BREAKING: San Francisco archbishop bars Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been barred from receiving Holy Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco because of her increasingly "extreme" position on abortion, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone announced Friday.
In a "letter to the faithful," the archbishop wrote that after repeated attempts to speak with Pelosi and persuade her to adhere to the Catholic Church's teaching that life begins at conception and abortion is a sin, he has determined to place her under public church discipline.
"Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s position on abortion has become only more extreme over the years, especially in the last few months," Cordileone wrote. "Just earlier this month she once again, as she has many times before, explicitly cited her Catholic faith while justifying abortion as a 'choice,' this time setting herself in direct opposition to Pope Francis."
He quoted a statement Pelosi made to the Seattle Times earlier this month in which she fumed over the leaked draft Supreme Court majority opinion that would uphold Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban and overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
“The very idea that they would be telling women the size, timing or whatever of their family, the personal nature of this is so appalling, and I say that as a devout Catholic,” Pelosi said. “They say to me, ‘Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the Pope.’ Yes I do. Are you stupid?”
"After numerous attempts to speak with her to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that the point has come in which I must make a public declaration that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion unless and until she publicly repudiate her support for abortion 'rights' and confess and receive absolution for her cooperation in this evil in the sacrament of Penance," the archbishop announced.
"Please know that I find no pleasure whatsoever in fulfilling my pastoral duty here. Speaker Pelosi remains our sister in Christ. Her advocacy for the care of the poor and vulnerable elicits my admiration. I assure you that my action here is purely pastoral, not political," he said, asking faithful Christians to continue to pray for her.
The announcement that Pelosi would be denied communion is the culmination of a years-long conflict between the speaker, a self-described devout Catholic, and her archbishop on the abortion issue.
Last year, Cordileone issued a missive condemning "the evil of abortion" and suggesting that an "erring Catholic" who continues to support abortion rights after being confronted by their pastor must be temporarily excluded from communion.
Pelosi has said that overturning Roe would be an "abomination" and that should the Supreme Court do so, it would be "one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history." She and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have led Democrats in support of a radical abortion bill that would wipe out state pro-life laws and dramatically expand abortion access by codifying Roe into federal law.
Your tax dollars at hard work: Report says House will give staffers free Peloton memberships
The U.S. House of Representatives will soon offer staffers in Washington D.C. and in district offices free Peloton memberships at taxpayer expense, according to a report.
Fox Business reported Friday that a draft email from the office of the chief administrative officer says that the new "premier employee benefit" will be made available to all Capitol Police officers, as well as congressional staffers, who each will get both Peloton All-Access and a Peloton App membership for free.
The government reportedly has a contract with the company — known for its stationary exercise bikes and online fitness class subscriptions — to offer the free membership benefits to an estimated 10,000 House staffers and 2,300 Capitol Police officers.
According to Fox Business, the contract requires a $10,000 upfront payment to Peloton, as well as an additional $10 per month charge for each staffer or officer who uses their membership. Those rates are slightly discounted from what other Americans pay; a Peloton All-Access Membership costs $39 per month and a Peloton App Membership costs $12.99 per month. If everyone eligible for the benefit takes advantage of it, it could cost taxpayers as much as $120,000 per month, $1.4 million annually, and $14.4 million over the next ten years.
The draft email from the office of the CAO reportedly told staffers and officers they would "have access to thousands of live and on-demand classes, across multiple disciplines, that are available for streaming across multiple devices and require no purchase of Peloton equipment."
Peloton confirmed that it has a contract with the House in a statement to Fox Business.
The report comes one week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) raised the minimum salary for House staffers to $45,000. Previously, there was no salary floor for congressional staff, and some staffers were paid as low as $30,000 while being required to live in one of the most expensive cities in America. The House on Tuesday also voted to recognize the right of its staffers to unionize in a party-line vote of 217-202, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.
A recent report by Issue One, a campaign finance reform group that describes itself as "crosspartisan," found that one in eight congressional staff members are not paid a minimum subsistence wage to meet the basic needs of living in D.C. Congressional staff often work long hours as well and make far less money than those who hold similar jobs in the private sector.
But at least now they have taxpayer-funded exercise bike memberships.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi announces 2022 re-election bid, says that 'in the arena, you have to be able to take a punch or throw a punch, for the children'
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has spent more than three decades serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced a bid for re-election on Tuesday.
The long-serving lawmaker, who will turn 82-years-old in March, has managed to remain the House's top Democrat since 2003, serving either as House minority leader or House speaker, depending on whether her party held the majority. After serving as House minority leader for two terms, she became the chamber's first female speaker in 2007.
But Pelosi, who is currently serving her fourth term as Speaker, made a pledge in 2018 that would preclude her from pursuing any additional terms as speaker, if she keeps her promise.
In 2018, the lawmaker issued a statement in which she said that she would abide by the constraints of a proposal to impose term limits for senior leadership roles in the Democratic caucus, capping service to three terms, plus one more term with the backing of two-thirds of the caucus.
"It would include the two terms of the Democratic Majority from 2007 to 2011," Pelosi noted in her 2018 statement. "I am comfortable with the proposal and it is my intention to abide by it whether it passes or not."
In a video announcing her re-election bid, Pelosi said, "In San Francisco the climate is not an issue, it is an ethic."
She said that children are the most important issue facing the nation's legislature.
"That is my why, why I am in Congress — for the children," Pelosi said. "As you hear me say ... in the arena, you have to be able to take a punch or throw a punch, for the children."
While we have made progress much more needs to be done to improve people\u2019s lives. This election is crucial: nothing less is at stake than our Democracy.\n\nBut we don\u2019t agonize-we organize. I am running for re-election to Congress to deliver For The People and defend Democracy. -NPpic.twitter.com/ojwFPOdRs3— Nancy Pelosi (@Nancy Pelosi) 1643148127
Vaccinated White House official and Pelosi staffer test positive for COVID-19 after encounter with Texas Democrats
A White House official and a staffer in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have each tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a reception together, Axios reported Tuesday.
The positive diagnoses occurred after the Pelosi staffer met with a delegation of Democratic lawmakers from Texas, who fled their state to obstruct the passage of an election security bill supported by state Republicans. Of that delegation, six lawmakers have now tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to Washington, D.C., while appearing to ignore face mask and social distancing recommendations.
ON PLANE TO DC: Texas Democratic lawmakers are leaving state to break quorum to stop Republican voting bill. Vetera… https://t.co/V0aNe3QrH5
— ScottGordonNBC5 (@ScottGordonNBC5) 1626120584.0
A White House spokesman confirmed the positive cases, adding that neither the White House official nor Pelosi's aide were showing severe symptoms because both had previously been vaccinated.
"We know that there will be breakthrough cases, but as this instance shows, cases in vaccinated individuals are typically mild," the spokesman told Axios.
The Pelosi staffer and the White House official, who each tested positive, both attended a rooftop reception at the Hotel Eaton last Wednesday evening. Previously, the Pelosi staffer met with the Texas lawmakers and ushered them around the Capitol.
Neither individual has had recent direct contact with either President Joe Biden or Speaker Pelosi.
"Yesterday, a fully vaccinated White House official tested positive for COVID-19 off campus," the White House spokesperson said in a statement.
"In accordance with our rigorous COVID-19 protocols, the official remains off campus as they wait for a confirmatory PCR test. The White House Medical Unit has conducted contact tracing interviews and determined no close contacts among White House principals and staff. The individual has mild symptoms."
The spokesperson added, "The White House is prepared for breakthrough cases with regular testing. This is another reminder of the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines against severe illness or hospitalization. We wish our colleague a speedy recovery."
Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, said, "Yesterday, a fully-vaccinated senior spokesperson in the Speaker's press office tested positive for COVID after contact with members of the Texas state legislature last week."
"The entire press office is working remotely today with the exception of individuals who have had no exposure to the individual or have had a recent negative test. Our office will continue to follow the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician closely," he added.
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have begun to rise due to the Delta variant, a strain of the coronavirus from India that is more contagious than other variants but not more severe. Because the Delta variant is more transmissible, even vaccinated people may become infected but their symptoms will only be mild and the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 is dramatically reduced by vaccination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccine breakthrough cases are expected as no vaccine is 100% effective at preventing illness in vaccinated people.
In the U.S., more than 159 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. CDC data indicates that 5,429 patients who were vaccinated experienced a breakthrough infection and were hospitalized or died. The CDC notes the number of breakthrough infections reported is likely undercounted, as it relies on passive and voluntary reporting.
"Vaccine breakthrough cases occur in only a small percentage of vaccinated people," the CDC says. "To date, no unexpected patterns have been identified in the case demographics or vaccine characteristics among people with reported vaccine breakthrough infections."
The Texas Democrats who traveled to D.C. to lobby for federal legislation that would undo Republican election security laws are currently in quarantine, continuing their efforts over Zoom. State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D), told the Dallas Morning News the lawmakers have been "observing all CDC guidelines."
"We're grateful that 100% of us were vaccinated in advance," he said. "This delta variant is no joke."
Nancy Pelosi says Congress will reconvene tonight and certify the Electoral College results
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that Congress would reconvene and certify the election results after being driven out by pro-Trump rioters.
Pelosi released a defiant statement excoriating the chaos on Wednesday.
"Today, a shameful assault was made on our democracy. It was anointed at the highest level of government. It cannot, however, deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden," Pelosi said.
Protesters and supporters of President Donald Trump stormed Congress in order to prevent the certification of the Electoral College results. One person was shot inside the Capitol and later died, and members of Congress were evacuated for their safety.
Pelosi went on to say that she consulted with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), and "decided we should proceed tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use."
She said she also consulted with Vice President Mike Pence, the Pentagon and the Justice Department.
"We always knew this responsibility would take us into the night. The night may still be long but we are hopeful for a shorter agenda, but our purpose will be accomplished," she continued.
"Members and staff should remain on the Capitol complex until they are notified by the United States Capitol Police," Pelosi instructed.
She concluded by calling it a "time of great sadness."
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky addressed the objections that Republicans were intending to raise against the certification of results from several states.
"I don't think there's gonna be another objection. I think it's over," Paul said.
The Senate was scheduled to reconvene for the vote at 8 p.m. ET.
Here's more about the rioting at the U.S. Capitol:
Capitol Building has been cleared, House and Senate intend to resume session: Rptwww.youtube.com
Bernie Sanders admits Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats walked away from coronavirus relief bill offered by Republicans
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) admitted that Democrats walked away from a coronavirus bill that the Republicans had put on the table.
Sanders made the comments during an interview with Jake Tapper on his CNN show Monday. He also voiced his opposition to a compromise bill to which Democrats had signaled approval.
"Well, you talked about that $1.8 trillion bill that the White House, Steve Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, was working on with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) um, the Democrats walked away from that bill," Tapper said.
"Thats right!" interrupted Sanders.
"...because they wanted $2.2 trillion and they walked away from $1.8 trillion. Was that a mistake?" Tapper asked.
"Thats what I'm saying! That's exactly what I'm saying!" exclaimed Sanders.
"Here was a proposal much much larger, Democrats are, 'no that's not good enough,' and now we're prepared to accept a proposal that has I think $350 billion dollars in new money?" Sanders continued.
Sanders argued that the bill being negotiated didn't have enough of what Democrats and progressives wanted, and that the Democrats were going to give the Republicans "everything they want" in the proposed bill.
"I don't think this is much of a compromise, I think the Republicans have probably gotten 90% of what they want. Our job is to fight and get at least a 50-50 deal," Sanders said in the interview. "We gotta do a lot better and negotiate a lot harder."
Others have questioned the Democrats' rationale behind their acceptance of a bill that had far less than a previous bill that they rejected. On Friday, Pelosi snapped at a CNN reporter for asking her to explain why they were accepting the compromise bill.
"Let me tell you something!" Pelosi scolded CNN's Manu Raju.
"Don't characterize what we did before as a mistake, as a preface to your question, if you want an answer!" she added.
"That was not a mistake!" Pelosi exclaimed. "It was a decision, and it's taking us to a place where we can do the right thing, without other, shall we say, considerations in the legislation that we don't want."
Pelosi went on to say that the big difference between the previous bill and the current bill was that former Vice President Joe Biden was going to govern according to the guidance of the scientific community. President Donald Trump is still contesting the results of the Nov. 3 election.
Here's more of the interview with Sanders on CNN:
“What we need is a compromise. I know I can’t get everything that I want, but this bill really isn’t a compromise.… https://t.co/VGpxTRSmAR— The Lead CNN (@The Lead CNN)1607377486.0
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Why Nancy Pelosi Feels Such a Connection to China