The so-called “Hawaii option” is the Obama administration’s preferred way of trying to slip out of the growing contraception mandate mess.
The Catholic bishops smell blood in the water and are upping the ante: Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, says the entire mandate must be scrapped — even for non-religious employers.
"If I quit this job and opened a Taco Bell, I'd be covered by the mandate," Picarello said.
At the National Catholic Register, John Allen, is taking a hard line: "There's no room for compromise on this. The mandate has to go…There's not much room for a conversation here." NCR's editorial board has a more measured but still powerful argument for a broader religious exemption and calling for a reasonable resolution.
You can now see how the rest of the world sees American Christians...in humorous infographic form! Is it accurate? Is one of them you? Let us know!
OMG: A Muslim man in Canada is facing a terror probe after he sent a text message to co-workers telling them to "blow away" the competition at a New York trade show. Insert your favorite George Orwell joke here.
Not a fan of the Virgin of Guadalupe? Well maybe she'll grow on you: a botanical version of the Catholic icon is apparently attracting attention in Houston, TX.
Finally, your Video of the Day is the story of Jonah and the Whale, told in the most adorable-est way possible.
How bad is it for the White House when the editorial board of The Christian Century pretty much agrees with the Catholic bishops?
The contraception battle is renewing calls for bishops to bar Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion.
Rick Santorum, on the other hand, is good: he’s against contraception and gay marriage – and evangelicals love him. Best of all, for Republican voters, he’s not that other guy.
But is Santorum good for the Jews? Maybe not so much, judging by the Hanukkah card Santorum’s South Carolina team sent out in December in the run-up to the primary there. It quotes the Bible — namely, the New Testament, and specifically Jesus Christ: "I am the light of the world." Awkward!
Speaking of gay marriage, Washington State is poised to legalize it.
Speaking of gay marriage AND contraception, the former is a natural result of the latter – and the GOP is as much to blame as Democrats — according to a writer at First Things.
Source: Jack Jenkins and David Gibson/RNS
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