Serendipitious Roman Adventure of Nancy Pelosi

I don't think Nancy Pelosi's meeting with the Pope lived up to her expectations.

The Catholics for Choice enterouge was hoping for a "real conversation about choice instead of this micro-obsession with abortion":

On Tuesday, Jon O’Brien, president of "Catholics for Choice," a small, well-funded organization that provides theological arguments to pro-abortion Catholic politicians, told The Hill that today’s visit between the Speaker and Pope Benedict would be an opportunity to highlight that one can be pro-choice and Catholic, and that there are much bigger issues out there to discuss, such as the fate of the poor in the global economic downturn.

"That would be a real conversation about choice, instead of this micro-obsession with abortion," O’Brien said.

Fortunately, a robust official statement from the Pope followed the meeting that made clear Nancy's agenda was ambushed for our micro-obsession of Catholics facilitating the killing of innocents.

The Vatican also ensured no photos were taken that could be misconstrued.

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural and moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death ..." a Vatican statement said. It said such teaching "enjoins all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men of goodwill in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development," it said.

It happens in every conversion.

You live a portion of your life rejecting some Truth. Rebelling, sometimes you even get yourself a good set of talking points to get others to join your rebellion.

You're as happy as a lark... until the zealots of Christendom repeat themselves reductio ad absurdum.

Then one day, the Truth penetrates your (thick) skull.

The disappointing seminal moment: When Christ promised to send the Paraclete, He didn't mean me!

What a let down.

The Paraclete is THE CHURCH!

Like a child whose limited experience doesn't understand parental guidance, curfews and discipline - and so it is with the Paraclete.

Matthew 18.

Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

Was this Nancy Pelosi's seminal moment? I sure hope for her sake, it was.

Pope Benedict XVI met Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, at the Vatican on Wednesday, both sides said in statements -- but that seems to be all they agree on.

The Vatican says the pope lectured Pelosi about abortion and assisted suicide. Pelosi says they talked about poverty and global warming -- and she showed him pictures of her grandchildren.

Mercifully, few of us have to experience a global rebuke from the Vicar of Christ.

It's going to take a lot of humility to spiritually and intellectually process what took place in her private meeting with the Pope. There is hope and there will be prayers on her behalf from many Catholics who have long suffered public catechesis that has mislead a generation of Americans.

Pelosi's positive spin on the meeting is not being swallowed even by left-leaning Papal watchers. Vatican correspondent John Allen, who writes for the National Catholic Reporter, noted that "routine Vatican declarations after diplomatic meetings also generally sum up the range of issues discussed rather than concentrating on a particular point. In that sense, the statement can only be read as a rejection of Pelosi's statements last summer, and, in general, of her argument that it's acceptable for Catholics in public life to take a pro-choice position."

Allen also noted that "by issuing an unusual public statement after the session with Pelosi -- which insisted that all Catholics, including legislators, are obliged to work for the defense of human life from conception to natural death -- the pope also made clear there will no let-up in the pressure on pro-choice Catholic politicians to change their ways."

Did anyone really expect Nancy to release a statement saying "The Pope made clear I am in error, my soul in danger and Catholic politicians must cease and desist from abortion activism"?

Let's not kid ourselves.

Really, let's face it. Ms. Pelosi has been warned and other Catholic politicians have been placed on notice. She didn't leave that meeting without knowing she cannot accept the Blessed Sacrament without confessing her sins and amending her life.

It's her lucky day.

These days are extraordinary. Too many sheep have been led away in the vacuum of inertia. If I were a Catholic proabort pol, I wouldn't ever again be hitting the pillow after a day of abortion politics without wondering if a public proclamation of my excommunication will be forthcoming.

Est zelus domus tuae comedit me
Zeal for your house consumes me.