Vatican Newspaper Editor Claims President Barack Obama Not Pro-Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 22, 2009
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) — After initially printing a glowing report on the administration of President Barack Obama and claiming he had not made any radical changes on the issue of abortion, the editor of L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper for the Vatican, has provided insight on why the report overlooked Obama’s pro-abortion record.
Despite his immediate moves to promote abortions in other nations and field an administration marked by the selection of prominent abortion advocates, Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor of the paper, claims Obama is not pro-abortion.
In an interview with Paulo Rodari, a Vatican analyst for the daily Il Riformista, newspaper, Vian praised what he called a respectful Obama speech to Notre Dame students and said, he “is not a pro-abortion president.”
“Obama has not upset the world,” he added. “His speech at Notre Dame has been respectful toward every position. He tried to engage the debate stepping out from every ideological position and outside every ‘confrontational mentality.’ To this extent his speech is to be appreciated.”
Despite the words of praise for Obama, Vian maintains the newspaper is in line with the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.
“Let me be clear, L’Osservatore stands where the American bishops are: we consider abortion a disaster. We must promote, always and at every level a ‘culture of life,’" he told the Italian newspaper.
Vian has also bought into Obama’s statement that the radical Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would make unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy the national law and overturn hundreds of pro-life laws in all 50 states, is not a "priority." However, pro-life advocates see that as Obama’s way of playing down the eventual bill or passing it piecemeal in Congress.
"The fact that he said that is very reassuring to me. It also underlines my own clear belief: Obama is not a pro-abortion president,” he said.
American Catholic writer Deal Hudson, who has been monitoring the problems with Vian, says he is confused about Obama’s position and record.
"I guess appearing to be ‘respectful’ trumps voting, twice, for infanticide, promising to sign the Freedom of Choice Act if elected president, having a 100% pro-abortion rating from NARAL, rescinding the Mexico City Policy, nominating a pro-abortion Catholic to head the Department of Health and Human Services, and increasing the funding for pro-abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood," Hudson said in an email to LifeNews.com.
Related web sites:
Obama’s pro-abortion record – https://www.lifenews.com/obamaabortionrecord.html
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
