Archbishop Wuerl on the Church’s Constant Teaching on Abortion

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | August 25, 2008 | Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl

[monkapotamus]

Archbishop Wuerl on the Church’s Constant Teaching on Abortion

August 25, 2008

The following statement is from Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl:

On Meet the Press this past Sunday, August 23, 2008, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made statements regarding the teaching of the Catholic Church, human life and abortion that were incorrect.

Speaker Pelosi responded to a question on when life begins by mentioning she was Catholic. She went on to say, “And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the Church have not been able to make that definition...” After Mr. Tom Brokaw, the interviewer, pointed out that the Catholic Church feels strongly that life begins at conception, she replied, “I understand. And this is like maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy.”

We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear: the current teaching of the Catholic Church on human life and abortion is the same teaching as it was 2,000 years ago. The Catechism reads:

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception…Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This 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 the moral law.” (Catechism, 2270-2271)

The Catechism goes on to quote the Didache, a treatise that dates to the first century: “’You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.’”

From the beginning, the Catholic Church has respected the dignity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.

[monkapotamus]

ping

[babygene]

Well,

Nancy calls herself a Catholic, but she isn’t really one... As we all know,

[radiohead]

I’ll never understand why Catholics vote Dim. If you are going to condone abortion, gay marriage, etc. then leave the Church. I have no problem with intellectual disagreements with the Church, I have them myself and I left.

However, if you are going to call yourself a Catholic, then you have to conform your life to the Church’s teachings, which includes not voting for pro-choice legislators - especially those legislators who call themselves Catholic and yet continue to vote against the Church’s teachings.

[swatbuznik]

Exactly, and there is no lack of libby churches she could fit in just fine with.

[SubMareener]

That is just so ABSOLUTE! Where is the nuance? Can’t we all just get along?

[BigSkyFreeper]

She claims to be an “ardent practicing Catholic” who has made claims that seem to hoist her stature above God, St. Augustine and the Pope.

[Salvation]

If Catholics vote to support abortion they are excommunicating themselves and cannot be communicated unless the seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation, repent, and promise to change/amend their ways.

1:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches 1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

97%

2:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches 2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm

96%

3:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches 2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

96%

4:	CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

[Salvation]

[Salvation]

This is becoming one of the main issues of the campaign, whether the secular public realizes it or not.

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[melsec]

I am sorry to say this but this is why I consider the church weak on this issue. They have it right but are not courageous enough to do anything but reaffirm the Church’s teaching. Any Catholic who publicly goes against the Church on this issue should be publicly disciplined in some manner.

Mel

[clee1]

From the beginning, the Catholic Church has respected the dignity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.

Now about that pesky "Inquisition" thingy....

[hsalaw]

she replied, “I understand. And this is like maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy.”

I know she's stupid, but this makes no sense whatever.

[Mad Dawg]

Read up on it please, and not just from polemical authors, okay?

I know an historian, a convert. He reports that one thing that played into his conversion was his researches into the 13th century and thenabouts and the discovery that -- well, the only think I remember is that in Spain people busted for, say, burglary, might then do something like say, "I think the Manichees are right; whaddya think of that?" so that their trial would be moved to Inquisitorial courts which were considered to be fairer.

Yeah, some inquisitors pretty much lost their morrings, no quesiton about it. But to say "The" Inquisition is to oversimplify profoundly.

And as late as the 1600s in England the penalty for treason was so barbaric (by our standards) that it's hard for me to write it. Features were being "drawn", that is gutted while alive and having your entrails burned before your eyes.

Things like this sort of set the context for evaluating penal codes. heck, even Jefferson's code for Virginia prescribed mutilation for some offenses. It's easy when standing on the shoulders of giants to sneer at people lower than we.

[jmaroneps37]

plastic face caught lying about Catholic Church doctrine is designed to pull in weak CINO young women who WANT someone they think is in authority to tell them they can murder their unwanted babies. The problem is those women already intend to vote rat, but older Catholics who hear this stuff will and have turned away from the rat.

[SevenofNine]

Monk all due respect Nancy I hear is very Leftist cathoic do you think bishop would deny her in Frisco the right of communison NO I hear that Archbishop is very liberial

[SevenofNine]

Monk all due respect Nancy I hear is very Leftist cathoic do you think bishop would deny her in Frisco the right of communison NO I hear that Archbishop is very liberial

[SevenofNine]

Monk all due respect Nancy I hear is very Leftist cathoic do you think bishop would deny her in Frisco the right of communison NO I hear that Archbishop is very liberial

[MrB]

Too many women have bought the lie that abortion is “liberating” and that the Bible teaches humiliating subserviance.

This is a lie from the source of all lies.

[monkapotamus]

Check out this one:

Cardinal Egan Blasts Pelosi (in brilliantly scathing response) [Open]