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Obama tells pope he wants to reduce abortions in U.S.
Reuters ^ | July 10, 2009 | Philip Pullella and Jeff Mason

Posted on 07/10/2009 11:26:28 AM PDT by NYer

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - President Barack Obama promised Pope Benedict on Friday that he would do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in the United States, the Vatican said.

Obama and Benedict held private talks for about 40 minutes in the pope's frescoed study in the Vatican's apostolic palace and the Vatican said bioethics and life issues were a central part of the discussion.

In a surprise move, the pontiff gave Obama a booklet explaining Vatican opposition to practices such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, which Obama supports.

"Obama told the pope of his commitment to reduce the number of abortions and of his attention and respect for the positions of the Catholic Church," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters after he was briefed by the pope.

Obama supports abortion rights and says his policy is to change economic and social conditions so as to put more women in situations where they do not feel they have to have an abortion.

The pope gave Obama, who last March lifted restrictions of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, a copy of a recent Vatican document on bio-ethics in which the Holy See explains its opposition to such practices.

"Dignitas Personae" (dignity of a person) condemns artificial fertilization and other techniques used by many couples and also says human cloning, "designer babies" and embryonic stem-cell research are immoral.

The document defends life from conception to natural death and a Vatican statement issued after the meeting said the topics discussed included "the defense and promotion of life and the right to abide by one's conscience."

The pope's private secretary told reporters after the meeting: "This reading can help the president better understand the Church's position on these issues."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; bhoabortion; bhovatican; bhovisit; catholic; obama; pope; popebenedict
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To: EyeGuy

He met with all the other G-8 leaders. Why not the President of the United States? Pope John Paul II met with both Carter and Clinton.


41 posted on 07/10/2009 11:38:30 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("If you know how not to pray, take Joseph as your master, and you will not go astray." - St. Teresa)
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To: evets

I that a picture of him with Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill?


42 posted on 07/10/2009 11:38:45 AM PDT by calico_thompson
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To: Puppage

“...Not nice to lie to the Pope....”

My first thought as well.

______________________________________________________________

It was my 1st, 2nd and 3rd thought...lying POS!


43 posted on 07/10/2009 11:40:27 AM PDT by mikelets456
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To: Pyro7480
Settle down big fella. I was referring to Obama lying to use all the time, not the Pope. Too many pronouns in that post.
44 posted on 07/10/2009 11:40:54 AM PDT by colorado tanker ("Lastly, I'd like to apologize for America's disproportionate response to Pearl Harbor . . . ")
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To: Bahbah; All
Not nice to lie to the Pope.

Maybe Obozo is so stupid and/or out of touch he really doesn't know the difference any more between fact and fantasy.

45 posted on 07/10/2009 11:41:19 AM PDT by Zakeet (Obama: Always wrong, never in doubt.)
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To: Pyro7480

Either The Church is against abortion or it is not.

The Catholic Church should not be in the business of diplomatic niceties and protocol.

The Vatican has left the GENERAL impression in words and images, that they are very favorably disposed toward Obama.


46 posted on 07/10/2009 11:42:51 AM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: NYer

Shame on Obama for lying to the pope.


47 posted on 07/10/2009 11:42:51 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: NYer

If Bacrock wants to reduce abortions, he can start by reversing his votes on abortion issues. That will probably happen the day the Lions win the Super Bowl.


48 posted on 07/10/2009 11:44:26 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (We do what we have to do.)
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To: FourPeas

Considering his gift for Bacrock was a subtle admonishment, I think it was diplo-speak.


49 posted on 07/10/2009 11:47:08 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (We do what we have to do.)
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To: NYer

So Hussein is going to limit abortions? But infanticide will go full steam ahead.


50 posted on 07/10/2009 11:47:44 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: sniper63; listenhillary
Only for people of the wrong color...

Nah, that's what abortion is for (according to Ginsburg):

Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.


51 posted on 07/10/2009 11:50:01 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: NYer

At first I thought this is incredible. Then I realized that he must not have had his teleprompter with him. The Teleprompter in Chief was not there to give him directions so the guy just said the first thing tha came to his mind.

Unbelievable that they actually let him inside the Vatican.


52 posted on 07/10/2009 11:50:46 AM PDT by seawolf101
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To: NYer
President Barack Obama promised Pope Benedict on Friday that he would do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in the United States, the Vatican said.

Why? It's a freedom, a right, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with it, nothing to be ashamed of, right?

Could The Prez please elaborate on why he would wish to reduce abortions in this country?

53 posted on 07/10/2009 11:50:47 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
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To: colorado tanker

Really??? Do tell. If you can’t back that up, apologize to the Catholics on this thread, please.


54 posted on 07/10/2009 11:50:56 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: EyeGuy

He’s the POPE! What do you want him to do...strike him DEAD?


55 posted on 07/10/2009 11:51:49 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy

See number 44.


56 posted on 07/10/2009 11:52:25 AM PDT by colorado tanker ("Lastly, I'd like to apologize for America's disproportionate response to Pearl Harbor . . . ")
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To: NYer

Is there ANYONE he won’t lie to?


57 posted on 07/10/2009 11:52:29 AM PDT by Mr. K (THIS ADMINISTRATION IS WEARING OUT MY CAPSLOCK KEY DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!!!)
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To: colorado tanker

Sorry for jumping the gun there!


58 posted on 07/10/2009 11:52:55 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("If you know how not to pray, take Joseph as your master, and you will not go astray." - St. Teresa)
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To: NYer
President Barack Obama promised Pope Benedict on Friday that he would do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in the United States, the Vatican said.

He'll sign an executive order banning use of the word abortion. Instead his administration will use the term "manmade pregnancy disaster."

Then we will have no more abortion in the US.

59 posted on 07/10/2009 11:53:25 AM PDT by freespirited
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To: EyeGuy

Even the MSM can’t get out of reporting how the Pope gave Obama an “unexpected gift,” which was a Church document on a bioethics, along with an autographed copy of his recent encylical, which also explicitly condemns abortion.


60 posted on 07/10/2009 11:53:56 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("If you know how not to pray, take Joseph as your master, and you will not go astray." - St. Teresa)
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