You have probably already heard of the Obama Administration’s latest outrage — just one of many — against religious freedom in this country. The Department of Health and Human Services, in its latest formulation of the new requirements for health-care insurance offered by employers, has announced that there will be no religious exemption for those who find it immoral to provide insurance for contraception, sterilization or abortifacient drugs — that is, of course, all Catholic employers.

HHS Kathleen Sebelius did thoughtfully mention that the employers will have a whole year to comply, or, as Cardinal-designate Dolan has put it, to “learn to violate our consciences.” (Sebelius, is, by the way, Catholic).

More than 60% of all the bishops who are heads of dioceses in the U.S. have weighed in against this violation of the right to practice our religion unimpeded, and have urged people to write to the Presdient, HHS and their Senators and Congressional representatives. At least one bill to kill this mandate is already in the works.

There is much more excellent coverage at www.americanpapist.com., including a full list of bishops’ statements.

One thing everyone can easily do — petition the White House here The petition already has almost 7,000 signatures – it needs 25,000 to get noticed for government action.

The administration would apparently just really love for this to go away until after the election. We must not let them!

I have a few more thoughts on the wider implications of this particular mandate, but they will have to wait until tomorrow or the next day.

Update – Feb 8: 1:30 a.m. The petition has gone over the top! Latest total 26,351. Still almost 3 weeks to go. I hope it hits 100,000!