Bishops set the record straight for pro-abortion politicians

On Meet the Press, 24 August 2008, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was asked about her divergence from the Catholic Church on the issue of when life begins. She responded 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."

Cardinal Justin F. Rigali and Bishop William E. Lori
Cardinal Rigali, chairman of the U. Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop Lori, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, responded to Speaker Pelosi, saying that she "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion."

Cardinal Edward Egan
A statement by Cardinal Egan of New York, released on 26 August 2008, in response to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's remarks on Meet the Press, 24 August 2008, regarding the impact of the Church's historic uncertainty about when life begins in the womb on a "woman's right to choose."

Cardinal Francis George
Here is the response of the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago to Speaker Pelosi's comments on abortion. "The teaching that covers evils such as abortion could not be clearer."

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
In an address to Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, dated 25 August 2008, Archbishop Charles Chaput took exception to Speaker Pelosi's implication that the Church's teaching was ever unclear on the impermissibility of abortion.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl
In a statement released on 25 August, Archbishop Wuerl, of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., made clear that when life begins in the womb is not an issue of controversy in the Church, as Speaker Pelosi asserted, and he cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church to that effect.

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, STD, and Bishop Oscar Cantú, DD
During the week of August 25th Archbishop Gomez and Bishop Cantu, of San Antonio, Texas, joined their voices to the other bishops of the United States who have responded to House Speaker Pelosi’s remarks concerning abortion.

Archbishop George H. Niederauer
On 5 September the Archbishop of San Francisco responded to the comments of Nancy Pelosi, inviting her, as well, to speak with him about the matter. On 9 September it was reported that she had accepted the invitation of her archbishop.

Bishop Samuel Aquila
Bishop Aquila, of Fargo, North Dakota, in an Aug. 26 letter to priests, deacons, seminarians and others, noted that Pelosi's comments on abortion and Catholic teaching, were misinformed and likely to lead to confusion on Catholic teaching.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
The Bishop of Brooklyn comments first on the importance of clarity in the answers of those running for political office, then criticizes Speaker Pelosi for professing to be an "an ardent and practicing Catholic" while espousing views contrary to the teaching of the Church.

Bishop Richard G. Lennon
The Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, responds to Pelosi's implication that when life begins is still a matter of controversy in Catholic teaching. In fact, there is no dispute: Human life begins at conception.

Bishop Jerome E. Listecki
The Bishop of the Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, drew attention to the irony of Pelosi's recourse to theology, in order to throw doubt on the findings of science, that life begins in the womb at conception.

Bishop William Murphy
The Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, responded to Speaker Pelosi's comments by reiterating that the taking of innocent human life is always wrong and has been regarded by the Church as wrong since the First Century.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless
The Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, lists five universal, non-negotiable principles, rooted in the teachings of Christ, all of which bear on life-issues.

Bishop Glen John Provost
The Bishop of Lake Charles, Louisiana, points out that St. Augustine, holding there can be no conflict between faith and reason, would have accepted today's scientific conclusion that human life begins at conception.

Bishop Michael J. Sheridan
The Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs observes that, from the first century, "the Church has taught that abortion is gravely immoral." Those who take a public stance contrary to this teaching "should not present themselves for the reception of Holy Communion."

Bishop Robert Vasa
The Bishop of the Diocese of Baker, Oregon, observes that Speaker Pelosi bases her position on abortion on St. Augustine's outmoded view of when life begins, while ignoring his statement that abortion is always wrong, at whatever stage.

Bishop Thomas Wenski
The Bishop of Orlando reminds his readers that Bishops speak for the Church, not politicians who happen to be Catholic. Bishops don't endorse candidates, but they do insist that Catholics vote their consciences, consistent with fundamental moral principles.

Bishop David A. Zubik
The Bishop of Pittsburgh added his rejection of Speaker Pelosi's confused summary of Catholic teaching on abortion, which has not changed from the beginning.
Senator Joseph Biden

On Meet the Press on 7 September, Senator Joseph Biden made a similar assertion as Speaker Pelosi, instead calling St. Thomas Aquinas to witness to his erroneous position that the question of when life begins is a theological one of ensoulment, something he is “prepared as a matter of faith to accept," but that he "would not impose that belief on anyone through law."

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. and Bishop James Conley
In this statement, the bishops correct the errors of teaching and fact in Senator Biden's comments that could give rise to error and scandal among the faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver.

Bishop W. Francis Malooly
The Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, responds to Senator Biden's remarks by quoting the USCCB response by Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Lori.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless
The Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, discerns an incoherence in Senator Biden's position that, while he believes with the Church that life begins at conception, he may not impose his faith on others.
Other Statements and Resources

USCCB Fact Sheet on the Church’s constant teaching on Unborn Human Life

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ - Pelosi’s Abortion Statements a Scandal
During the EWTN program "Threshold Of Hope" host Father Mitch Pacwa S.J. explained that Nancy Pelosi was in grave error about the teaching of the Church fathers, summarized what other Church leaders are saying about her public statements, and offered her this piece of advice: “[A]s an ardent, practicing Catholic, you must conform your conscience to the teaching of the Church that goes back [to] the very beginning of the Church on this moral issue.”

AUDIO MP3Colin B. Donovan, STL - Open Line: What Do We Know About When Life Begins?Colin Donovan, Vice President for Theology at EWTN and host of Global Catholic Radio's Friday edition of Open Line, sheds light on the historical scientific, philosophical and theological discussions of when life begins (science), and when ensoulment occurs (philosophy and theology).