Presidential candidate Marco Rubio got into a heated exchange with CNN leftist Chris Cuomo Friday morning regarding abortion and did not let himself be backed into a corner. 

Cuomo questioned Rubio on statements he made in Thursday night's GOP presidential debate when he rejected accusations of making exceptions for abortion in cases of rape and threats to the mother's life, saying he agreed with the Catholic Church's position – Rubio identifies as Catholic – that all human life from conception until death should be preserved. 

The Catholic Church – whom Rubio identifies with – teaches abortion can be allowed under no circumstances, including rape and life of the mother. In the case of rape, pro-lifers from Ryan Bomberger to Valerie Gatto have shown a child can be born under terrible conditions and still grow up to be a great human being. In cases in which the mother's life is at risk, the Church teaches that all efforts can be made to save her or that the child can be removed so long as doctors work to keep it alive once outside. The child can die as a result of saving the mother, but it cannot be intentionally murdered via abortion.

See transcript of the conversation below:

CHRIS CUOMO: Let's take your position as you present it this morning. To not have a carve-out for rape and incest is also something that seems very backward-looking in terms of the cultural mores that we have today. Why do you not see rape and incest as areas for potential carve-outs, even if you are pro-life? 

MARCO RUBIO: First, I think both of those instances are horrifying and fortunately, they're extremely rare. It happens and anytime it happens, it's horrifying. It's a tragedy.  But I personally and honestly and deeply believe that all human life is worthy of protection, irrespective of the circumstances in which that life was created. I personally believe that you do not correct one tragedy with a second tragedy. That's how I feel, very strongly about. I believe all human life, irrespective of the circumstances in which they came into being, is worthy of the protection of our laws and I recognize this is a tough question. It's a very difficult question. And I understand that. Believe me, I do. But by the same token if I have to weigh the two equities here, I'm always going to err on the side of life. I think that's a timeless principle. Certainly our economy has evolved. But when it comes to issue like the value of every human life is a timeless principle. It's true now, it's true before and it will be true in the future. 

CUOMO: It's interesting that you draw distinctions about the old and the new in certain regards, but in this one you say it's timeless. Because, as you know, cultural mores  in this country, certainly the opinions of women, are not in step with what you're saying right now. You're comfortable with that? 

RUBIO: But the value of life is timeless. The - no, no, no, the value of life is timeless. The idea that a human life is worthy of the protection of our laws is not something that over time anybody should evolve on. I mean you can - you can change your economic policies to justify your economy's different.

CUOMO: Right. But the idea - you're - you're deciding -

RUBIO: You can accept changes - the idea that human life is worthy of protection is a timeless principle. I don't care how much the world changes.

CUOMO: I know, but you're deciding when it is human life. Let me ask you something. You - when you're looking at the future -

RUBIO: No, science has decided when it is human life.

CUOMO: Science has not decided it's at conception.

RUBIO: No, let me correct you. Science has - absolutely it has.

CUOMO: Not at conception.

RUBIO: Science has decided that when a - science has concluded -- absolutely it has. What else can it be? It cannot turn into an animal. I can't turn into a donkey. That's the law. The only thing that that can become is a human being.

CUOMO: But you - no, but you know that the law has perused this. The fact that - look, of course, I understand the logic but it's a little too simple with -

RUBIO: Every human - human like. It can't be anything else. 

CUOMO: Senator, I understand that, but that's oversimplifying it a little bit. 

RUBIO: It is simple. It's straightforward. 

CUOMO: This is not my argument. This is a presented argument of science. It having a DNA map. So does a plant. It's about when it becomes a human being. I'm not saying what I think in answer to that question. That's not my position. But don't you think, if you want to be a leader of the future, that's a question that deserves an answers that is definitive beyond your faith. When does life begin? None of you are calling for any type at panel -

RUBIO: At conception. At conception.

CUOMO: That's your faith. That's your faith. That's not science. 

RUBIO: No, it isn't. That's science. 

CUOMO: It is not definitive science. 

RUBIO: Absolutely it is.

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