The San Francisco archbishop announced Friday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is banned from receiving Holy Communion due to her stance on abortion.
“A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion, after knowing the teaching of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin which is a cause of most serious scandal to others,” said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
“Therefore, universal Church law provides that such persons ‘are not to be admitted to Holy Communion,'” he added.
Cordileone has written to Pelosi to inform her that she should not present herself for Holy Communion at Mass, and that priests will not distribute communion to her if she does.
“I am hereby notifying you that you are not to present yourself for Holy Communion and, should you do so, you are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, until such time as you publically repudiate your advocacy for the legitimacy of abortion and confess and receive absolution of this grave sin in the sacrament of Penance,” he wrote.
In the past, Pelosi has tried to present herself both as a “devout” Catholic and a full supporter of abortion rights.
In 2008, Pelosi claimed that “as a devout, practicing Catholic,” the Church has “not been able to make that definition” of when life begins. She also said “the point is, it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s right to choose”.
Pelosi met with Pope Francis last year, but it was unclear if the topic of abortion was discussed.
“I have never refused the Eucharist to anyone,” the pope said. He has also made clear the Catholic Church’s views on abortion. “Whoever has an abortion kills,” he noted. “It is a human life”.
Earlier this month Pelosi stated “This [topic] really gets me burned up in case you didn’t notice, because again I’m very Catholic, devout, practicing, all of that. They would like to throw me out. But I’m not going because I don’t want to make their day”.