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The title for this edition of TN&V is borrowed from a letter sent out yesterday by Archbishop Charles Chaput "to Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver." Archbishop Chaput, joined by James D. Conley, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, politely but decisively corrected the amazingly misleading statements made by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Sunday in her appearance on Meet the Press.

We briefly talked about this yesterday. In her responses to moderator Tom Brokaw, Pelosi "misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion," as Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Doctrine, made clear in a statement issued today.

You can read both the letter and the statement online at http://www.archden.org/images/ArchbishopCorner/ByTopic/onseparationofsense%26state_openlettercjc8.25.08.pdf and www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2008/08-120.shtml. respectively. So let me address just one point, because you will read variations over and over and over again.

The lead paragraph in an Associated Press story read as follows: "Two prominent Roman Catholic archbishops say House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic Democrat, misstated church teachings about abortion in a recent television appearance, the latest sign that the U.S. Catholic hierarchy will not stay silent about politics this election year."

There are two premises in these 40 words. One is implicit--a questioning whether the Catholic "hierarchy" (or any church's leadership) ought to be speaking out--the other marginally less so--the hint that the Catholic Church "hierarchy" is eager to jump into politics.

With reference to the first, let me quote the concluding paragraph from Archbishop Chaput's letter:

"The duty of the Church and other religious communities is moral witness. The duty of the state and its officials is to serve the common good, which is always rooted in moral truth. A proper understanding of the 'separation of Church and state' does not imply a separation of faith from political life. But of course, it's always important to know what our faith actually teaches."
And what is that the Catholic Church teaches about abortion? "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion," explained Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Lori. "This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable."

With respect to the second, when politicians begin their answers to a question surrounding abortion by stating, "I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic," adding that "this is an issue that I have studied for a long time," the Catholic Church either is mute in the face of obvious, abundant, ill-informed error or corrects it.

It has nothing to do with looking for a chance to jump into the fray or questioning "the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them," as Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said in a separate statement issued yesterday.

It is, rather, that "the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record." (See www.adw.org/news/news.asp?ID=569&Year=2008)

Please take the time to read both the letter and both statements in their entirety. They are very important. And, if you are interested in what the Catholic Church has to say about its historic opposition to abortion, go to www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/teaching.pdf.

Part Two -- "On the Separation of Sense and State: A Clarification for the People of the Church in Northern Colorado"