Obama Tells Pope He Wants Fewer Abortions

[Freddie Stubbs]

President Obama told Pope Benedict XVI at a Vatican meeting that he would work to limit how many abortions take place each year in the United States, according to a Vatican spokesman.

"The pontiff told me that President Obama affirmed his personal commitment to try to reduce the number of abortions in the United States," spokesman Federico Lombardi said, according to Agence France-Presse.

The president met with the pope for 25 minutes on Friday in the Papal Library. As the pair posed for pictures at the outset of the meeting, the president said to the pontiff, "I'm sure you're used to getting your picture taken. I'm still getting used to it."

Cameras and reporters were only allowed to record the beginning and end of the meeting. The president could be heard saying "thank you, God bless you" to Benedict as they parted. He also said he looks forward to "a very strong relationship between our two countries."

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/10/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5149648.shtml

[babylonsister]

1. That's all true. Fewer abortions through education and contraception. nt

[scheming daemons]

2. In other words: "Hey Pope, we're going to encourage and promote birth control in the U.S."

Something the Pope would be against.


There absolutely nothing wrong with trying to reduce the number of abortions in this country. Just make sure the option is there if needed/desired.

[lindisfarne]

9. Free access to birth control, emergency contraceptive, and a better economy would go a long way

towards preventing abortion.

Of course, what is being missed here is that the pope has a different definition of abortion than Obama does. Catholics have equated preventing a fertilized egg from implanting with "killing" - in other words, abortion. Thus, the Vatican's position is no birth control whatsoever under Catholic teachings.

[Arkana]

3. Yeah, but we're not gonna do it by screaming fire and brimstone.

Tell kids, "You really shouldn't do it, but if you're gonna do it, here's the tools you need to make sure you don't end up with a kid you don't want, and here's how to use them."

[Peacetrain]

4. Amen to that.. we all want fewer abortions.. thorough better education

contraceptive availability, adoption etc. No one disagrees with that. Our goal is to keep safe abortions legal, but also to reduce the need for such.

[Starry Messenger]

5. Well he and the Pope are in luck.

They'll never have to have one.

[Rebubula]

12. Well said...

...I confess that I giggled at that one.

[chill_wind]

16. +10

[Cha]

17. And, hopefully young girls won't either

..with contraception and education.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Gosh. How many has he been having?

[jberryhill]

7. That Was My Question....

...and why was the Pope giving them to him?

Inquiring concrete reasoning minds want to know.

[WI_DEM]

8. Don't most people?

[pennylane100]

10. He should have also requested fewer molestations

by priests.

[jefferson_dem]

11. Don't we all? Totally non-controversial.

n/t

[denem]

13. Less rapes and incest?

Who could argue with that?

[Forkboy]

14. Republicans.

[Colobo]

15. I don't know everyone who doesn't want less abortion.

More birth control and sex education is needed.