Earnest: I Haven’t Seen the Pro-Life Part of Pope’s Encyclical

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that he hadn’t seen the part of Pope Francis I’s encyclical that strongly condemns abortion during Monday’s press briefing.

Earnest, when asked about the parts of the encyclical where the pope argues that protecting the environment and supporting abortion are incompatible, said, “I didn’t actually see that portion of it. So, why don’t we take a look at the document and we’ll get you a reaction.”

The encyclical says, “Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion.” And “How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties?”

On Thursday, the White House praised the encyclical, stating, “I welcome His Holiness Pope Francis’s encyclical, and deeply admire the Pope’s decision to make the case – clearly, powerfully, and with the full moral authority of his position – for action on global climate change. As Pope Francis so eloquently stated this morning, we have a profound responsibility to protect our children, and our children’s children, from the damaging impacts of climate change.”

(h/t Phil Kerpen)

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett