Regina M. Benjamin grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and attended a Catholic elementary school in her home town of Daphne, Ala., nestled along the Gulf Coast. Benjamin, President Obama’s pick to be surgeon general, attends Mass regularly and has received an award from Pope Benedict XVI and another inspired by Mother Teresa. But the Alabama country doctor also backs Obama’s position on reproductive health issues, a position that potentially could put her at odds with the Catholic Church. ‘Like him, she believes that this is an issue where it is important to try and seek common ground and come together to try and reduce the number of unintended pregnancies,’ White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said. ‘As a physician, she is deeply committed to the philosophy of putting her patients’ needs first when it comes to providing care.’ The White House declined to say whether Benjamin supports a woman’s right to an abortion, but sources close to her selection say she does. Benjamin did not return a call to her clinic seeking comment. Rebecca Adelman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said that Benjamin is prohibited from speaking publicly until she is […]