Bishop Murphy weighs in on the Pelosi abortion comments

The Catholic bishops, and the blosophere, have been quick and comprehensive in refuting Nancy Pelosi’s erring comments regarding abortion and the Catholic Church.  To this end, it is comforting to see yet another bishop who has commented on– and rebuked– Nancy Pelosi’s statement on Meet the Press.

Bishop William Murphy of the Rockville Centre diocese, writing in the Long Island Catholic, wrote this article:

What the Church does teach is the truth that the first and foremost issue is that of human life. It is the central issue of human living, and it is the most important measure of a healthy society. How we treat all human life, but especially vulnerable human life whether in the womb or at the last moments of earthly life, does determine whether or not we will have the moral vision to guide the choices we make in our families and communities, in our nation and the world.

We, United States bishops, address many issues, but we insist as the teachers of the Church that the priority task of every Catholic is to form one’s conscience correctly by attending to the teaching of the Church as an integral and necessary component in a well informed conscience [exactly! conscience is not a private and unaccountable world where, as long as you believe sincerely you are free to disagree with the Church.  Conscience must be properly formed]. The Church teaches that “human life is sacred.” Following the clear teaching of Pope John Paul II, the U.S. bishops echoed his teaching saying that “abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human life and dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental good and the condition of all others. Abortion, the deliberate killing of a human being before birth, is never morally acceptable and must always be opposed.”

The platform of the Democratic Party for this election year was adopted at the first day of the convention in Denver. Here is how it reads on this issue: “The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to undermine that right. The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to affordable family planning services and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives. We also recognize that such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby reduce the need for abortions. The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman’s decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre- and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs.” [Note how he makes no judgment on these words (but note below, he does make a brief comment).  They are damning enough by themselves.]

The day before, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was interviewed on Meet the Press by Mr. Tom Brokaw on this issue. She responded as a Catholic defending the unequivocally pro-abortion position of her party. As a Catholic she said she had studied the issue and then suggested that the doctors of the Church have not been able to make the definition that life begins at conception and then suggesting that it is only in the past 50 years or so that the teaching of the Church has stated that human life begins at conception. She adds, “And Senator — St. Augustine said three months. We don’t know. The point is it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s right to choose.”

Within 24 hours, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops through Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the USCCB Pro-Life Committee, with Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Doctrine Committee, issued a statement refuting Ms. Pelosi’s incorrect statements about Church teaching. They said “procured abortion” is a “grave … moral evil … the Church’s moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.” Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington and Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver each added their own comments reinforcing the constant and unambiguous teaching of the Church on abortion, a teaching that is morally binding on the consciences of all Catholics. Such teaching has been constant in the Church because it corresponds to an undeniable and indisputable fact: the direct procuring of an abortion is the destruction of innocent human life. While the Church as early as the Didache of the first century has always maintained this, it is a truth that binds not just Catholics. It binds any and everyone whose conscience has been informed by right reason. Only if you can justify the direct killing of innocent human life — and how that can be done is beyond my ability to understand — can you even countenance the evil of the abortion of the innocent child in the womb. [Excellent job of citing the relevant responses which his brothers have brought up.]

My aim is not in any way to discredit anyone. Speaker Pelosi, however, objectively misstated the Catholic Church’s teaching and claimed as fact things that are not. [This is the most important quote.  The Bishop corrects her directly and unequivocally in this sentence.] I am sure she is a fine person and I know she is a woman of talent. The platform of the Democratic Party stands or falls on its own words, although it has eliminated the word “rare” as one of their goals about abortion and it continues to propagate the false idea that more contraception leads to fewer abortions. The fact is exactly the opposite, as Pope Paul VI correctly foresaw. [A lot is squeezed into these last comments.  First, he makes the transition from Pelosi's views to the Democratic party's statement-- it is a good reminder of what the Democratic party stands for and how it is openly in direct opposition to central Catholic values.  This isn't to endorse any other party, of course, but merely to show how this particular one has committed itself to an evil which is irreconcilable with Catholic teaching.  The last two sentences are a gentle refutation of the pro-choice arguments which are popular among liberals, that is, the idea that legalizing it will lower its incidence.  It is also a very gentle insistence on the Church's irreformable teaching on contraception.  It is fantastic to see our good Bishop teaching not only the evil of abortion, but also of contraception and its link to the culture of death.]

May I close by urging one and all to read the U.S. bishops’ statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. In addition, I am happy to inform you that on Sunday, September 28, the diocese is sponsoring an afternoon on this document to be held from noon to 4 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, West Islip. Bishop Lori will be the keynote speaker. It promises to be a stimulating and informative day for all who can participate.

I recommend that anyone interested in this issue follow Diane at Te Deum and Fr. Z’s blog, both of whom have been closely following this issue, especially in hopes of  bringing it to the wider attention of the mainstream media so that they can report on the correction which the Bishops are giving to Nancy Pelosi, whose comments could be scandalous to the faithful.

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