No plans to discipline Pelosi, says Washington Archbishop

Washington D.C., Jan 16, 2007 / 15:42 pm

Archbishop Donald Wuerl says he has no plans to prevent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion despite her overt support for abortion, embryonic same-sex research, and same-sex marriage.

The Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was criticized recently for failing to speak out against Pelosi’s attendance at a Mass on Jan. 3 at her alma mater, Trinity University.

While in San Diego on Jan. 13-14, the archbishop told the California Catholic Daily that Pelosi’s attendance at the Mass at Trinity “was a matter between the university and Nancy.”

“They were offering their location, and the Mass was celebrated by a priest with faculties, and there was no reason to make any comment,” he told the online newspaper.

When asked if he would advise ordained ministers to deny Pelosi Communion, the archbishop responded: “You’re talking about a whole different style of pastoral ministry. No.”
 
Pelosi has been criticized in some Catholic circles for publicizing her attendance at the Trinity University Mass and at St. Leo the Great Church in Baltimore.

Prior to the Mass at Trinity, American Life League president Judie Brown reportedly implored Archbishop Wuerl to intervene in the matter.

“Rep. Pelosi has a tremendous opportunity to make a difference for all human beings as the most powerful Catholic in Congress,” said Brown. “Unfortunately, she continually supports the very act that destroys life rather than protects it. It is for this very reason that a Catholic institution should not condone or support her position as a legislator.”

When Pelosi was sworn in as the Speaker of the House, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, praised Pelosi for championing “pro-choice values” for her nearly 20 years in public office.