When asked if she believes an unborn baby with a human heart and a human liver is a human being, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi used her Catholic faith to shame a reporter and avoid the question Thursday afternoon.
"Why don’t you take your ideological questions–listen, I want to say something to you," Pelosi said, waving her hand at the reporter. "I don’t know who you are, and you’re welcome to be here–freedom of this press. I am a devout practicing Catholic, a mother of five children. When my baby was born, my fifth child, my oldest child was six years old. I think I know more about this subject than you, with all due respect."
Pelosi did not reveal if she believed the unborn baby was a human being or not.
Despite admitting not knowing the reporter, Pelosi said she knew more about the subject because of her faith and her experience as a mother. The minority leader’s assertion goes against the views of the Catholic Church, however.
The issue has been on the minds of Catholics because of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. The pope addressed the issue of life, which he said begins at conception, and reiterated his belief that unborn fetuses are sacred and must be protected.
"I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without," Pope Francis said to a Joint Meeting of Congress last week.
Francis instructed priests to absolve "the sin of abortion" if women seek forgiveness "with a contrite heart."
This is not the first time Pelosi has snapped at a reporter for asking a question concerning the moral relevance of late-term abortions.
"I’m not going there," she told the Weekly Standard's John McCormack in 2013, noting she is a "practicing and respectful Catholic." It is not clear why in both instances, Pelosi felt the need to inform the press the age of her oldest child and when her youngest child was born.
"I do not intend to respond to your questions which have no basis in what public policy is in what we do here," Pelosi said, echoing her 2013 statement.