Obama, Pope Discuss Abortion, Stem Cells

By Nathan Black|Christian Post Reporter

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In their first meeting Friday, President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI touched on the ethics of abortion and stem cells.

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(Photo: AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Pope Benedict XVI talks with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama during their visit with the Pontiff Friday, July 10, 2009, at the Vatican.

The two leaders met at the Vatican's apostolic palace where the pontiff offered Obama a copy of a document titled "An Instruction on Certain Bioethical Questions," according to CNN.

While Obama supports abortion rights and funding embryonic stem cell research, the Vatican is staunchly opposed to both. In a paper that was released in December, the Vatican hardened its opposition to using embryos for stem cell research and affirmed the dignity of every human life – beginning at conception.

During Friday's private discussion that lasted about 40 minutes, Obama reaffirmed his personal commitment to try to reduce the number of abortions in the United States, according to Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

Earlier this year at a highly publicized commencement at the University of Notre Dame, Obama conceded that the views of the pro-life and pro-choice camps are "irreconcilable" and that each side will continue to make its case.

But the president pressed for civil debate and urged a search for "common ground."

As they ended their meeting, President Obama told Pope Benedict that he looks forward to "a very strong relationship."

Earlier, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that even though the pope and Obama may not agree on everything, "there are steps that can be taken ... that will show progress, whether it's on something like unintended pregnancy or adoption."

After taking office in January, Obama ended the Bush administration's ban on funding international groups that perform or promote abortions and also reversed a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

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gmc4jesus »

Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:15 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

How many babies would be alive or would have never been conceived (resulting in the mother seeking an abortion because she got pregnant outside of marriage) if we would simply follow God's teachings about sexual immorality.

If more people would get serious about Getting To Know Jesus, we could reduce the unwanted pregnancies, sexual immorality, sex crimes, sexually transmitted diseases and a whole host of other problems.

Jesus changes people's lives for the better from the inside out. Getting To Know Jesus helps people build a more passionate, personal and powerful relationship with the Son of God.
IRC-SoCal »

Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:33 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Rhi Bran hits the nail on the head -- Where is the outrage from the right-wing Catholics toward the Pope about his invitation to meet with Obama, when they were belly-aching over the Prez's ND speech?

Oh, and by the way, all you "Christians" who hate the Pope, the Catholic Church, Catholics and President Obama, can't wait till the next election when you further drive Catholics out of the Republican Party. You're not too smart, and you're very far from Jesus. Say it with me now: Pres-i-dent O-ba-ma. Now get used to it.
Chas »

Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:31 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

Nice present Papa B! Giving this book to Obama was a stupendous gesture!

Maybe he'll read it, maybe he won't, but at least you planted the seed and I pray the Holy Spirit will water it so Obama will stop aiding in the destruction of innocent human life and up hold the dignity of true marriage.
Chas »

Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

Hyperion Overseer,

As you can see clearly in scripture, Angels, prophets, people and our covenant is called Holy. Not because of anything they did, but because of God's sovreign will in the their lives. It is God who is Holy and their holiness is just a reflection of the Lord, like the Moon reflects the light of the moon.

You admit to being uneducated, so change it. Get some education in theology. You should enjoy it since it is about our relationship with God and it will help your ability to debate.

Also, I've met a lot of wonderful non-Catholic Christians on this board who are charitable and kind. I see again and again that you always have to have a parting shot or beligerantly attack Catholics or the Catholic faith.

While I accept most evangelicals as Christians, I'm not sure you are Christian despite what you claim. A True Christian wouldn't try and put down others, but rather with love try and show the truth. When I have failed, I have asked for forgiveness since discussions can get heated.

Maybe if you had more education, you wouldn't be so reliant on sarcasm to reveal a point. Maybe if Jesus was more active in your life, you would be filled with love for your neighbor.

Peace.
Daniel Paul »

Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:57 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"How did you get away with saying that word"

Because it's not a "real word". Still, CP can add it to the database....
BRIT72 »

Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:38 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

idietolive, where does it say in the new testament about the fringes, or at least imply fringes?

Or, where does the Old testament imply that gentiles in the future should wear these fringes?

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.

:)
idietolive »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:43 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

BRIT72

In answer to your question about the fringes. Yeshua commanded us to wear fringes on the four corners of our garments. The fringe was to include a blue thread. This is so when you see the fringe you would be reminded of His commandments. Their is a lot of speculation among the Jews as to the meaning of the blue thread. I personally believe it was put there to remind us; 1. That we are to be holy and separate unto the L-rd. 2. To remember Yeshua and the sacrifice He made to free us from the law of sin and death.

Please cite numbers 15:37-41, Deut 22:12

May Yeshua bless you and keep you
BRIT72 »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:11 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

No, tried it again, it doesn't like that word.
rj78 »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:29 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Chas-

Have you been hanging out with Jehovah Nissi?
BRIT72 »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:16 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

''Looks like the Pope is just trying to be Holy as the good book commands us to be.''

Yeah, he thinks Hairy Grotter is Holy.....
BRIT72 »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:14 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

''I gotta write that one down! FRIGGIN A! XD''

How did you get away with saying that word, but it wouldn't let me post the W, of babylon?
Chas »

Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:58 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

Hyperion Overseer,

Ever thought of reading the whole bible instead of the Kleph notes?

You say nothing is Holy except God, eh?????

Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in Peace with all men and to be HOLY; without HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.

Luke 1:72 Talks about a HOLY covenant,(So the covenant is Holy)

People and Angels can be Holy

Mark 8:38 describes HOLY ANGELS
Math 27:52 describes the HOLY PEOPLE
1 Cor 7:14 describes Children as HOLY
1 Cor 1:12 Corinthians are called to be HOLY PEOPLE
Eph 1:4 calls us to be HOLY and blameless in his sight
Col 1:2 To the HOLY AND FAITHFUL BROTHERS in CHRIST
Math 27:53 describes the HOLY CITY
Acts 3:21 describes the HOLY PROPHETS
Acts 10:22 describes a HOLY ANGEL
Col 3:1 Rules for HOLY LIVING
1 Thes 2:10 describes how HOLY WE ARE
1 Thes 3:13 we are to become HOLY
1 Thes 4:7 we are called to Live a HOLY LIFE
2 Thes 1:10 describes HOLY PEOPLE who believe
2 Tim 1:19 We are called to live a HOLY LIFE
Tit 1:8 We are called to be HOLY and DISCIPLINED

Would someone get this person a bible please.

Looks like the Pope is just trying to be Holy as the good book commands us to be.

Selective scripture exegesis without reading the whole bible is the root of all Protestant errors.
Homoousia316 »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:36 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 3

Flagged as inappropriate. show Ha! Flagged as inappropriate. AGAIN! Go figures. Looks like the new cardinal sin according to the Christian Post is telling the truth about dress-wearing 80-year old anti-science virgins. hide
Daniel Paul »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:08 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

"If I were the President I would be asking for the Pope to intercede to get God's direction on how to handle global finances."

Like the joke goes...the difference between God and Obama is that God doesn't think he's Obama....
BRIT72 »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:07 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Oh, I've been flagged, maybe it was the pope...lol.
BRIT72 »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:22 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Flagged as inappropriate. show ''The pope is infallible in FAITH AND MORALS.'' The pope is a sinner and could possibly be the false prophet. I wish you could see the truth, I really do. We are in the very last moments and soon it will be too late for anyone else to be saved. hide
Chas »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:17 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

The pope is infallible in FAITH AND MORALS.

You don't have to be a scientist to know, that life begins at conception and killing that new life is wrong. Embryonic stem cell research KILLS embryos, which is killing LIFE. Abortion Kills life.

Any questions?
Cheisa »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:42 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

HyperionOverseer

Thank God lunatics like yourself will never get within smiffing distance of power. You can't even begin to count the vast numbers of souls the Catholic Church has brought to Christ.
Get a grip.
pammie »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:21 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

TO: idietolive, who posted Â» The reason I put a dash in G-d is just to show my reverence for His name. G-d is not His name but it refers to it and I do not want it to be desecrated by spelling it out and someone throw it away or show disrespect to it.

* * * * * * *
This action is unecessary. There is noting wrong with writing God's name. If there was we could not have the Bible. Be free in Jesus Christ.
BRIT72 »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:11 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

idietolive, sorry one more question and the I'll stop picking on you...lol.

Fringes, what about them?
BRIT72 »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:43 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

G-d is english for yhwh, which is Yahweh, which is God.

Btw, I know why Jewish people do this, but with you not being, I wanted to know your reasons.

But the Bible doesn't do this with any of God's names, so it's a man made thing to do the missing letters thing, but if it makes you feel better, then who am I to judge you.
You are doing it for God, so your hearts in the right place. God bless you.

Thanks for answering me.

:)
SqueakyWheel »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:32 am Agree: 7 Disagree: 1

Obama's approval ratings are dropping like a rock.

Mmm.. maybe his pro-death, pro-socialist and pro-tax policies are showing themselves finally?
SqueakyWheel »

Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:32 am Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

Obama's approval ratings are dropping like a rock.

Mmm.. maybe his pro-death, pro-socialist and pro-tax policies are showing themselves finally?
idietolive »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:15 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

BRIT72
The reason I put a dash in G-d is just to show my reverence for His name. G-d is not His name but it refers to it and I do not want it to be desecrated by spelling it out and someone throw it away or show disrespect to it.

Orthodox jews use hashem which means the name. Messianic jews use Adonai. I just do it out of reverence. Nothing special.
Homoousia316 »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:15 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

Flagged as inappropriate. show The Pope is talking about stem cells? What are his scientific credentials, beyond being anti-evolution and saying that the trial of Galileo was justified? But then, this is the same guy who made virginity a professional commitment then spent his entire professional career telling others how and when to have sex. Not to mention that he's a homophobe who wears dresses. I just have such a hard time taking these Hitler Youth types seriously! hide
Jehovahnissi »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:44 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Knowing God is an interesting subject. So is knowing about God. But the two are clearly not the same. My guess is that a large majority of people who claim to know God would, on careful consideration, be found to know about God, but not to know God to any significant degree. And probably a large majority of self-identified Christians would say they do not "know" God. They would likely be correct.

So how do we come to truly know God? And do we know that we know God?

1Jo 2:3-6 -- 3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: 6 whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

Jhn 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent Me.
Jhn 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

"That test is most sound. It is most philosophical. It is the most simple test to give knowledge to an individual of which the human mind can conceive. Doing a thing, introducing it into your very being, will convince you whether it is good or whether it is bad. You may not be able to convince me of that which you know, but you know it because you have lived it. That is the test that the Savior gave to those men when they asked him how they should know whether the doctrine was of God or whether it was of man." (Conference Report, October 1966, Afternoon Meeting 136.)
BRIT72 »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:03 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

idietolive, what about the G-d?
Please I'm not mocking you, but I still want to know.
BRIT72 »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:02 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

Flagged as inappropriate. show idietolive, I wouldn't have said it quite the way you did, but I agree, catholisism is from satan, but the poor catholics need our love and prayers to get them free from the false prophet and his false church. I know how frustrated you are feeling, because I am too, it's very sad to see these poor people, so damaged doctrinally. hide
idietolive »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:55 am Agree: 5 Disagree: 0

Flagged as inappropriate. show (wrhalver) If I were the president, I wouldn't say a word to the pope. The man is a false prophet and spreads perverted doctrine. Do you know how many people he sends to Hell everyday? There are those who do G-ds work by spreading the gospel and there are those who spread the message of Satan. Catholicism isn't biblical at all. It's about as Satanic as you can get without blatantly being Satanic. Of course I'm sure some Catholics are going to be offended by this posting but I could care less. I know the truth, and the truth set me free. If Catholics would open a NON CATHOLIC King James bible, they would see how screwed up their actually is. hide
Rhi Bran »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:27 am Agree: 4 Disagree: 0

I wonder if the American bishops who denounced Notre Dame for inviting President Obama will denouce the Pope for inviting him to the Vatican? I wonder how those who hope the Pope will "plant seeds of truth" in Obama feel about the Pope's attempts to give the truth to Protestants who are considered deficient for not being Catholic?
BRIT72 »

Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:35 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

''Your wishes and opinions are actually irrelevant. The facts are the facts, unless you know another Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. I only know One. Save your wishes for those who don't know the Jesus of the Gospels.''

You're right, my wishes mean nothing.

You though are not fully resting on the finished work of calvary and therefore are not trusting the Saviour.

Untill you rest completely on Christ and stop trying to work your way to heaven, you will remain in your lost condition.
Cheisa »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:32 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Flagged as inappropriate. show Your wishes and opinions are actually irrelevant. The facts are the facts, unless you know another Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. I only know One. Save your wishes for those who don't know the Jesus of the Gospels. hide
darshan »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:51 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

The only "common ground" (not reported on here),quite literally, remains to be that of Israel's:
the President URGING the Pope (an inverse konkordat formula )to "remind all parties of their responsibilities", and commending "the longstanding efforts of the Holy See". Ah, yes, longstanding.
BRIT72 »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:17 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 3

''And that makes you different how? I hate to break it to you, but that's the very same Savior Catholics worship.''

I wish they did.
Cheisa »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:08 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

One and only Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

And that makes you different how? I hate to break it to you, but that's the very same Savior Catholics worship.

Oooooh! Scary!
BRIT72 »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:34 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

''Poooor Brit. You really have OCD where the Catholic Church is concerned. It really is a terrible waste of energy that can only leave you less for real faith.''

No, it's you who has O.C.D (obeys catholic doctrine)

See, you didn't have to feel sorry for ''poor'' Brit at all, she has real faith, in her one and only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Cheisa »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:22 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

Poooor Brit. You really have OCD where the Catholic Church is concerned. It really is a terrible waste of energy that can only leave you less for real faith.
Cheisa »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:20 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Online, I have to agree with you there. I'm not defending irresponsibility. But, assuming we can't get them to heed God's counsel, maybe we can help to see that they don't bear children and, if they do, find loving homes for them. It's a far greater alternative than abortion.
BRIT72 »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:27 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

What was Mrs O wearing I thought it looked like something from the KKK....very scary looking.

''A very strong relationship''

Could this be the beast and the false prophet?.....
Online4Him »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:20 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Most unintended pregnancies and abortions are the result of irresponsible men and women who continually ignore God's council on intimacy . . . sad.
Cheisa »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:12 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

It's a blessing that Obama has respect for the ideas of the Church andis willing to listen as evedenced in his meeting with the Pope. Obama is also on the rihgt track in asserting that preventing pregnancy and have more ribyst adoption alternatives are needed to reduce the need for abortion.

While we all agree that abortion is wrong, not enough is being done to reduce it as an option by making adoption more widespread and reducing pregnancies. Less pregnant mothers in bad circumstances and more ways to make adoption attractive, affordable and easier would help a great deal for now and in the future. It's easy to say ban abortion but harder to do the work to make them unnecesary.
FullGospel »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:53 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

I think all we can do is pray for our President and hope the gift from Benedict plants some seeds of truth. I hope Barack didn't give Benedict another iPod of his speeches.
wrhalver »

Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:57 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Hmmm...
If I were the President I would be asking for the Pope to intercede to get God's direction on how to handle global finances.

Perhaps he could ask God for a Spiritual stimulus package.

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