Washington, D.C. (26 August 2008) – American Life League President Judie Brown denounced Nancy Pelosi's statements on MSNBC's "Meet the Press" August 24, as false representations of Catholic teachings.
Brown notes that, as a charitable organization, American Life League does not comment for or against any candidate for public office. However, as a Catholic organization, ALL does comment when true Catholic teachings are misrepresented.
Ms. Pelosi told reporter Tom Brokaw that, as an "ardent, practicing Catholic," she did not know when life begins.
"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," Pelosi said.
Pelosi went on to misquote St. Augustine: "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 … So again, over the history of the Church, this is an issue of controversy."
Brown rebutted this misleading statement on Church teachings, saying, "The Church has loudly and consistently defended the humanity of each individual from the very moment of creation. St. Augustine affirmed, based on knowledge available at the time, that a human being, made in the image and likeness of God, begins at the moment of creation."
Pelosi also said the Church has only begun defining when human life begins in the last 50 years.
In fact, the first Christian catechism, the Didache, condemned abortion in 70 A.D., "You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born."
"Clearly Pelosi is not a Biblical scholar nor an expert on Catholic teaching. If she were she would have pointed out that from the moment Christ existed in Mary's womb, He was known as a human being. John the Baptist got it right when he lept for joy as Mary approached his mother, Elizabeth, and at that time Christ's prenatal life had just begun."
Further, Brown continued, "The Church has consistently condemned the intentional taking of an innocent human life, from the very moment of creation, as murder. How exactly does an 'ardent, practicing Catholic' get her facts so egregiously wrong?"
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Michael Hichborn at 540.659.7900.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- Catholic News Agency: Denver archbishop slams Pelosi on Church teachings and abortion (25 August 2008)
- Hot Air: Pelosi lies about Catholicism and abortion (24 August 2008)