It's a Conscience Thang . . .

Nancy Pelosi is not going to be stymied by any woman who insists upon giving birth, especially if that woman is a Catholic.

Catholic health-care providers in particular have long said they’d have to go out of business without the conscience protections that Pelosi says amount to letting hospitals “say to a woman, ‘I’m sorry you could die’ if you don’t get an abortion.” Those who dispute that characterization “may not like the language,’’ she said, “but the truth is what I said. I’m a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it . . . but they have this conscience thing’’ that she insists put women at physical risk, although Catholic providers strongly disagree.

From this, it is reasonable to infer that the faith-loving, faith-honoring Catholic that Nancy professes to be does not have a conscience, or at least one that is governed by her faith.  Because, after all, she knows better.

On one occasion, she said, laughing, one of her critics on the topic of abortion, speaking on the House floor, said, “Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope. They think like this. And of course I do — I think the pope would agree — and I know more than you, too, mister.’’

What is the standard here - a biological process?  I have given birth.  And so if I say that abortion is wrong, it has as much weight as Nancy saying, "Well, I've given birth and I say it's okay."  So, we then cancel each other out, yes?  Yes, perhaps Nancy knows more about giving birth than the Poepe, as she can add to her knoweldge the experience of having done so - but then by her logic, men and women who have chosen to forgo being mothers should be eliminated from any discourse on abortion, since their arguments will always be trumped by their opponent's personal experience if said opponent is a woman who has given birth.

But wait - maybe a woman who has given birth, say, five times has more authority to state a position on abortion than one who has only given birth once.  Then it becomes a numbers game and, if that is the case, sit down and shut up, Nancy, because Michelle Duggar has you beat to quarters there! 

Actually, sit down anyway, Nancy - preferably in a confessional because I think it would help you - because Catholics do have a "conscience thing" that shows up the nonsense of your argument as to who has the authority to speak to the issue of abortion.  The conscience of a Catholic does not spring ex nihilo.  As the Catechism of the Catholic Church section 1776 states:

"Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths."

I am willing to bet that Nancy says, "Well, see, then we go by conscience, which is determined by the individual, and so I am in conformance with the Church."  Stay seated, Nancy.

Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings. Section 1783.

No firing from the hip, babe.  And how does one educate one's conscience?

In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.  Section 1785.

Nancy's problem - and what is the problem of so many others - is that she defines conscience as what she feels right, and that in turn is what she opines is right - there is no weighing of her opinion against moral law, beliefs, values, etc. 

So, Nancy, you state, "I’m a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it."  Do you live it?  To quote a great school of philosophy of the Southern United States called Lynyrd Skynyrd:  "Do your conscience both you?  Now tell the truth!"

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