HLI’s Fr. Thomas Euteneuer is fighting the good fight for the cause of life, but I think he let his passions get the better of him in his rebuke of Nancy Pelosi.
To be sure, the Minority Leader deserves reproof for publicly promoting her erroneous views on the duties of Catholic politicians, but Fr. Euteneuer goes way over the top when he accuses her of apostasy. After all, that’s “a total repudiation of the Christian faith”: a total rejection of adherence to Christianity, and merely declaring some false doctrine about morals isn’t the same thing.
There are several sins against faith that don’t constitute apostasy, and the Catechism paragraph that Fr. cites (2089) makes distinctions between apostasy, heresy, incredulity, and schism. He doesn’t seem to notice. Even rejecting the teaching authority of the Church would be heresy but not necessarily apostasy.
It’s embarrassing to see a worthy priest stumble into making such an exaggerated charge.
Update: I originally misstated Ms. Pelosi’s title in the post, but have fixed the reference. Thanks to TPFKAAC.
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Nancy Pelosi is by far one of the most left leaning politicians out there. Fact is she not only rejects Church teaching regarding abortion, but is also pro-homosexual “unions,” stem-cell research, and any number of moral depravities. How many deviations from Church moral teaching does one need to add up to A – P – O – S – T – A – S – Y?
I applaud Father E. for his taking her to task. Would that there were many other priests and bishops doing the same.
Rejecting the Church’s moral teaching – no matter how many times or in how many ways – doesn’t add up to apostasy.
If she denied the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, or the Resurrection — now that would be a total break from Christianity.
To be sure, the House Speaker deserves reproof for publicly promoting her erroneous views
She’s not House Speaker yet; hopefully she never will be! Last time I checked, the Republicans still held the House and Dennis Hastert was Speaker. Pelosi is Minority Leader.
Oh, thank Heavens! Sorry for the brain-burp.
I agree, RC. One of Catholic Light’s other hosts noted this letter shortly after it came out, and I made a comment similar to yours. No doubt Fr. Euteneuer got a big emotional release out of writing this letter, but it’s a rant and a poorly-written one at that.
Much better had he written a firm, clear, rebuke of her stance without engaging in personal snideness. It’s far more devastating because it’s apropos.
No doubt Fr. Euteneuer got a big emotional release out of writing this letter, but it’s a rant and a poorly-written one at that.
His error was to send the emotional-release letter, rather than deleting it or burning it and then starting a new, cool-headed letter.
I agree with you, RC. Priests, especially, need to use appropriate terms when addressing these issues. He could have accurately accused her of heresy, even schism — but not apostasy. Unfortunately, his rant only makes him look like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and does not make her look like an apostate — because she isn’t (even though she is many other things, some of which I won’t utter).
It’s all the same to me….I applaud his letter…….and my guess is she probably denies the Resurrection, too.