As Pope Francis Visits, New York Times Lauds Pro-Abortion Nancy Pelosi as a “Strong Catholic”

National   |   Clay Waters   |   Sep 23, 2015   |   9:24AM   |   Washington, DC

The New York Times‘ Jennifer Steinhauer celebrated the faith of the fiercely pro-abortion former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California on Tuesday, under a laugher of a headline, “At Divisive Moment, Pelosi’s Faith Coexists With Belief in Abortion Rights.” The online headline was even “stronger” in silliness: “In Pelosi, Strong Catholic Faith and Abortion Rights Coexist.”

Steinhauer strove mightily to portray left-wing pro-choice, pro-gay marriage Pelosi as an unconflicted Catholic, despite her position on abortion, considered a mortal sin by the Church but which Pelosi sees as “ancillary to her unwavering faith,” according to the Times. Steinhauer portrayed the abortion issue as an unwelcome distraction, a skunk at the party of the Pope’s American arrival.

For Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, the issue of abortion rights has always been ancillary to her unwavering faith and deep approbation for generations of popes. “I actually agree with the pope on more issues than many Catholics who agree with him on one issue,” Ms. Pelosi said in an interview in her office at the Capitol last week.

But that one issue, abortion, is adding a thick layer of tension to the otherwise convivial mood as Congress prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis this week. The Capitol is ensnared in an imbroglio over funding for Planned Parenthood and a host of other abortion-related fights that could lead to a government shutdown next week.

LifeNews Note: Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times. This originally appeared at Newsbusters.

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