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 ...
Refuse him an audience.
Publicly and specifically state the reasons why.
Is it any wonder millions of American Catholics were good with voting for Obama?
The Pope gave Bammy a BOOK to read on BIOETHICS! Good freaking grief. What did Rick Warren give him???
Much, much better to GIVE HIM THAT BOOK on BIOETHICS!!! THAT sent a POWERFUL message....and we PRAY that Bammy changes his heart about abortion and infanticide.
So glad you cleared that up!! Thanks!
I usually don’t respond to Catholic bashing but: Really? The Pope of the Roman Catholic Church lies to us all the time?
I assume you are devout Catholic who pays rapt attention to matters concerning the faith. Thus, you will be cognizant of this (too)subtle move on the part of the Pope, and its implications.
Yes, the MSM may have reported the transmission of the Church document to Obama, but the vast majority of AMericans including most Catholics will not understand the implicaions of that.
They will see the smiling Pope, accompanyied by the (official?) words of approval from the Vatican.
"Very impressed" = "The pope will have to try very hard to forget his meeting with Obama."
"Extremely satisfied" = "The pope had his fill of Obama."
Obama told him. “Don’t worry Pope, all of those young expectant mothers will be getting pre-natal care under my ObamaCare health plan. Fewer children will be born alive, and this to allow us to offer more government services to the older folks, reduce the world’s carbon pollution by US residents, and free up resources for the rest of the world. Problem solved.”
A powerful message to YOU, because you are devout and paying attention.
I am referring to the millions of cafeteria Catholics who need a strong and obvious message as to what their Faith means.
Im my opinion, giving him a faith based document is much too subtle, even if it is reported in the media.
Hold down Ginsburg’s undesirables.
barbra ann
OK.....you would be surprised how a small thing can affect a person.
I wouldn’t take that too far, for certain individuals condemned a certain carpenter from a backwater town for hanging out with prostitutes 2,000 years ago.
I sincerely hope that you are right, and I am wrong.
Too, we must assume that the Holy Father is proceeding with divine guidance, however misguided I personally, think the outward appearances of this approach may be.
Definitely!! The Pope will be praying HARD!!
Liar liar, pants on fire.
Yup, the way to reduce a certain behavior is to provide more tax-payer provided money to fund it. Makes perfect sense.
Did Obama also tell Pope Benedict he wanted to kill old people, and the handicapped?
I’m sure in some diseased corner of his marxist brain, Obama really does think that his policies will reduce abortions...
Of COURSE he does!!!! (wink, wink)
IIRC, he ran on the notion that a "woman shouldn't be punished with a baby for making a mistake!"
I didn't fall asleep and make that up, did I???
Sounds like "Welfare Queens" are getting a raise.
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