Vatican Newspaper Backtracks on Praising President Obama's Pro-Abortion Record
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- The official newspaper of the Vatican appears to be backtracking from previous news articles that the pro-life movement has condemned because they appear to praise, or at least gloss over, the pro-abortion record of President Barack Obama. A new unsigned article addresses the controversy. "In reporting on some recent statements and initiatives of the President of the United States, L'Osservatore Romano certainly did not intend to express appreciation for his positions on ethical questions," the article says. "Obviously the Holy See and L'Osservatore Romano have been, are, and will be standing side by side with the bishops of the United States in their commitment to the inviolability of human life in whatever stage of its existence." Deal Hudson, a prominent American Catholic writer who has closely following the problems at L'Osservatore Romano, is inexorable and says the new article is insufficient. "This article from the Vatican newspaper comes nowhere near settling the controversy, which lead me to call for the resignation or removal of its editor, Giovanni Maria Vani," he wrote over the weekend. "For the record to be cleared, the Vatican newspaper, or some Vatican authority, will need to quote specific relevant passages from the paper and say explicitly those passages do not represent the Vatican's point of view. Otherwise, those quotes from L'Osservatore Romano are destined to become embedded in Obama's 2012 campaign literature."

During Funeral, Abortion Practitioner Tiller Eulogized as Improving Heaven
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- During his funeral over the weekend, late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller, who was recently shot and killed, was eulogized as improving Heaven by his supposed entrance. Hundreds of people gathered Saturday to honor Tiller and, former University of Kansas colleague Larry Borcherding, of Overland Park remarked, "Dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming. Heaven will never be the same. It will be a better, better place with George in it." About 700 people filled the church sanctuary and about 200 others watched a closed-circuit television broadcast in another room. A large portrait of Tiller hung at the front of the sanctuary, and nearby was a wreath of flowers with the words "trust women," according to the Topeka Capital Journal newspaper. Some mourners wore buttons that said "Attitude is Everything," a popular Tiller phrase he wore on a button during his trial on state charges that he allegedly engaged in illegal abortions by lying about the age of the unborn child at the time of the abortion so it would qualify as legal and not past the state deadline.

Pro-Life Catholic Group Responds to New Study Showing More Catholic Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new study conducted by Amy Adamczyk, assistant professor of Criminal Justice at City University of New York, found that female students at private, religious schools and colleges are more likely to have an abortion than their public school counterparts. The study found women at Catholic institutions had abortion rates similar to students at other religious institutions in the study. “This dangerous anti-life trend at Catholic educational institutions confirms what Pope Benedict XVI has reiterated many times, that there is an underlying crisis of faith among young people that is not being adequately addressed even by Catholic educators,” said Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society. Adamczyk’s findings echo a CNS-sponsored study published in November 2008 and titled “Behaviors and Beliefs of Current and Recent Students at U.S. Catholic Colleges.” The CNS study found that most Catholic colleges have little positive impact on the faith and values of students. In particular, CNS reported that nearly 1 in 5 students at Catholic colleges knew another student who had or paid for an abortion. Reilly says Pope Benedict has spoken out on these problems.

Chinese Scientists Find Pigs Offer New Adult Stem Cell Research Source
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Chinese scientists have given cells from adult pigs the ability to turn into any tissue in the body, just like embryonic stem cells. They hope the breakthrough could aid research into human disease, and the breeding of animals for organ transplants for humans. It may also enable the development of pigs that are resistant to diseases such as swine flu. The study appears online in the Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. Lead researcher Dr Lei Xiao, of the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, said many other attempts had been made to transform adult cells from animals such as pigs into "pluripotent" stem cells, but they had failed. He said: "Therefore, it is entirely new, very important and has a number of applications for both human and animal health." Dr Xiao's team reprogrammed cells taken from a pig's ear and bone marrow, using a cocktail of chemicals introduced into the cells via a virus. Tests showed that the reprogrammed cells were capable of becoming any of the cell types that make up the three layers in a developing embryo.

Attorneys Challenge Arrests of Pro-Life Advocates at University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group has hired an attorney to defend about 70 people arrested on misdemeanor trespass charges while protesting President Barack Obama's visit to the University of Notre Dame. The American Center for Law and Justice hired attorney Tom Dixon to represent those arrested during anti-abortion protests leading up to and during Obama's commencement speech last month. Former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes was among about 40 who appeared before a St. Joseph County magistrate on Wednesday to plead not guilty. Most of those charged are not from Indiana. Dixon has asked the court for 30 days to file written briefs seeking dismissal of the charges. The Thomas More Society, another pro-life legal group, is also participating in the case.

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