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 ...
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.
I that a picture of him with Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill?
“...Not nice to lie to the Pope....”
My first thought as well.
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It was my 1st, 2nd and 3rd thought...lying POS!
Maybe Obozo is so stupid and/or out of touch he really doesn't know the difference any more between fact and fantasy.
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.
Shame on Obama for lying to the pope.
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.
Considering his gift for Bacrock was a subtle admonishment, I think it was diplo-speak.
So Hussein is going to limit abortions? But infanticide will go full steam ahead.
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 dont want to have too many of.
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.
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?
Really??? Do tell. If you can’t back that up, apologize to the Catholics on this thread, please.
He’s the POPE! What do you want him to do...strike him DEAD?
See number 44.
Is there ANYONE he won’t lie to?
Sorry for jumping the gun there!
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.
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.
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