Nancy Pelosi’s Galling, Hypocritical Religious Opportunism

Well, that’s subtle.

Andrea Tantaros makes a number of very good points. Oh, and I would rather not see Mrs. Pelosi’s face again, so I’m posting a picture of the author.

Nancy Pelosi, messenger of God? The House Speaker’s galling,

Andrea Tantaros

hypocritical religious opportunism

Andrea Tantaros

During times of trials and tribulations, many people turn to Christ to help them through. It seems Sister – I mean Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi is no different. With speculation brewing that Democrats are poised to lose big in the fall midterm elections and the balance of power at stake, is Nancy Pelosi turning to Jesus for political salvation?

Her recent religious revival started shortly after the passage of the health care bill. Tasked with selling the unpopular overhaul, Pelosi opted to appeal to a higher power for help. She asked members of the clergy to make the case to their congregations in support of her legislation, with little criticism from the secular media.

Then she urged Catholic leaders to “instruct” their parishioners to support immigration reforms, saying clerics should “play a very major role” in supporting her policies, something that would likely jeopardize their nonprofit status. However, at the same news conference, she also praised the group of religious sisters whose endorsement of the health care reform bill undercut the U.S. bishops’ push for abortion funding restrictions.

These comments and actions are an insulting attempt to manipulate the Catholic Church into promoting the Democratic agenda. Imagine if George Bush would have used scripture to justify the Iraq war or Medicare Part D.

But Pelosi isn’t done exploiting religious leaders for political ends. On May 6, speaking to a Catholic conference, she said that her favorite word was “The Word” – referring to the Bible – and proceeded to argue its merits.

“It says it all for us. . . . And that Word is, we have to give voice to what that means in terms of public policy that would be in keeping with the values of the Word. The Word. Isn’t it a beautiful word when you think of it? It just covers everything. The Word.”

She went on, “Fill it in with anything you want. But, of course, we know it means: ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.’ And that’s the great mystery of our faith. He will come again. He will come again. So, we have to make sure we’re prepared to answer in this life, or otherwise, as to how we have measured up.”

Fill it in with whatever you want? This isn’t Morally Relative Mad Libs. That’s not how it works – but while we’re at it, how about “The Hypocrisy”? Now that has a ring to it.

The Word is not something you can use interchangeably to bear witness for whatever strikes your fancy. Any devout Christian knows that.

Pelosi has a long, sad history of being selectively religious when it comes to advancing her agenda, one a Republican in her position could never get away with. It’s past time to call her on it.

In a December 2005 message on the House floor, she used the following quotation after a reference to the prophet Isaiah:

“Mr. Speaker, as we leave for this Christmas recess, let us say ‘God bless you’ to the American people by voting against this Republican budget and statement of injustice and immorality, and let us not let the special-interest goose get fat at the expense of America’s children.”

Pelosi and her Democratic allies would probably say it’s their right – and to their tactical advantage – to claim the language of God rather than ceding it to the GOP.

But her abuse of religious ideals is so brazen, it’s embarrassing. In fact, Pelosi has publicly battled with the Catholic Church, particularly when it comes to issues of abortion and gay marriage. The speaker voted against the partial-birth abortion ban and even received a lecture from Pope Benedict on the “dignity of human life.”

She has also been known to improvise when it comes to Jesus’ teachings.

In support of environmental regulations, Pelosi has said, “The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, ‘To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.’ “ Although she’s used the passage on numerous occasions, most biblical scholars can’t seem to source it.

So why the recent political Hail Mary?

It’s obvious enough what’s going on. Pelosi is probably seeing some scary polling that suggests a moral makeover could do her and her party some good. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in 2007 by the Pew Research Center‘s Forum on Religion & Public Life, shows that prayer is a common religious practice in America, with nearly six  in 10 adults in the U.S. saying they pray at least once a day. Other Pew polls have showed Americans’ deep and broad religiosity, finding that 92% believe in God or a universal spirit and nearly 80% think miracles occur.

Pelosi might be one of them.

In fact, with congressional approval at an all-time low and voters enormously dissatisfied with the direction of the country, a miracle might be the only thing that could save her party and her political future.

andrea@andreatantaros.com