Off the Record

the unthinkable By Diogenes | November 09, 2009 9:11 AM

Its story is headlined Abortion Was at Heart of Wrangling.  The New York Times comes close to tears in its sympathy for Nancy Pelosi's thwarted efforts to insure those darling wee homicides out of the public purse:

Her attempts at winning them over had failed, and Ms. Pelosi, the first woman speaker and an ardent defender of abortion rights, had no choice but to do the unthinkable. To save the health care bill she had to give in to abortion opponents in her party and allow them to propose tight restrictions barring any insurance plan that is purchased with government subsidies from covering abortions.

An ardent defender of abortion rights. And Congress's most prominent Catholic.

About a year into his time as Archbishop of San Francisco, George Niederauer was asked point-blank whether Nancy Pelosi's pro-abortion activism made her "less of a Catholic." His response?

Archbishop Niederauer: Well, I have met on one occasion, with Speaker Pelosi, before she was Speaker Pelosi. It was last year. And I -- we've -- exchanged viewpoints on a number of things. At that time, it was last spring, and it was principally about immigration, because that was very much the hot-button topic of the time. We haven't had an opportunity to talk about the life issues. I would very much welcome that opportunity, but I don't believe that I am in a position to say what I understand her stand to be, if I haven't had a chance to talk to her about it.

If, in 2007, the Archbishop was truly "not in a position to say" where Nancy Pelosi stood on abortion, he was one of the very few literate Americans with that handicap. Well, more than two and a half years have passed for Niederauer -- whom the Church has given the pastoral care of Madame Speaker's immortal soul -- to have engaged her on the issue of a disfavored class of human beings exposed to unjust killing. Pelosi's current views are certainly clear enough to the New York Times. It's "unthinkable" for this Catholic office-holder -- are you listening, Excellency? -- to yield to abortion opponents in her party.  Abortion opponents.

So, my Lord Archbishop, which would YOU have us believe: that the conversation with Pelosi never took place, or, God help us, that it did?

If you found this helpful, our bi-weekly Insights emails can notify you of key commentary items. Also, please support this apostolic work. Add Insights to your account. | Make a pledge or one-time donation.

It's Your Turn to Sound Off!

» To ensure well-meaning comments, only donors are allowed to Sound Off.
  If you're a donor, log in; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

Sound Off! Comments

• Posted by: Gil125 - Nov. 10, 2009 2:11 PM ET USA

  And then there's the way Bishop Tobin handled it with Congressman Kennedy.

• Posted by: samuel.doucette1787 - Nov. 10, 2009 1:33 PM ET USA

  There's a reason why it is said that the road to Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. Judas Iscariot was one of the first bishops.

• Posted by: Hal - Nov. 09, 2009 10:17 AM ET USA

  Why do these guys enable this sort of thing? What's the "hook"? They will trade immigration, labor unions and public financial assistance for the lives of the unborn? Sad.