Statement of San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending efforts to permit federal funding of elective abortions

Let me repeat: no one can claim to be a devout Catholic and condone the killing of innocent human life, let alone have the government pay for it.  The right to life is a fundamental – the most fundamental – human right, and Catholics do not oppose fundamental human rights.  To use the smokescreen of abortion as an issue of health and fairness to poor women is the epitome of hypocrisy: what about the health of the baby being killed?  What about giving poor women real choice, so they are supported in choosing life?  This would give them fairness and equality to women of means, who can afford to bring a child into the world. It is people of faith who run pro-life crisis pregnancy clinics; they are the only ones who provide poor women life-giving alternatives to having their babies killed in their wombs.  I cannot be prouder of my fellow Catholics who are so prominent in providing this vital service.  To them I say: you are the ones worthy to call yourselves “devout Catholics”!

Learn about Nancy Pelosi’s press conference remarks here.