WASHINGTON (BP)–Pope Benedict XVI challenged Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D.-Calif., on her abortion-rights record when she visited the Vatican in mid-February.
After the pope and Pelosi met for about 15 minutes, the Vatican released a brief statement, which noted in part:
“His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in co-operation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.”
The Feb. 18 meeting illustrated the divide that exists between the Roman Catholic Church, which champions the sanctity of human life, and many American politicians who support abortion rights despite being Catholics. Pelosi has consistently supported abortion rights during her 22-year career as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
–30–
Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.
