In this wide-ranging conversation on “The Gloria Purvis Podcast,” host Gloria Purvis speaks with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco….
Gloria Purvis: There has been a lot of reporting in the Catholic media and even secular media on the meeting between the Holy Father and President Biden. He says they did not talk about abortion. He says that “we just talked about the fact the pope was happy that I was a good Catholic, and I should keep receiving Communion.” It is well known that President Biden, while he says he’s personally pro-life, does not behave in a way that promotes policies around the issue of abortion that are in accordance with the church’s teaching.
How do you interpret this comment?
Bishop Salvatore Cordileone: You brought up that [Mr. Biden is] personally opposed [to abortion]. That was his position at one time. It’s not what it is now. He seems to be more guided by the Democratic Party than his Catholic faith on the issues where we’re not in harmony. He recently said that he no longer believes that life begins at conception, which is a problem for a couple of reasons. One is, it’s not a matter of religious belief when life begins. Science tells us life begins at conception. The church affirms that. So he is explicitly dissenting not only from church teaching but from sound science.
[On the pope’s comment], we don’t know if the pope really said that. The Vatican has neither affirmed nor denied it, but he may not have said that. I tend to believe that the pope didn’t say that, or at least exactly that. Many people in a position of leadership have had the experience that I’ve had, where often I say one thing and people hear something else. People tend to hear what they want to hear.
GP: A politician in your diocese, who is vocally pro-abortion, has put forward legislation [the Women’s Health Protection Act] that you would call “child sacrifice.” You’ve called on Catholics to pray and fast for [Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s] conversion. How has Speaker Pelosi spoken to you about that?
SC: I haven’t gotten any communication from her office on it…. [But] we’ve had conversations in the past, and she’s very respectful of me. I have to give her credit for that. She’s never defiant or mean-spirited. She’s always been very respectful. So I think she’s a good example of how, when there are bitter disagreements, we can still converse civilly.
GP: When you asked for prayers for Nancy Pelosi, one of the things that I was thinking about is the difficulty on the spiritual level. You’re dealing with your children—your spiritual children, and [as bishop] you have care and concern for our souls. But then some people somehow received that as attacking her or targeting her. What would you want to say [to them]?
SC: Pope Francis tells us that we should be pastors, not politicians. So I don’t know what could be more pastoral than prayer and fasting. How can you argue with that? This is a very serious issue. Since Roe, more than 60 million babies have been murdered in their mother’s wombs. I mean, it’s a bloodbath, not to mention the mothers who have been harmed and dealing with those scars, those emotional scars and psychological scars, and very often are not allowed to even talk about it. They’re feeling this hole, this anguish inside. Those who say that they’re for women, their response is, “You’re not supposed to be feeling that.” So then they have to bury it.
Who offers them healing opportunities? We do. Who offers them opportunities to give birth? There are many choices. Yes, abortion is only one choice. It’s the one wrong choice. But there’s adoption. There’s raising the child by herself. There’s the old-fashioned solution of marriage. Our pro-life crisis pregnancy clinics that are run by people of faith, they’re the ones who are pro-choice because they’re giving her every choice, except one. These abortion clinics, they give her only one choice. And one choice is no choice. You have to have at least two options to have a choice….
The above comes from a Nov. 9 story in America magazine.
It is not true that abortion clinics only give them one choice.
I have heard of an abortionist who would not do the procedure because she felt that the patient was wavering. The patient ended up having the baby and she is very grateful to the abolitionist who gave her time to think it over.
It’s true that abortion clinics murder babies.
Yes that is true.
Abortionists kill babies for money. Period.
There are NO compassionate abortionists. Period.
Very unusual. Abortion is a gigantic business, and Planned Parenthood and abortion doctors–Baby Killers– are usually interested in making money at their gruesome trade.
A precious baby is not a “choice” of the mother– to live or to die– that an Abortion doctor must respect. That Abortion doctor who decided not to kill the baby because the mother changed her mind– is indeed a Baby Killer, and would have cold-heartedly murdered that same baby, if the mother had so desired. No compassion. Just cold money for the doctor and clinic.
Actually, the doctor had compassion on the pregnant woman.
This is currently the state of the debate.
Those of us who are pro-life have compassion for the baby.
The pro-choice side has compassion for the pregnant woman.
Most pro-life people I know also have compassion for the pregnant woman and want to help and support her as she carries her baby to term.
There are also pro-life people who carry their compassion for the mother and the baby beyond birth and throughout their lives.
So-called “pro-choicers” are all supporters of baby murders. A Child is not a “choice” to brutally murder. Stop defending baby murderers. They all should be in prison with very stiff punishments for all their murders of unborn children.
You cannot put people in prison for doing something that is not illegal. You know that. They will meet their Judge just like we will meet Him.
If you want to really save babies, you are going about it the wrong way. Keep working on making abortion illegal but add some compassion for people who may have never even met someone who is pro-life. They have never even heard a reason not to abort or they think because it is legal it is OK.
The percentage of people who are completely opposed to abortion in all circumstances is about 8%. The percentage of people who are OK with abortion at any stage for any reason is about 12%. Most Americans fall in between and that includes most Catholics.
Hopefully, you are unconditionally pro-life. You may be the only pro-life person that a person who is pro-choice ever meets. Keep that in mind. A child’s life may depend on whether you act like a reasonable adult or not. Lives are at stake. We need to meet with and educate those who do not understand. Or who make excuses for it.
See. That’s exactly what pro-choice people are afraid of: stiff prison terms for choices they make. This is exactly why women in past years went to back streets and had unsafe abortions and died as a result. To avoid those crazy prison terms you talk about. Regardless of what you and I think about abortion, no woman should be threatened with prison for decisions they make that affect no one except themselves and the father.
ct, you waste lots of time making big excuses for murderers. And why do they do it? For money. Want to make big excuses for radical extremist Islamic fathers who do “honor killings” on their daughters? In some radical extremist Muslim countries, that too, is “legal.” What if they made it “legal” in the U.S.? You know, slavery used to be “legal,” and those who helped slaves escape risked being sent to prison.
Not Going Back.. Don’t believe all that “baloney” about “upset unwed pregnant girls driven to seek back-alley abortions.” Lots of people do very stupid things, when they are emotionally upset. For example, upset movie stars or military vets with PTSD who commit suicide. Or those supposedly “driven to alcohol and dope” because something terrible happened to them. Or a young criminal who says to the Judge that he was “driven to kill his wife, because she was pregnant by another man;” or he was “driven to rob a bank because he needed money.” The Judge and Jury simply won’t accept such stupid excuses. When you have difficult and challenging life situations– you had better face up to them, responsibly.
Planned Parenthood’s own documents show that it is extremely rare for them to “assist” a girl or woman in a crisis pregnancy leading to the adoption of her child by those who want to and can care for that baby. Big Abortion makes money on abortion, so there is pressure for that “choice.” Ask former Planned Parenthood workers themselves. Margaret Sanger and others in Planned Parenthood were not interested in setting up homes for unwed mothers (as they used to be called) or other supportive environments for women and girls who chose life.
So, the life of the baby the abortionist did not take is more worthy than the lives the abortionist does take? An ‘unwavering’ resolve is all that is required for the death of the baby?
That’s the defense of the abortion industry? You can have it.
Dear No Name,
Planned Parenthood sells abortions 97% of the time.
Rebekah Wu of the Benedict XVI Institute, along with Abp. Cordileone, have many wonderful projects in the Archdiocese of SF. Lately, they have planned to start a regular First Sat. 11am Tridentine Latin Mass, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at St. Monica’s Church, 470 24th Ave. (at Geary Blvd.) in SF. They are starting a Young Adult Gregorian Chant Choir of young singers in their 20s, to sing for these Masses, which will begin on Sat. Dec.4th. Rebekah Wu is training the singers. You can email her at: puretonesoprano@yahoo.com
Or else, call St. Monica’s for more information: (415) 751-5275.
I am so glad that Archbishop Cordileone can “converse civily” with someone who is guilty of what he himself has described as “child sacrifice.” Civility is certainly the key issue. None of that “Woe to you” stuff, which is very out of date apparently.
God bless Archbishop Cordileone and his loving and truthful support for the first and most important of all values, LIFE!
I would like to see Archbishop Cordileone and all others who are pro-life continue to do what they are doing but also add am outreach to the 70% of women who abort because they think they have no choice.
reply to “me”: there is always a choice regarding abortion. And the there are many pro-life Catholic run ministries to help post-abortive women, to assist pregnant women with financial and personal needs during pregnancy and after delivery. Also many programs to assist new moms with their babies, and ways to be able to care for themselves and their babies, both emotionally, financially, and day to day living needs. If there is not one in your parish, then start one.
God bless Archbishop Cordileone.He is not seeking man’s approval,but that of the Almighty.
The self-styled “Woke” Gloria Purvis was dumped by Guadalupe Radio and EWTN. She now works for the very un-Catholic America Magazine. Woke is as woke does.
https://angelusnews.com/arts-culture/bishop-barron-why-the-church-cant-stay-woke-or-stay-quiet/
This interview shows the problems with defining things as woke. Woke is awareness of other’s (especially African-Americans) experiences and a willingness to right injustice.
Here, Bishop Barron points out what he means by “woke” which may be more in line with what you mean.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield, Illinois, complains that for 17 years, he has been unable to receive Holy Communion at any Catholic church in his hometown, or anywhere else, due to his pro-abortion voting record. He says he is “uncomfortable” walking into any Catholic church, anywhere, uncertain of what any priest or bishop might do or say. At age 77, he has little time to repent and prepare for Heaven. He’d better get busy. Next time Sen. Durbin walks into a Catholic church, hope he will head straight for the confessional. When will it be Rep. Pelosi’s and Pres. Biden’s turn, in the confession line?? Wonder what Abp. Cordileone thinks about this?
Everyone goes to heaven, dontcha know?
Whoever instituted this proscription deserves high praise. Sen. Durbin, how much harder will it be to hear “Depart from me” at judgment than to hear “no communion” now. If you are uncomfortable walking into a Catholic church, consider whether or not this is the Church’s fault or your own. Now some will use this example to support the notion that withholding communion from democratic politicians is ineffective. After all, 17 years is a long time. But now Durbin is whining publicly, and that is a good sign, IMO. If it takes another 17 years for him to turn his back on his party, it will be worth it.
Salvation is worth it. And Jesus Christ paid the price for our salvation by His death on a cross for us. And it is so worth it, to save the lives of all unborn children– and someday, to outlaw the horrific crime of abortion– a horrific mortal sin.
not worth it
At my home parish there is a stone monument at the entrance of the Church which has the 10 Commandments (see Exodus 20: 2-17) engraved on one side and the Beatitudes (see Matthew 5: 3-12) engraved on the other side. The 5th Commandment – Thou Shall Not Kill- has always stood out to me. St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have spoken out forcefully in defense of life and against abortion, euthanasia and….capital punishment. In 2018, at the direction of Pope Francis, the Catechism of the Catholic Church was revised to read that “in the light of the Gospel” the death penalty is “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and that the Catholic Church “works with determination for its abolition worldwide.” In my travels around the country due to business obligations I’ve heard many sermons on the topic of abortion and euthanasia but I’ve never heard a sermon about the abolition of the death penalty. When I inquired of a priest-friend as to why this is the case; he speculated that the bishops may be concerned about the reaction of conservative donors. This is unfortunate since the unjust manner in which the death penalty is administered in the United States has been well-documented. It would be nice if Archbishop Cordileone and some of his brother Bishops would exercise some courage and speak out on this important issue.
re: Fred. Good to hear that you are hearing “many” homilies on abortion/euthanasia, that is not the case in our area. However, if you see the death penalty as an issue, then form a prayer group in your parish to address this issue. Presently, we are discussing abortion.
Joyce: pro-life is pro-life. Anti-abortion and anti- capital punishment are both pro-life issues.
Abp. Cordileone has lots more Tridentine Latin Masses starting soon, in the archdiocese. He will say a Pontifical Low Rorate Mass at 8am on Dec. 17th, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and Abbe Alex Barga, of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, will be master of ceremonies. The traditional Latin Rorate Caeli Votive Masses said during Advent, are said by candlelight, in darkness, during pre-dawn hours, to honor Our Blessed Mother, who brought the Light of Christ into the dark world. The priest wears special white Tridentine Latin Mass vestments, not purple Advent vestments, for this special Mass, to honor Our Lady. Also, Fr. William Young will start saying the Tridentine Latin Mass at 6pm on Mon., Tues , and Thurs., at St. Thomas More Church, 1300 Junipero Serra Blvd., in SF. These Masses will begin on Mon. Nov. 29th. I bet these beautiful Tridentine Latin Masses will attract many devout Catholics, young and old, and could even inspire new priestly and religious vocations.
The SF Archdiocese just publicly corrected a mistake in the announcement of the time for the pre-dawn Dec. 17th Pontifical Low Rorate Mass. It will be at 5:30am.
Per Joyce, we are only discussing abortion here and not the TLM!
The SF Archdiocese just publicly corrected a mistake in the announcement of the time for the pre-dawn Dec. 17th Pontifical Low Rorate Mass. It will be at 5:30am.
I must say my respect for Archbishop Cordileone is rapidly diminishing the more he pushes the TLM and tries to grow it against the will of Vatican II and Pope Francis. Vatican II mandated that the 1962 Missal be reformed and replaced. Stop going against Vatican II: celebrate only the novus ordo Mass.