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The Canonization Of St. Nancy Pelosi

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By Frank Shannon

Published: January 10, 2007

Brandon, FL - Brandon, FL - A day before Democrats officially took majority control of Congress, incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attended Mass at the Notre Dame Chapel at her alma mater, Trinity University in Washington, D.C. The Mass was in remembrance of the children of Darfur and Hurricane Katrina.

All through the 2006 congressional campaign, Pelosi trumpeted her having five children in six years as "the best training in the world for Speaker of the House," and claims that the reasons she "came to Congress are simple: the children, the children, the children."

But before Pelosi wraps herself in the sacred mantle of her motherhood, before anyone calls Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican to schedule St. Nancy's canonization, perhaps one should consider the children that Pelosi seems to have forgotten about or intentionally disregarded: the unborn.

Pelosi, a congresswoman from San Francisco, has come under fire from pro-lifers for her unabashedly pro-abortion voting record. She's also been an outspoken supporter of gay "marriage" and an opponent of any efforts at constitutional amendments protecting marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. Pelosi's positions are directly contrary to the teachings of the Roman Catholicism that she seems to wear like a mere fashion accessory.

"Rep. Pelosi has been unwavering in her support for abortion and is downright defiant toward the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "It is shameful that Trinity College, a supposedly Catholic institution, has turned a blind eye to the heretical views Pelosi embraces.

"Rep. Pelosi has a tremendous opportunity to make a difference for all human beings as the most powerful Catholic in Congress. Unfortunately, she continually supports the very act that destroys life rather than protects it. It is for this very reason that a Catholic institution should not condone or support her position as a legislator."

The American Life League has consistently called on Catholic bishops to deny Holy Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion. During the 2004 presidential campaign, anti-abortion advocates also encouraged the Catholic Church to deny communion to Senator John Kerry.

In the face of such criticism, St. Nancy has taken to twisting Catholic teaching in search of a defense.

"I believe that my position on choice is one that is consistent with my Catholic upbringing," said
Pelosi, "which said that every person has a free will and has the responsibility to live their own lives in a way that they would have to account for in the end."

But William Donahue, president of the Catholic League, doesn't quite regard clear principles of faith as being as conveniently dispensable as does St. Nancy.

"It is one thing for Nancy Pelosi to defend the intentional killing of innocent babies," said Donohue, "quite another to suggest that her view is consistent with Catholic teaching. She justifies her pro-abortion position by invoking freedom of conscience, arguing that this is what the Catholic Church teaches. While it is true that the Catholic Church honors the role of conscience in making moral decisions, it explicitly emphasizes the need for a 'well-formed conscience.' By this it means that Catholics are obliged to acknowledge the central role of Catholic teaching in arriving at a just decision.

Absent such a condition, anything could be justified. After all, Jeffrey Dahmer invoked his conscience in justifying murder and cannibalism, yet no one thinks what he did was just.

"This leaves Pelosi with two choices: stop supporting abortion or stop misrepresenting the teachings of the Catholic Church."

Frank Shannon is a writer and longtime conservative activist. He can be contacted via email at FXShannon@aol.com.

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