FRONT ROYAL, VA--When Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., met with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, she did not know the Pontiff would use the 15-minute meeting to scold her for promoting policies contrary to Christian teaching. The Holy See's press office released a statement shortly after the meeting:

Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.

His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.

The Catholic News Agency reported that, "A significant number of Catholic and pro-life organizations expressed concern over how Pelosi would use the meeting with Pope Benedict to further her position that it is possible to be Catholic and pro-abortion." In fact, just one day before the mid-February 2009 meeting, Jon O'Brien, president of the so-called Catholics for Choice, told The Hill newspaper that the visit between the Speaker and Pope Benedict would be an opportunity to highlight that one can be pro-choice and Catholic and that there are much bigger issues out there to discuss, such as the fate of the poor in the global economic downturn. "That would be a real conversation about choice, instead of this micro-obsession with abortion," O'Brien said. But any plans the rebellious "Catholics" may have had were foiled by the strong, albeit diplomatic, papal rebuke.

A statement released by Pelosi's office following the meeting made no mention of the fact that the entire meeting consisted of the Pope verbally slapping her on the wrist. "It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI today," Pelosi said. "In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel."

One of the most treasured parts for any politician meeting a Pope is the official photo, but Pelosi was not afforded such an opportunity.

This past August, Pelosi was scolded by several U.S. bishops for attempting to theologically justify her pro-abortion position during an interview on "Meet the Press."

"We pray that Speaker Pelosi will ask God to show her the truth," said Douglas R. Scott, Jr., president of Life Decisions International (LDI), "and that she will have the will and strength to act upon the truth." He said Ms Pelosi needs to either embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church or admit she is a protestant. "In fact," Scott said, "if Ms Pelosi rejects the Gospel of Life, she should admit she is not a follower of Jesus Christ and has embraced her own 'personal church'. We pray she will come to understand that God is a God of Life and she has a responsibility to defend all human life, from conception to natural death."