最近美國新政府 開始他們的外交之旅
總統歐巴馬 訪問加拿大
國務卿 希拉蕊 訪問 日本 中國等 亞洲國家
作為美國接班順位第三號的人物 Pelosi 訪問梵蒂岡
她是天主教徒
教宗跟她談保護生命
她讚美 教會領導在對抗飢餓 全球暖化 跟宗教自由所作的努力
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Visiting Pope, Pelosi Hears a Call to Protect Life
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/us/19pelosi.html?scp=2&sq=pope&st=cse
By RACHEL DONADIO
ROME —Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Roman
Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians must protect
“human life at all stages of its development.”
Ms. Pelosi is the highest-ranking Democrat to meet with the pope since the
election of President Obama, whose administration’s support of abortion
rights worries many in the Vatican.
In a statement, the Vatican said Benedict “briefly greeted” Ms. Pelosi and
her entourage after his weekly public audience and “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.”
The pope added that all Catholics, “especially legislators, jurists and
those responsible for the common good of society,” should “work in
cooperation 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.”
As a high-ranking politician and a practicing Catholic who regularly attends
Mass and receives communion, Ms. Pelosi has been at the center of several
contentious debates between the Catholic Church and the American political
establishment.
Ever since the 2004 presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry of
Massachusetts, a Catholic, United States bishops have debated whether to deny
communion to politicians who support abortion rights.
Before the presidential election last fall, several American bishops
criticized Ms. Pelosi for saying that church leaders had argued for centuries
over whether life begins at conception.
The American bishops also criticized Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., a
Catholic who during the campaign said that “to impose” his “personal
judgment” that life begins at conception seemed “inappropriate in a
pluralistic society.”
Most of the Vatican hierarchy is deeply concerned about the Obama
administration’s support of abortion rights, which differs from the position
taken by the Bush administration.
In a statement issued by her office on Wednesday, Ms. Pelosi said it was “
with great joy” that she and her husband, Paul, had met Benedict.
She said she had praised “the church’s leadership in fighting poverty,
hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to
religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel.” Ms. Pelosi’
s statement did not mention the pope’s comments on abortion.
Her office noted that she has previously said she wants to reduce abortions
but that she remains in favor of abortion rights.
In a move that provoked controversy, the pope last month revoked the
excommunication of four bishops from a society founded in rejection of the
liberalizing changes of the Second Vatican Council, including its commitment
to religious freedom.
Visiting Italy his week, Ms. Pelosi has also met with Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi and other Italian politicians.
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