Chip SomodevillaHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks with fellow representatives before Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol March 9, 2011 in Washington, DC. Pelosi is wearing ashes on her forehead because it is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church.
Over the years, the speaker of the house has defended abortion while citing her Catholic faith.