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Obama Promises Pope He'll Work to Cut US Abortions

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama told Pope Benedict XVI yesterday that he would make every effort to reduce the number of abortions in the US, according to a Vatican spokesman. Bioethics and life issues were the focus of the men's 40-minute talk yesterday. The pontiff gave the president a booklet explaining the church's opposition to abortion and stem cell research, Reuters reports.

Obama, who supports abortion rights and aims to reduce abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies, is "eager to find common ground on these issues and to work aggressively to do that," says a White House spokesman. The pope was "very impressed" by Obama and left the talks "extremely satisfied," the Vatican says.

President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI, are photographed as they meet at the Vatican yesterday.
President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI, are photographed as they meet at the Vatican yesterday.   (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
President Barack Obama, right, meets with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican yesterday.
President Barack Obama, right, meets with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican yesterday.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican yesterday.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican yesterday.   (AP Photo/Chris Helgren/pool)
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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

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
justme
Jul 14, 2009 12:13 PM CDT
Did anyone notice that besides bashing the pope, no one actually talked about a need to reduce abortions that in many cases are a bad substitute for birth control.
MarkFL
Jul 12, 2009 10:08 AM CDT
In return, the Pope promised to reduce the number of gay people.
Thinker
Jul 11, 2009 12:31 PM CDT
Yes, let's let religion dictate our laws and actions as a country. After all, it worked really well for us during the Bush years (and during the dark ages)

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