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US Bishops: Speaker Pelosi Got Church Teaching Wrong, Misrepresents Catholic Understanding of Life
WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The chairmen of the U.S. bishops' Committees on Pro-Life Activities and Doctrine affirmed that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi misrepresented Church teaching on abortion during an interview on national TV.

Pelosi was asked on NBC-TV's "Meet the Press" on Sunday to comment on when life begins. She responded saying that as a Catholic, she had studied the issue for "a long time" and that "the doctors of the Church have not been able to make that definition."

Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U. Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Lori, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, said her answer "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion."

They noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "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."

And the prelates explained: "In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church's moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development  MORE
 

Democratic National Convention: Obama Receives Ringing Endorsement from Planned Parenthood Action Fund President
Denver, Aug 26, 2008 (CNA).- Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, (PPAF) addressed the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday evening, extolling Sen. Barack Obama as the “right choice” and naming him as only the second presidential candidate endorsed by the PPAF. She also attacked Sen. John McCain, for his alleged indifference to women’s health and his pledge to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade.

Richards, the daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards, claimed that Planned Parenthood health centers are the “leading providers of women’s health care in the country” and are visited by one in four women.

“And not just for birth control,” she added, saying cancer screenings and breast exams are provided by the organization.

Though Planned Parenthood is also the largest abortion provider in the country, she did not mention abortion directly.

“Many women have no other source of health care,” Richards continued, saying that women and families are forced to choose “between rent and doctor visits.” MORE