Obama Giving In on Catholic Birth-Control Rule, AP Says

The Associated Press, citing sources, said President Barack Obama is planning a speech at 12:15 p.m. Friday to announce a revision of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' ruling that all large employers must provide comprehensive birth-control coverage to women, including Catholic organizations.

The Jan. 20 ruling sparked an uproar among Catholic bishops, who had letters bitterly critical of the matter read at Masses on Sunday in churches around the country.

According to AP, the new administration stance will require insurance companies to provide the coverage directly to women, without involving institutions that oppose it on moral grounds.

It's a fig leaf, of course, to provide cover in an election year where Obama will need Catholic voters badly.

But it's nice to know democracy still works.