Nancy Pelosi Bashes Catholics on Pro-Life Issue: 'They Have This Conscience Thing'

Pelosi characterized the Republican-proposed conscience exemption, which would allow health-care providers to refuse to perform abortions, as savage.

They will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health-care providers do not have to intervene, if this bill is passed. It's just appalling, she told the Washington Post.

Catholic health-care providers have claimed that they would go out of business if this conscience exemption bill is not passed.

Pelosi said it simply amounts to letting hospitals say to a woman, 'I'm sorry you could die' if you don't get an abortion.

She said that there are some who may not like the language she uses, but insists she is in the right. The truth is what I said. I'm a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it . . . but they have this conscience thing.''

Life News, an independent news agency devoted to reporting news that affects the pro-life community, has criticized Pelosi's stance.

LifeNews supports this conscience exemption formally known as the Protect Life Act, which was passed in the House on October 13. This bill was introduced to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It includes multiple provisions on abortion, including banning the use of federal funds to cover the costs of any health-care plan covering abortions.

The Web site emphasizes that the Protect Life Act underlines that no funds authorized or usurped by the PPACA, such as tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, may be utilized to pay for abortion costs or coverage.

Life News states that this bill specifies that an individual or a state or local government must purchase a separate elective abortion rider. This must be done with private monies and not funds related to Obamacare.

The bill guarantees that state laws protecting conscience rights, restricting or prohibiting abortion or coverage or funding of abortion, or establishing procedural requirements on abortion are not rescinded by Obamacare; and that state and local governments receiving Obamacare funding are not subject to discriminatory actions if health care provides refuse to undergo abortion training.

Pelosi condemned the referendum during the Post interview.

For a moment, I want to get back to what was asked about the issue on the floor today that Mr. Hoyer address, Pelosi said. He made a point and I want to emphasize it. Under this bill, when the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health care providers do not have to intervene if this bill is passed. It's just appalling.

Pelosi also scoffed at a comment made by one of her critics on the House floor related to the topic of abortion.

'Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope.' They think like this. And of course I do - I think the pope would agree - and I know more than you, too, mister, she said.

The Protect Life Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), was passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Oct. 13. It has been deemed a controversial piece of legislation. The bill prohibits women from buying health insurance plans that cover abortion under the Affordable Care Act. It also makes it legal for hospitals to refuse to perform abortions on pregnant women with life-threatening conditions, reports the Huffington Post.

However, it is unlikely that the bill will pass the Democratic Senate. President Obama himself has said that he will veto the bill if it ever reaches his desk.