNDERSTAND. MANY TIMES WORKERS ARE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND SOME ARE REDUCED TO SLAVERY. THIS IS TERRIBLY WRONG, AND THE CHURCH (MANY ENCYCLICALS) HAVE DENOUNCED THIS BEHAVIOR. WHAT I DON'T THINK ED UNDERSTANDS IS THE FACT THAT ABORTION IS SO INTRINSICALLY EVIL THAT IT WILL HAVE A LASTING AND DEVASTATING EFFECT ON SOCIETY. HE SHOULD STUDY NOT ONLY THE MORAL ISSUE BUT ALSO CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS. FURTHERMORE, HIS RELIANCE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DO ALL THE THINGS HE/WE, THE INDIVIDUAL, ARE OBLIGATED TO DO WILL DESTROY THIS COUNTRY. LOOK AT GREECE, SPAIN. ITALY, ETC. HE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF "A READER" MAY 12. IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO LAMBASTE ED NESTOR AS SOME DO, BUT TO DISCUSS WITH HIM WHY JENNIFER HARTLINE WROTE HER LETTER.
polly
3 years ago
To michael & Lisa. I would like to defend Ed Nester.

Lisa said "there is simply no justification for sacrificing one life for the convenience of another". Sadly that is happening everyday, abortion is just one of many ways this happens. I think this is the point Ed Nester was making. We eat chocolate, use cell phones and computers without ever a thought of the suffering and death that may have occured to bring us the end product. No doubt Nancy Pelosi is as big a hypocrite as the rest of us. If we don't educate ourselves about the atrocities committed to indulge our privileged lifestyles then are we living the Gospel? It's not about the redistribution of wealth,it's about how the wealth is aquired at what human cost. Fighting for the unborn is necessary but it no way absolves us from ignoring the suffering of others

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