The Archbishop of San Francisco has condemned self-described “devout Catholic” Nancy Pelosi’s pro-abortion agenda after the U.S. House Speaker voiced support for federally funded abortion.
“No one can claim to be a devout Catholic and condone the killing of innocent human life, let alone have the government pay for it”, said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco – the home diocese of Nancy Pelosi.
“The right to life is a fundamental — the most fundamental — human right, and Catholics do not oppose fundamental human rights.”
Last week, Pelosi said that she supported the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal taxes to pay for abortion, except in instances of rape and incest.
According to Pelosi, abortion is “an issue of health, [for] many women in America, especially those in lower-income situation”.
Archbishop Cordileone condemns Pelosi’s “hypocrisy”
Pelosi also referred to herself as a “devout Catholic”, despite abortion being expressly forbidden by Church teaching.
Responding to Pelosi’s comments, Archbishop Cordileone said:
“To use the smokescreen of abortion as an issue of health and fairness to poor women is the epitome of hypocrisy: what about the health of the baby being killed? What about giving poor women real choice, so they are supported in choosing life?
“It is people of faith who run pro-life crisis pregnancy clinics; they are the only ones who provide poor women life-giving alternatives to having their babies killed in their wombs.
“I cannot be prouder of my fellow Catholics who are so prominent in providing this vital service.”
In May, the Archbishop of San Francisco was one of several Catholic leaders to call for Holy Communion to be refused to high-profile pro-abortion Catholics, as reported by SPUC.
“The great moral issue of our day”
Michael Robinson, SPUC Director of Communications, said: “It is vital that people in positions of leadership in the West, including the leaders of the Church, show some backbone in the battle to combat abortion – the greatest moral evil of our day.
“While Archbishop Cordileone is to be applauded for calling out and condemning prominent pro-abortion Democrats and so-called Catholics, we must all stand up and confront the pro-abortion lobby, at home and abroad.
“SPUC hopes that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as Church leaders in other nations, will make it abundantly clear to the faithful that Catholics must oppose abortion in all cases.”