contraception mandate
Survey: Majorities support requiring companies to abide by controversial contraception mandate
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — June 2, 2014
(RNS) The poll from Public Religion Research Institute comes as the Supreme Court prepares to issue its decision in a challenge to the contraception mandate filed by the evangelical owners of the Hobby Lobby arts and crafts chain.
Hobby Lobby’s Green family meets with Pope Francis
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — March 31, 2014
(RNS) Pope Francis asked members of the Green family how their Supreme Court fight against President Obama's contraception mandate was progressing, a spokeswoman said.
Pope Francis hosts President Obama for talks on poverty, health care and immigration
By Eric J. Lyman — March 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) According to an official statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis and President Obama discussed immigration reform and "the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection."
COMMENTARY: The bad theology behind opposing the contraception mandate
By Cheryl B. Anderson — March 24, 2014
EVANSTON, Ill. (RNS) Denying contraception to employees is not only poor policy, but also poor theology. Nothing in the Christian tradition suggests that an employer’s scruples deserve greater consideration than an employee’s health.
Religious groups play key role in Obamacare insurance sign-up
By Adelle M. Banks — March 20, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) As the national deadline for health insurance enrollment looms and with President Obama’s encouragement, organizations across a range of faiths are working to sign up uninsured Americans by the end of March.
COMMENTARY: The Catholic case for contraception coverage
By Jon O'Brien — January 23, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Institutions -- both secular and “religious institutions,” as well as “religious organizations” -- do not have the right to claim “consciences” in order to trample on the conscience rights that properly belong to their employees.
COMMENTARY: Why we’re resisting the contraception mandate
By Joseph Kurtz — January 6, 2014
(RNS) If ministries don't comply with the government's contraception mandate, the financial penalties will mean that some ministries may have to close their doors. As that happens, the poor and those who serve them will be hurt the most.
Administration, nuns battle over contraception mandate at Supreme Court
By David Gibson — January 3, 2014
(RNS) The Obama administration and faith-based foes of a rule that employer health insurance policies provide free birth control coverage continued back and forth legal filings on Friday (Jan 3.), though with an odd twist: The Justice department says an order of nuns is exempt from the mandate, while the nuns’ lawyers say they are not.
2013 in Review: Pope Francis dominates the headlines
By Kevin Eckstrom — December 18, 2013
(RNS) Yes, Pope Francis dominated the headlines for 2013. But he wasn't the only big religion story to receive front-page treatment.
Religion writers agree: Pope Francis is No. 1 newsmaker
By Adelle M. Banks — December 16, 2013
(RNS) He’s Time magazine’s Person of the Year, the most talked about topic on Facebook and the most popular baby namesake in Italy. No surprise, Pope Francis is also the top Religion Story of the Year and the Religion Newsmaker of the Year, according to a poll of Religion Newswriters members.
Supreme Court takes up contraceptive mandate, will rule on religious rights of corporations
By David Gibson — November 26, 2013
(RNS) The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will decide whether for-profit businesses can be treated like religious entities.
Behind scenes, Catholic bishops seek an exit strategy for Obamacare mandate
By David Gibson — November 20, 2013
(RNS) After repeatedly drawing a line in the sand over the White House's birth control coverage mandate, a growing number of bishops have begun to push back, arguing that such hard-line rhetoric has put them in an untenable position.
Aide shares the Bible devotionals he sent to President Obama each morning
By Adelle M. Banks — October 21, 2013
(RNS) Joshua DuBois continues to send devotional messages to President Obama every morning, even though he stepped down in February as director of Obama's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Religious groups feel the pinch of government shutdown
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 8, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) As the government shutdown enters its second week, some religious groups are starting to feel the pinch, and they're also finding ways to reach out.
Supreme Court poised to turn right in 2013 term
By Richard Wolf — October 3, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Conservative interest groups, perhaps seeing their best chance in years to advance their causes, have argued aggressively in their briefs to the court not only for favorable rulings but for overturning some of the court's time-honored precedents.
