At a press conference on Wednesday, April 29, in response to a question noting Catholics’ outrage over the University of Notre Dame’s plan to honor pro-abortion President Barack Obama, the President restated his support for legal abortion and did not retract his support for the Freedom of Choice Act.

“President Obama’s agenda is clear: eliminate restrictions on abortion while trying to reduce teen pregnancy, presumably by promoting contraception,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “We pray that Notre Dame’s president and board members meeting tomorrow will put Catholic principles ahead of prestige and withdraw their invitation to President Obama, which, as Bishop D’Arcy said, has caused a terrible breach between the university and the Catholic Church.”

During a press conference last night, CNN correspondent Ed Henry began his question to President Obama by noting, “Mr. President. In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.”

Henry asked the President whether he still hopes that Congress will quickly pass the Freedom of Choice Act, as Obama stated during his campaign for the White House last year.

In response, President Obama implied that the Freedom of Choice Act is still on the agenda, stating only that “the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose.”

President Obama restated his support for abortion rights. He affirmed that he is “pro-choice” and that decisions concerning abortion should be made, not on the government level, but rather by women “in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.”

“The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion, or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again,” President Obama said.

While the Catholic Church urges teens to practice chastity, the use of artificial contraception is considered to be sinful.

Additionally, the University of Notre Dame announced today its plan to bring former Laetare medalist Hon. John T. Noonan to speak to graduates in lieu of Hon. Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard law professor and former ambassador to the Vatican, who declined to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal in protest against the decision to honor President Obama.

Noonan, who has been a well-respected federal judge and opponent of abortion, is also a prominent Catholic advocate for allowing the use of artificial contraception.