c. 2008 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) People will use practically anything for politics, but when they use their religion it’s a bit breathtaking. Nancy Pelosi left a lot of Catholics gasping Sunday morning (Aug. 24) when she skewed Catholic teaching on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and erroneously suggested the church did not always oppose abortion.

The House Speaker went well beyond the “personally opposed” position of many Catholics in public life when she opted to misrepresent St. Augustine (354-430).

Her spokesperson two days later tried to explain it all away by citing Augustine’s comments on a passage of the Book of Exodus. The spokesman referred to the fourth century philosopher and theologian’s commentary on a passage about penalties for accidentally causing a woman to miscarry. It was an odd quote to choose given that Augustine lived well before science made it clear that new life begins when sperm meets egg.

Yet even without modern scientific knowledge, Augustine never allowed that abortion is acceptable. Opposition to abortion and infanticide, in fact, was one way early Christians distinguished themselves from the pagan culture around them.

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states clearly: “Since the first century the church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. The teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to moral law.”

Pelosi told “Meet the Press” host Tom Brokaw that “as an ardent, practicing Catholic,” abortion is an issue she has “studied for a long time.” She might avoid a lot of confusion were she to go to a primary source such as the catechism with its clear statement of Catholic teaching.

The Catholic Church’s position against abortion is long-standing. Even in the Middle Ages, when there was discussion about when human life could receive an immortal soul, the church did not allow abortion.

At the very least, early abortion was seen as attacking a being with a human destiny, being prepared by God to receive an immortal soul. As the understanding of embryology has increased, the obvious correctness of this position has only grown. Science has helped confirm what Christians already knew as a fundamental truth.

Many defenses are offered by those who seek to justify a pro-choice position. Some say it’s all they can do in their political party but they’ll work to make resorting to abortion less likely. Others oppose late-term abortions, which may make them feel they’re at least against what’s practically infanticide. Still others say “it’s the law of the land,” ignoring the fact that slavery was once that too.

Still others defend their position by saying a lot of Catholics are pro-choice. I once had high school students who misspelled a word on a sign and explained themselves by saying they voted on it. Like those youngsters, those who argue their point by claiming that majority rule makes it right are a bit off in their understanding of both democracy and objective truth.

They’re all reasons, of course, some weaker than others. But for a political leader to proclaim herself an authority on Catholicism and suggest that the church ever has supported abortion is flat out wrong. There is no debate there. For a Catholic to hold herself up as an authority on the matter and to misuse church teaching for some political purpose is at best disingenuous. Few teachings of the church are clearer.

(Sister Mary Ann Walsh is director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

DSB/LF END WALSH

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