Pelosi abortion dispute off-limits for Bush spokeswoman

WorldNetDaily tried to raise a question related to Pelosi-Gate at today's White House Briefing:

[WND correspondant Kinsolving]"Fox News reported yesterday that Speaker Pelosi has agreed to meet with San Francisco Catholic Archbishop Niederauer to discuss whether Pelosi, an abortion rights supporter, should take communion, with Pelosi agreeing to meet with him, but no date set. And my question: The president agrees with the archbishop on abortion, rather than the speaker, doesn't he?"

"I am absolutely not going to comment on Speaker Pelosi's meetings or the archibhsop – absolutely not going to comment, Les," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

The next question is needlessly argumenative:

Kinsolving continued, "St. Thomas Aquinas, Anselm and Alphonsus Liguori, as well as Popes Innocent III and Gregory XIV, all disagreed that a human life begins at conception. Does the president believe these two holy fathers and three Catholic saints were all wrong?"

Again, Perino said she would let the record stand.

"The president's position on this is well-known," she said.

I have no idea where that follow-up came from. One does not become a holy father or a Catholic saint for having a perfect understanding of biology. And it should come as no surprise to us that, without microscopes, they didn't have access to the scientific information needed to determine that a human life begins at conception.

Seriously.

Related: How long has it been since Pelosi promised to meet with Niederauer? (6 days, 7 hours, 30 minutes...)

Video: Bush praises Pope today

At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast:



His full speech is actually quite lengthy, and viewable here.

President Bush promises Pope Benedict a Rose Garden

Mark Silva at a Baltimore Sun blog (helped by Charlie Spiering of the National Catholic Register:

The White House is promising the Pope the Rose Garden.

The Bush administration is organizing a "unique'' Rose Garden ceremony as it finalizes plans for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI next week. "There is great excitement throughout the staff regardless of one’s religious affiliation,” says White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin. “This is a very special day.”

Hagin, together with Anita Bride, the first lady's chief of staff, held a roundtable discussion with members of faith-based media to give an inside look at the White House preparations. “As a Catholic,'' McBride said, "this is an enormous honor for me and a privilege to work on some small aspect of this visit.''

The staff has prepared a ceremony that reflects the usual details reserved for heads of state, together with “very appropriate and warm additions.” McBride notes that nearly 10,000 people will attend the ceremony surrounding the pope's arrival on the South Lawn on Wednesday.

...

Following the Rose Garden ceremony, the President and the Holy Father will hold a private meeting in the White House, lasting perhaps 45 minutes. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone will also meet separately during the papal visit.

It's good timing - the weather just broke here in DC (and hopefully it holds).

Pope Trip: "Bush to greet pope at airport in unusual gesture"

AP:

Pope Benedict XVI will be greeted by President Bush at Andrews Air Force Base next month at the start of the pontiff's weeklong U.S. trip, the Vatican said Monday.

... The president traditionally greets visitors at the White House. The most elaborate welcome has been a South Lawn ceremony with trumpet salutes, booming cannons and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, dressed in 18th-century uniform, parading by the reviewing stand and invited guests.

Does anyone know where John Paul II was greeted when he visited the United States each time?

President Bush to have first meeting with Pope Benedict on June 9

Just saw this come across the wire:

President George W Bush will meet Pope Benedict XVI for the first time and will visit three East European NATO countries on a European tour in June, according to statement issued by the White House .... On June 9, Bush will meet the German-born pope, the White House added. [source.]

Tres interessant.