Pelosi camp responds to archbishop’s critique

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) spokesman touted her Catholic faith in response to an archbishop’s criticism of her view of conception. 

Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl had rebuked Pelosi for suggesting on “Meet the Press” Sunday that the Catholic Church has long debated the moment of conception. Wuerl said that the church has taught that life begins at conception and has thus opposed abortion as a “moral evil” since the 1st century.

{mosads}But Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said Tuesday that not all Catholics believe that life begins at conception, which is what Catholics are taught.

“The Speaker agrees with the Church that we should reduce the number of abortions,” Daly said. “She believes that can be done by making family planning more available, as well as by increasing the number of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education and caring adoption programs.”

Daly added that Pelosi is a mother of five children who appreciates the “sanctity of family.” He added that she was raised in a Catholic family that often disagreed with her positions in favor of abortion rights.

“After she was elected to Congress, and the choice issue became more public as she would have to vote on it, she studied the matter more closely,” Daly said. “Her views on when life begins were informed by the views of St. Augustine, who said, 'The law does not provide that the act [abortion] pertains to homicide, for there cannot yet be said to be a live soul in a body that lacks sensation.' ”

Though Pelosi disagrees with the church’s stance on abortion, she has a “long, proud record” of working with the church on issues such as alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and peace, Daly said.