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Why Nancy Pelosi matters and I no longer care
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"Ardent, practicing Catholic" Nancy Pelosi
Last week, the media, both secular and Catholic, were abuzz with news that Pope Benedict XVI told Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, that Catholic politicians had a duty to protect the unborn. I'm a little confused that these remarks were regarded as news, since the Holy Father was simply stating a teaching of the Church that spans two millennia. The only thing less interesting would be the Dalai Lama re-affirming that peace is good.
So why all the attention? Nancy Pelosi, who is, arguably, the most powerful Roman Catholic in the U.S. is known for her schizophrenic disregard for the Church's teaching on the issues of abortion, contraception, and euthanasia. Worse, she has argued that the Catholic Church has somehow been vague or unclear on these matters, which are, in fact, merely affirmations of basic, civil, human rights.
Despite this confusion, Pelosi considers herself to be and tells others that she is an "ardent, practicing Catholic." Further, she continues to receive communion around the country, including last year's Papal Mass in Washington, D.C.
The Church teaches that Catholics should only receive Holy Communion, which we believe is the veritable body of Christ, if they are in communion with Our Lord and his designee on earth, the Pope.
The greatest debate in the American Church today is whether Catholic politicians have an obligation to affirm the Church's pro-life teachings through their policies or if saying you are personally pro-life (what ever that means) is adequate.. Many Catholics believe that those politicians who are confused about the consequences of moral truths on their governance should not be allowed to receive communion. However, very few American bishops have addressed the issue with their Catholic elected officials and Nancy Pelosi is, perhaps, the most famous example.
In light of this apparent inaction, I've decided that this will be the last I complain, publicly or otherwise, about a Catholic politician who vocally and repeatedly thumbs his or her nose at important Church doctrines, while simultaneously presenting themselves as members in perfect union with the Body of Christ. The deafening silence of our bishops and their subsequent inaction has caused me to lose my resolve.
The hierarchy of the Church in the U.S. know that hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of American Catholics are, indeed, scandalized by the fact that those coreligionists in positions of power are permitted to be astonishingly disobedient and remain unimpugned. I am not in the position nor am I able to make excuses for the bishops who stand by idly. I can only surmise that the Church's teaching on life issues is of little consequence to them.
As an ardent, practicing Catholic, I wonder if there might be leeway for me, even though I hold no high office and I'm not a millionaire. What are the other moral teachings of the Church that have no impact on my communion with the Body of Christ? Perhaps I could skip Mass once or twice a month and sleep in. I work awfully hard during the week, and, afterall, it's nowhere near as dangerous or harmful as permitting the demise of the unborn.
Maybe I should have said yes to that extra drink on Friday night? Again, at least I'm not hurting anybody else. What if I moved in with a girlfriend? I doubt my bishop would even notice. As long as I can say I'm Catholic, I see no reason in letting the Church affect my behavior. In fact, it might even mean that I get ahead in my career.
This begs the question: If anyone can say they're Catholic, regardless of what they believe or do, why should I even bother?
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