Anti-Abortion 'Extremists' Got Nothing on Prez

(AP) - The Roman Catholic bishop whose diocese includes the University of Notre Dame says he will boycott President Obama's May 17 commencement speech at the school because of Obama's support for abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research. John D'Arcy said today that Obama's recent decision to fund embryonic stem-cell research brought the US government for the first time "into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life." More»

Demonstrators sing 'God Bless America' to protest song about prez

(NEWSER) - A band of tea-party protesters descended on a New Jersey elementary school yesterday, complaining that a class song hailing President Obama was "indoctrinating" kids. Some 70 protesters sang God Bless America and The Battle Hymn of the Republic outside the B. Bernice Young School in a suburb 15 miles northeast of Philadelphia. More»

(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. More»

Analysts: older regs let health workers avoid certain procedures

(NEWSER) - Some doctors who oppose abortion say they’ll quit their jobs if President Obama repeals Bush regulations that allow health care professionals to refuse to perform operations that are in opposition with their beliefs, NPR reports. A Christian Medical Association report found that “90% of those surveyed said they will quit their practices before violating their conscience.” A repeal “sends a clear message: It's open season on health care professionals of conscience—discriminate at will.” More»

(NEWSER) - Students at Notre Dame upset that President Obama will deliver today's commencement address began an all-night prayer vigil Saturday night, reports AP. Earlier, campus police arrested 19 anti-abortion protesters—none of them students—and charged them with trespassing, notes CNN. The invitation to pro-choice Obama has raised a ruckus at the Catholic school, and some of the more extreme members of the anti-abortion camp plan to make their presence felt at the college. More»