Archbishop Niederauer statement very good

I am very pleased with the statement by the Most Reverend George H. Niederauer regarding the scandalous misstatements by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Read it in its entirety at this link.

http://www.catholic-sf.org/FPArticle14b.htm

***
I think the statement is excellent in both its pastoral and its doctrinal balance. Archbishop Niederauer takes the time to allow the reader into both the doctrinal and the pastoral thought process and this is very valuable to both the faithful and to observers of the Catholic faith. He has done a great service in the construction of this document.

Some within the Catholic community have expressed disappointment at his statement stopping short of a bottom line ultimatum regarding the continued receiving of the Holy Eucharist sacrament by Speaker Pelosi. Obviously, that is not appropriate until after their face to face conversation. But I would also point out something that I am sure Archbishop Niederauer is referring to but not yet closing the door until they have had clarity of dialogue. That is that, as you read in the letter, the Church understands that some of the faithful may grapple silently in their hearts with one or more of the Church's teachings, yet still receive the sacraments in good heart. The difference is when people try to publicly, or privately (though we have no way of knowing those instances) attempt to lead faithful individuals or the community as a whole away from Church doctrine and undermine their faith. In a word, that is "leading someone into sin," something that Jesus Christ warned against in no uncertain terms.

When Speaker Pelosi made her scandalous representations of herself being an expert in Church doctrine AND then stating her "interpretations" which were in direct opposition to some of the most fundamental of Church doctrine regarding the sanctity of life, in my opinion she was publicly attempting to lead the faithful into sin. She was not a person, an individual, grappling in her heart with an issue, even one as basic as the sin of abortion, who nonetheless keeps her doubts to herself or her family and her pastor, and who can continue to receive the sacrament in good faith and heart. I know there are certain Catholics I could mention who grapple with understanding why lying and thievery are so wrong. (*lame laugh*) But it is when a Catholic takes to the public secular "pulpit" and promotes defiance of Church teaching that they need to be barred from the Holy Eucharist.

If after their conversation Speaker Pelosi acknowledges that she does not speak for the Church, that she did not fully understand the sanctity of life doctrine and its infallibility in that it is consistent from the very Apostolic beginnings of the Church, and she furthermore retains her internal conflict and support of abortion into an individual matter of her own soul, then I expect that Archbishop Niederauer is leaving room for allowing her to continue to receive in good faith. I believe this is why, correctly, he describes the internal dilemma that some faithful may have about an issue, but still receive the sacrament in good faith. It is the attempt to be a "Piper" to lead the faithful into having doubt about their doctrine by a self proclaimed "expert" that is so scandalous and places her in jeopardy of being sinfully unworthy of the Holy Eucharist in sacrament. I wish them well in their dialogue and commend the Archbishop for his very balanced but firm, appropriate and comprehensive letter that leads up to the anticipated pastoral conversation and outcome.