– Getty News

WASHINGTON — The White House today signaled that it may be prepared to “accommodate” the concerns of religious leaders who have strongly opposed a new federal rule requiring that private insurers provide contraception coverage.

In a sign that the escalating battle between the administration and the U.S. bishops has inflicted significant political damage on a president who faces an uphill battle for re-election this year, President Obama reportedly is prepared to make an “accommodation, not a compromise.”

ABC News reported this morning that the president is likely to offer a proposed accommodation described as “Hawaii-lite,” a reference to a state bill in that has been floated as a...READ MORE

There have been rumors of a compromise on the Health and Human Service contraception mandate, including Feb. 10 news from The Associated Press, that stated, “President Barack Obama will announce a plan to accommodate religious employers outraged by a rule that would require them to cover birth control for women free of charge, according to a person familiar with the decision.” (Register story to come.)

Opposition to the rule continues.

President Barack Obama’s decision to require religious employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception and sterilization is an “unconscionable” violation of religious freedom, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said Feb. 9.

“President Obama is using the...READ MORE

– Wikipedia

ROME (EWTN NEWS/CNA)—A bishop’s love for Jesus Christ and the Church can overcome all his fears, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said at St. Peter’s tomb on Feb. 9.

Cardinal George is visiting the Vatican along with the bishops of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for their ad limina visit.

“In the responsorial Psalm we asked the Lord to protect us, to take away our fears, which means that the Psalmist and the apostles were afraid at times, as are we. There is reason to be afraid. But, nonetheless, stronger than fear is faith, and stronger than both is love,” he said.

Cardinal George was the main celebrant and homilist at the early morning Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica. He...READ MORE

Dominican Sister Sharon Park, director of the Washington State Catholic Conference, testified last week that a bill requiring health insurers to pay for abortions was in violation of the federal Hyde-Weldon Amendment, as well as religious freedom and the Constitution.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington lawmakers, poised to pass a bill requiring health insurers to pay for abortions, were told this week this would violate federal law and cause defunding of federal health and welfare funding.

Dominican Sister Sharon Park, director of the Washington State Catholic Conference, testified last week before the House Ways and Means Committee, telling state legislators the Reproductive Parity Act was in violation of the federal Hyde-Weldon Amendment.

“It’s a violation of religious freedom and of the Constitution,” Sister Sharon said. “But it also is a violation of the Weldon Amendment. If they do it the [federal] Health and Human Services Department can completely...READ MORE

Christopher West’s Comeback. Click on the link by Fr. Roger Landry to read more.

Christopher West’s Comeback - Fr. Roger Landry, Our Sunday Visitor

EWTN Announces New Show with Scott Hahn - The Cardinal Newman Society Blog

New Media & Scripture, Interview with Dr. Michael Barber - Brandon Vogt, The Thin Veil

JP2, Humanae Vitae, & Theology of the Body - Charles W. Norris, Homiletic & Pastoral Review

Father Barron on the HHS Mandate - Donald R. McClarey, The American Catholic

Me and Humanae Vitae - Amanda Castro, Ignitum Today

The Saint Who Shows What It Means to be Known by God - Dawn Eden, The Dawn Patrol

Young Adult Moral Ignorance: Who to Blame, What to be Done? - Thomas Lickona, MercatorNet

The Black Nazarene - Fr. Joe, Southern Fried Catholicism

The New Rio...READ MORE

– brandonht/Shutterstock.com

With EWTN filing a lawsuit against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today, there are now three institutions suing the federal government over the so-called “contraceptive mandate” in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Though the lawsuits concern religious freedom, not contraception, some observers may wonder: Why the big deal over contraception? After all, some reports say that upwards of 98% of Catholics have used contraception — a claim shown to be exaggerated.

Nevertheless, we would like to present several links here to explain the reason why the Church teaches that contraception is sinful — and why it would be immoral for Catholic employers such as...READ MORE

Obstacles to Going Back to the Land. Click on the link by Devin Rose to read more.

Obstacles to Going Back to the Land - Devin Rose, St. Joseph’s Vanguard

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf is Right, Time for the Bishops to Deal with Nancy Pelosi - Mark Shea, Patheos/Catholic and Enjoying It!

Can Pregnant Woman be Anointed on Behalf of Dying Unborn Child? - Fr. Ryan Erlenbush, New Theological Movement

Nancy Pelosi: ‘I Am Going to Stick with Fellow Catholics ’ in President Obama’s War on Catholics - Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, What Does The Prayer Really Say?

445 Babies Saved from Abortion Thanks to Free ‘Bella’ Movie - Peter Baklinski, LifeSiteNews.com

The Time to Take Prisoners Has Passed - Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture

On the Origins & Character of Pre-Lent (Septuagesima, etc. . .) -...READ MORE

Michael Warsaw, president and CEO of EWTN

– EWTN photo

IRONDALE, Ala. — Eternal Word Television Network filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Ala., seeking to halt the federal government’s imposition of its contraception mandate and to have the court declare the federal rule unconstitutional.

The lawsuit names Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal agencies, as defendants.

The network released a statement today regarding the action.

The network is the first lay Catholic organization to challenge the constitutionality of the HHS final rule, approved by the Obama administration on Jan. 20. North Carolina’s Belmont Abbey College and Colorado Christian...READ MORE