Pope tweets shout-out for anti-abortion rally in D.C.

Pope Benedict XVI pushes a button on a tablet at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. / AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict XVI is giving a shout-out to an anti-abortion rally in Washington, tweeting that politicians should protect the unborn and "promote a culture of life."

Benedict sent the message Friday as thousands of people gathered at the National Mall and in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the landmark court decision that created a constitutional, nationwide right to abortion.

Tweeting in nine languages, Benedict wrote:

I join all those marching for life from afar, and pray that political leaders will protect the unborn and promote a culture of life.

— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) January 25, 2013

Catholic Church teaching holds that life begins at conception.

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Pope sends first tweet

Benedict has garnered some 2.5 million Twitter followers in the six weeks since he launched his account.

Vatican officials have acknowledged the pope does not actually type the Twitter messages and that someone in the Vatican's secretariat of state writes them on his behalf.

[wranglerjan]

And, I pray YOU will do something about all your pedophile's!!

[wranglerjan]

And, I pray YOU will do something about all your pedophile's!!

[drmdmd]

If a woman is pregnant with a boy, then how could it POSSIBLY be part of her body? It's NOT! It is ANOTHER PERSON'S BODY! Taking HIS life is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

[Carol Raphael BROSN]

Just as important as protecting innocent children from being attacked by those bearing guns, it is equally important to protect life from its very conception. Respect for the sanctity of life should be the first concern of all national and religious leaders. In the 20th century we witnessed the carnage of totalitarian nations which did not respect life. The Holy Father is correct in his strong defense of life. (Miss) Carol Raphael BROSNAN

[sirkka1]

Respecting life begins with respecting the individual. If women are protected,respected and granted equal dignity (or more due to their unique ability to carry life in their wombs), then abortion may cease to be an issue. The joy of bringing life into the joyful life they've known would be automatic. Is it not human nature to want to share joy? As long as patriarchal/male dominance reduces women to eve and exalts their function over their being denying joy, the depressed and abused woman may see it as a saving grace. And recognize there is no joy to share.
Love woman, stop abortion.

[cleric77]

AttyFAM So, in your opinion --you have replaced God with either a earthly government or yourself as a god to decide who should give or who should be killed. By the way, the fetus is composed of human cells, which comes from human flesh and blood.
Just think if your parents believered they were gods and decided you should be killed????

[aliwatson1031]

Cleric77, there is still a dispute on whether an embryo is a living being. As it is the woman who carries the fetus/embryo and eventually gives birth, it is the woman's decision on whether or not to have that baby. It is not the churches nor the governments decision. Neither one of those entities have to raise that child or support it financially! Religion and goverment should stay out of this issue. After all, it is not a male issue, it is a woman's issue. Most of the women I know are intelligent enough to make their own decisions. They don't need help from the church or the government.

[cleric77]

aliwatson1031 --There's a dispute on whether an embroyo is a living being--what the heck is it? It comes from two human living cells--a male sperm and a female cell. It a living human being. It's isn't plant, it's a dog or cat, it's a living evolving human being.
It's also a moral issue! It's also a civil issue! Question: If an expectant mother is in a deep coma--who makes the choice if the child should live or die--the mother's failed to do POA?

[AttyFAM]

Maybe it is time to end the tax break for the Catholic Church since its leader is engaged in American politics.

[cleric77]

We all need to ask ourselves: "Is human life sacred from conception to the dying? Since, we have become amoral culture that is there are no moral absolutes--who/what decides if it is sacred or not? The government? The individuals?
Another thought...What makes human life sacred? God? The government?

[AttyFAM]

The government has no right to determine what is sacred in any of the various religions - and those religions differ themselves on what is sacred. But neither has the Catholic Church or any other church or religion the right to interfere with the political process in America - at least not without losing its tax exemption. The role of government is to preserve individual rights. And it is absolutely clear that the rights of a thinking, feeling woman are more important than those of a fetus, which may or may not ever be born.