Pope encourages doctors NOT to perform abortions

[Ohio Joe]

A day after telling Catholics not to obsess with abortion, the Pope encourages doctors NOT to perform abortions

Pope Francis encouraged Catholic doctors to refuse to perform abortions today in a bizarre U-turn on comments yesterday that condemned the church's obsession with such 'small-minded things'.

Francis appeared to be offering an olive branch to the more doctrine-minded, conservative wings of the church today with a staunchly pro-life message during an audience on Friday with Catholic gynecologists.

It seemed to directly contradict his warning yesterday that the Catholic Church could fall 'like a house of cards' if it continues in its preoccupation with abortion, gay marriage and contraception.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2426866/Pope-Francis-encourages-doctors-perform-abortions.html

I think if he was doing more then putting on a show, he would make the changes he gets so much press for and not just talk about them... He is the Pope after all. I just don't trust the PR that has been being put out and don't believe there is any real change coming.

[IggleDoer]

1. Interesting ...

Did he tell Catholic women not to seek an abortion?

[Deep13]

2. *sigh* Not this shit again.

It's very simple. A person is in charge of her own body. The end.

I can understand how someone might disapprove of late term abortion in principle, but that does not give him the right to attempt an end-run around the patient's personal autonomy by trying to convince others not to provide an often necessary service, one for which the patient either has no moral objections or else feels that her need outweighs those objections. Simply put, it is the woman's decision, not the doctors. This whole debate is an effort by a patriarchal power structure (of which the RC Church is a big part) to ensure masculine control over reproduction. Without that, that control is illusory.

[LaydeeBug]

3. Pope also encourages nations NOT TO inflict capital punishment.

Oh, and a bear shits in the woods.

[Deep13]

4. Yup, he's right on the death penalty, wrong on abortion. nt

[cap]

5. Could the Pope just take a trip down to Mississippi where they are living the dream

Only one abortion clinic for the whole state. And yet, those darn red staters are just poppin out kids... highest amount of kids living in poverty. Higher than average deaths in child birth. Higher divorce rate

The well to do, just hop a plane, if they are in need of services.

Why not visit some of the model territories? They got the laws people wanted.

Ohio Joe, you are right about PR. He does not have a great reputation in Argentina. He was fighting with the current Prime Minister over social issues. She is keeping quiet because he is supposed to be working on her behalf negotiating with Britian over the Falklands. The only change is a kinder, gentler wrapping of noxious policies.

[cap]

6. Wonder what they would say about this in Ireland

where several months ago a woman (non Catholic) died a gruesome death because she could not get an abortion despite a pregnancy gone wrong.

[SidDithers]

7. But he drives an old car!!...

Isn't it enough that he drives an old car?!? And why doesn't Obama drive an old car?

Sid