By Judie Brown
Recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blew off her archbishop’s instruction that she refrain from receiving the body of Christ in the Eucharist with this response: “I come from a largely pro-life, Italian-American Catholic family, so I respect people’s views about that, but I don’t respect us foisting it onto others.”
This single self-promoting sentence tells us all we need to know about those who detest Christ, His Church, and the truth itself. We all know—at least all pro-life Americans know—that Pelosi is a fraud. But knowing that does not help us speak in the public square in a way that resonates with doubters.
When Pelosi was asked about whether her beliefs about abortion agree with those of Pope Francis and St. John Paul II, she said: “What I agree on is that whatever I believe, agree with the pope on, is not necessarily what public policy should be in the United States as people make their own judgments, honor their own responsibilities, and attend to the needs of their families.”
In other words, the shallowness of Pelosi’s convictions is only overshadowed by her ability to deceive the listener, the reporter, and/or the Vatican. We know what she believes, as it is apparent from her actions. Pelosi believes in abortion, and she does not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. After all, even the Speaker of the House can’t have it both ways.
When we point this out, we do so with prayers for Pelosi’s soul and for those who may be influenced by the example she sets. Whether it is her granddaughter or the people reading her newspaper interview, Pelosi is incriminating herself with her disbelief.
The fundamental truth is that to be truly Catholic and in love with one’s faith is to live it. As one profound writer explains regarding our tasks as Catholics:
Know your Catholic faith. You cannot live your faith if you do not know it, and you cannot share with others what you do not first make your own (CCC 429). Learning your Catholic faith takes some effort, but it is effort well spent because the study is, quite literally, infinitely rewarding.
Live your Catholic faith. Your Catholic faith is a public thing. It is not meant to be left behind when you leave home (CCC 2472). But be forewarned: Being a public Catholic involves risk and loss. You will find some doors closed to you. You will lose some friends. You will be considered an outsider. But, as a consolation, remember our Lord’s words to the persecuted: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matt. 5:12).
Spread your Catholic faith. Jesus Christ wants us to bring the whole world into captivity to the truth, and the truth is Jesus himself, who is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Spreading the faith is a task not only for bishops, priests, and religious—it is a task for all Catholics (CCC 905).
This is so clear for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to know, live, and spread our faith. By these simple facts we can identify the faithful Catholic and praise God for them. But . . .
Insulting Christ is an abomination, Madam Speaker!