Flashback: Pope Benedict Rebuked Pelosi, Told Her Catholic Legislators Obligated to Protect Life: No Pelosi/Pope photos permitted
Flashback:
By John-Henry Westen
VATICAN CITY, February 18, 2009
(LifeSiteNews.com) - The Vatican Press Office released a note this
morning detailing part of the conversation which Pope Benedict XVI had
with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Pelosi
also released a statement on the meeting, which ignored the one and only
crucial issue mentioned in the Vatican note. WHile Pelosi presented
the meeting as a fully positive encounter, the Vatican indicated the
Pope reminded her of the requirement of Catholic politicians to defend
life. Also, contrary to normal protocols for such meetings with
dignitaries, no photos of Pelosi with the Pope have been released.
The
Vatican note reads: "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the
requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent
teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death
which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and
those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation
with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws
capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."
Vatican
insiders stressed to LifeSiteNews.com that such releases are always
phrased in diplomatic language and thus the correction of the Speaker
who describes herself as a "faithful Catholic," despite her abortion
advocacy, should be taken as a firm rebuke.
LifeSiteNews.com also learned that concerns about Pelosi were presented to Vatican officials a day prior to the meeting.
Such
encounters with the Pope are treasured by politicians for the photo
opportunity they provide. Pelosi, however, was not afforded that
customary photo by the Vatican. The Associated Press reports that "the
Vatican said it was not issuing a photo of the meeting -- as it usually
does when the pope meets world leaders -- saying the encounter was
private."
For her part, Pelosi issued a press release on the
15-minute meeting with the Pope. "It is with great joy that my husband,
Paul, and I met with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI today," she said.
"In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's
leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as
the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip
and message to Israel."
The release from the Vatican, however, made no mention of the comments that Pelosi stressed in her release.
Pelosi's
positive spin on the meeting is not being swallowed even by
left-leaning Papal watchers. Vatican correspondent John Allen, who
writes for the National Catholic Reporter, noted that "routine Vatican
declarations after diplomatic meetings also generally sum up the range
of issues discussed rather than concentrating on a particular point. In
that sense, the statement can only be read as a rejection of Pelosi's
statements last summer, and, in general, of her argument that it's
acceptable for Catholics in public life to take a pro-choice position."
Allen
also noted that "by issuing an unusual public statement after the
session with Pelosi -- which insisted that all Catholics, including
legislators, are obliged to work for the defense of human life from
conception to natural death -- the pope also made clear there will no
let-up in the pressure on pro-choice Catholic politicians to change
their ways."
Many pro-life organizations from the US and Canada
expressed their serious concerns to the Holy See that Mrs. Pelosi was
going to be received by the Holy Father. Some of these organizations
sent to different Vatican authorities comprehensive memoranda in which
they showed in a detailed and precise way the anti-life statements and
the pro-death voting record of Mrs. Pelosi.
Catholic sources in
Rome, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were "very much
encouraged by this statement," saying that it shows that the "Holy
Father is ready to stand up with courage to politicians that claim they
are Catholics but their voting record denies those hypocritical
assertions."
Pray an Our Father now for the restoration of the Mass and the Church as well as for the Triumph of the Kingdom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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