White House Says Obama, Pope Benedict XVI Will Have "Frank" Talk on Abortion

Life News ^ | 7/8/09 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The White House is saying that pro-abortion President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI, the head of the Catholic Church, will have a "frank' talk on abortion when they meet on Friday. Obama is currently in Italy for the Group of Eight summit and the two will meet after the conference concludes.

"I think there will be a frank discussion [about abortion]," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to an AP report.

On subject like abortion where Obama is out of step with the pro-life teachings of the Catholic faith, Gibbs said "even if we don't see eye to eye on everything, there are steps that can be taken on a number of issues that will show progress, whether it's on something like unintended pregnancy or adoption."

Gibbs said the pontiff is "somebody that gets to see a lot of the world, and I think getting his continued support for these efforts is obviously important."

The relationship between Obama and Catholics has been tenuous.
The pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church and Obama's pro-abortion views have been at odds since the beginning of his presidency.

Before Obama took over the White House, the nation's Catholic bishops warned him not to aggressively promote abortion and not to include abortion in his health care restructuring proposal.

He upset pro-life Catholics immediately with his overturning of the Mexico City Policy and allowing taxpayer dollars to go to pro-abortion groups that promote and perform abortions overseas.

Then, Obama overturned President Bush's protections against making taxpayers fund embryonic stem cell research that destroys human life.

Tensions grew further when the University of Notre Dame invited Obama to give its commencement speech and bestowed on him an honorary degree. Several dozen Catholic bishops and all pro-life groups criticized the move and how it gave legitimacy to Obama's pro-abortion record.

Recently, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's daily newspaper, came under fire for overlooking the record and saying Obama is not pro-abortion and hadn't compiled the "radical" record his detractors expected.

During the meeting, pro-life Catholics hope the Pope will address Obama's abortion record and urge him to do more to protect human life.

There is no word on whether Miguel Diaz, who Obama nominated to be the ambassador to the Vatican, will attend the meeting. Diaz has received criticism from pro-life advocates for glossing over Obama's abortion record and campaigning for him during the presidential election.

Diaz also was among a group of Catholic professors who signed a latter backing the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius, who backs late-term abortions, as Obama's health secretary.

[wagglebee]

On subject like abortion where Obama is out of step with the pro-life teachings of the Catholic faith, Gibbs said "even if we don't see eye to eye on everything, there are steps that can be taken on a number of issues that will show progress, whether it's on something like unintended pregnancy or adoption."

Nonsense, Zero has no interest in adoption, he views babies as "punishment" and wants them killed.

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[Buck W.]

BHO will claim victory over the Pope just as Pelosi did.

[Ben Mugged]

Beware the serpent whispering in the Pope’s ear.

[Liz]

What Obama and Michelle Believe re Aborted Babies Born Alive
FR POSTED http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2253212/posts?page=6

In February 2004, US Senate candidate Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, sent a fund-raising letter with the "alarming news" that "right-wing politicians" had passed a law (prohibiting doctors from stabbing half-born babies in the neck with scissors, suctioning out their brains and crushing their skulls).

Michelle Obama called partial-birth abortion "a legitimate medical procedure. " She urged supporters to pay $150 to attend a fund-raising luncheon for her husband, who she promised would fight against "cynical ploy[s]" to stop it.

BACKGROUND Legislation was presented on the federal level and in various states called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. It stated all live-born babies were guaranteed the same constitutional right to equal protection, whether or not they were wanted. BAIPA sailed through the U.S. Senate by unanimous vote. Even Sens. Clinton, Kennedy and Kerry agreed a mother's right to "choose" stopped at her baby's delivery. The bill also passed overwhelmingly in the House. NARAL went neutral on it. Abortion enthusiasts publicly agreed that fighting BAIPA would appear extreme. President Bush signed BAIPA into law in 2002.

But in Illinois, the state version of BAIPA repeatedly failed, thanks in large part to then-state Sen. Barack Obama. Obama worried aloud that legislation protecting live aborted babies might infringe on women's rights or abortionists' rights.

In 2003, as chairman of the next Senate committee to which BAIPA was sent, Obama stopped it from even getting a hearing, shelving it to die much like babies were still being shelved to die in Illinois hospitals and abortion clinics.

BAIPA passed in 2005.........after Obama left.

[isom35]

Pope: Abortion is wrong, it is murder. obama: I know, I dont care. Pope: I guess we’re done here.

[SevenofNine]

I bet Obama would sprew Pea soup on the Pope

[KRyanJames]

I seem to remember Nancy Pelosi having a differing recollection of her meeting than the Holy Father had.

I wonder if the president will be afflicted with the same difficulties.

[Liz]

This calculated pandering to Catholics is nauseating.

The fact is Rahm "Uriah Heep" Emanuel has a checklist of voting blocs the Democrats lost (and now need to to build a permanent majority).

David Copperfield's ingratiating scoundrel fits Rahm to a tee. Uriah Heep was notorious for wielding undue influence, a manipulative bounder who was always planning and plotting, ingratiating himself into the confidence of others. Uriah Heep was obsequious, manipulative, and wormed his way into positions of influence. Uriah was a consummate con man, and not to be trusted.

Translated into the language of the popular culture, Uriah Heeps, like Rahm, position themselves as amenable to American qualities, but are insincere in these feelings; he uses important issues to advance his hidden agendas and political ambitions.

Like Uriah Heep, power-hungry Rahm feeds on others, and deploys self-serving strategies for his own self-absorbed purposes.

We conservatives are on to this. Conservatives are aware of Whom they serve and watch carefully to see if government promises made to them are empty.

We know this-----Rahm evinces an utter contempt for our culture and is obsessed with party politics. Watch him on TV---Rahm coyly speaks the language to appeal to American values, but he is not a true believer, he is a calculating conniver----a latter-day Uriah Heep.

[trisham]

I sincerely hope that in his meeting with Obama, Pope Benedict makes the Catholic position regarding abortion crystal clear, and that his message is public and impossible to misconstrue or ignore.

[newfreep]

Well, since the pope favors a one-world economic czar, he may have a pro-choice position now.

This world is absolutely mad!

[OpusatFR]

“...steps that can be taken on a number of issues that will show progress, whether it’s on something like unintended pregnancy or adoption.”

Gibbs said the pontiff is “somebody that gets to see a lot of the world, and I think getting his continued support for these efforts is obviously important.”

Slick. Lump unintended pregnancy and adoption together and then slip in abortion talks.

Abortion is a sin. That’s all. It’s not negotiable.

Chicago politics and Hegelian dialogue cannot influence dogma.

It is what it is and people have died for it.

[OpusatFR]

“Well, since the pope favors a one-world economic czar...”

Read the entire encyclical before you post simple thoughts from AP news or Reuters.

[rhema]

Frank exchange? If the Pope can stay awake through BHO’s dissembling doublespeak, it’ll be a miracle.

[Steamburg]

If it’s a truly frank discussion then we will find out if the Pope does moral absolutes. It was clear that he wasn’t frank enough with Ms. Pelosi.

[Jess Kitting]

"I think there will be a frank discussion [about abortion]."

The Pope will be frank.

Obama will say "Frankly, Pope, I don't give a damn."

[OneWingedShark]

>BHO will claim victory over the Pope just as Pelosi did.

Maybe.
Though, to be honest, I would have liked to have seen Pelosi excommunicated.

[Churchillspirit]

Hope the lovely Michelle will show some class and cover herself before meeting the Pope.