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Zubik Weighs In On Pelosi's Abortion Comments

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― House Speaker Nancy Pelosi finds herself in hot water with the Catholic Church for trying to answer Tom Brokaw's question on Meet The Press" last Sunday: "When does Life begin?"

Pelosi came under fire from bishops across the country, including Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik.

Describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, Pelosi responded: "We don't know. The point is that it shouldn't have an impact on the women's right to have an abortion."

She went on to say that this is not about abortion on demand, it's about careful consideration of all factors that a woman has to make with her doctor and her God. She added: "And so, I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic church for centuries has been discussing this."

In a statement Bishop Zubik says: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped out of her political role and completely misrepresented the Catholic Church in regard to abortion."

He goes on to say that church teaching on abortion is not unsettled. "That Jesus proclaimed the sacredness of human life ... that teaching has remained constant and unaltered for two millennia."

"It is the consistent teaching of the Church from the first century that life begins at the moment of conception," Bill Batz, the Diocese of Pittsburgh's new Secretary for Social Concerns, says.

And, as for Speaker Pelosi, Batz says, "We pray for her, we respect her as Speaker of the House, but in this case she's wrong."

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