CV NEWS FEED // Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco has called on Catholics to join together in a prayer campaign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “conversion of heart” on abortion.
Cordileone has repeatedly criticized Pelosi, a Catholic, and called on her to refrain from receiving Communion. In his critiques, however, Cordileone has generally presented himself as the Democrat’s pastor, concerned for her soul.
“At this particular moment in the history of our nation, we need more than ever the intercession of our Blessed Mother, St. Therese [whose feast day is Friday, Oct 1], and all other saints who have shown us the path to life,” wrote Cordileone in a statement this week:
Indeed, the reaction elicited by the passage of the Texas Heartbeat Bill shows how desperately our country, and many of our political leaders, need a conversion of heart to steer us away from the path to death and reclaim a culture of life.
By way of example, Cordileone mentioned the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act passed by Pelosi’s House last week, “which would impose abortion on demand nationwide at any stage of pregnancy.”
“A conversion of heart of the majority of our Congressional representatives is needed on this issue, beginning with the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Cordileone stated. “I am therefore inviting all Catholics to join in a massive and visible campaign of prayer and fasting for Speaker Pelosi:”
commit to praying one rosary a week and fasting on Fridays for her conversion of heart. Please sign up for the ‘Rose and Rosary for Nancy’ campaign at BenedictInstitute.org, and a rose will be sent to her as a symbol of your prayer and fasting for her.
Cordileone noted that “Speaker Pelosi speaks fondly of her children” and “clearly has a maternal heart.” When confronted about her radically pro-abortion policy positions, Pelosi often cites her Catholicism and her status as a mother of five.
“As a devout Catholic and mother of five in six years, I feel that God blessed my husband and me with our beautiful family — five children in six years almost to the day,” she recently remarked, “but that may not be what we should … it’s not up to me to dictate that that’s what other people should do, and it’s an issue of fairness and justice for poor women in our country.”
“The solution to a woman in a crisis pregnancy is not violence but love,” wrote Cordileone in his statement this week. “Please join me in praying the rosary and fasting for a conversion of Speaker Pelosi’s maternal heart to embracing the goodness and dignity of human life not only after birth, but in the womb as well.”
