Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) defiantly responded to her 2022 ban from receiving Holy Communion imposed by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone due to her pro-abortion stance. In a recent interview with the National Catholic Reporter, Pelosi dismissed the archbishop’s directive, maintaining that her Catholic faith remains independent of the bishops’ authority.
“I received Communion anyway. That’s his problem, not mine,” Pelosi stated. “My Catholic faith is, Christ is my savior. It has nothing to do with the bishops.”
Archbishop Cordileone’s ban followed Pelosi’s consistent support for abortion rights, which contradicts Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life. The Church’s stance holds that abortion is a grave moral offense. Pelosi’s refusal to abide by the directive highlights an ongoing tension between left-leaning Catholic politicians and the Church’s pro-life teachings.
In the interview, Pelosi emphasized her personal interpretation of faith, saying she believes in a “divine spark” in every person. She also cited her alignment with the late Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a civil rights leader. Pelosi remarked, “That spark of divinity is what I respect in every person, especially if they respect it in themselves.”
Pelosi also criticized the Vatican’s controversial deal with the Chinese Communist Party regarding the appointment of bishops for China’s state-sanctioned church. The 2018 agreement, renewed in 2023, has faced widespread opposition, including from retired Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, a vocal critic of China’s human rights violations. Pelosi’s stance reflects bipartisan concerns over religious persecution in China.
“Every bishop has sprung from that rock,” Pelosi said, referencing Jesus’ appointment of Peter as the foundation of the Church. “And now, the Chinese government?”
Despite her vocal commitment to her faith, Pelosi and the Democratic Party have faced increasing disapproval from Catholic voters. In the 2024 election, exit polls showed a notable shift in Catholic support toward Republicans. President Trump won the Catholic vote 56% to 41%, a 10-point swing compared to his 2020 margin against Joe Biden. Similar trends were reported in key swing states, with NBC News data showing Catholics favored Republicans 59% to 39%.
Pelosi attributed the Democrats’ declining Catholic support to low voter turnout, saying, “A lot of people didn’t vote. That subtracted from our number.” She expressed disappointment in what she viewed as Catholics moving away from traditional social justice teachings associated with the faith.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to skip the 2024 Al Smith Dinner, a charitable event tied to Catholic causes, further underscored the growing disconnect between Democrats and Catholic voters. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Catholic Senator JD Vance (R-OH) as his running mate solidified his appeal among conservative Catholic Americans.
Pelosi’s defiance reflects a broader conflict between progressive political stances and the Church’s teachings on life, underscoring the challenges faced by left-leaning Catholic leaders as they navigate religious doctrine and political ideology.
