Religious Groups May Opt Out Of Birth Control Coverage

The Obama Administration announces a broader exemption to the birth control requirement

The Obama Administration announced Friday that religiously affiliated groups, such as church-affiliated universities and charities, are not required to cover birth control under the new health care law. Initially, the new regulation required most employers to provide health insurance that includes contraception, including sterilization, as a free service. Religious groups which primarily employ and serve people of their own faith—such as churches—were already exempt.

Roman Catholic bishops, evangelicals and some religious leaders who have generally been supportive of President Barack Obama lobbied for a broader exemption. There have been more than 40 lawsuits filed by religious nonprofits and secular for-profit businesses claiming the mandate violates their religious beliefs. The new mandate is subject to a 60-day public comment period and takes effect in August. (Boston Globe)

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Vatican Responds To Gay Marriage Gains in U.S.

Catholic Church pledging to fight erosion of heterosexual marriage

The Vatican doesn’t like what happened for gays and lesbians in the U.S. on Election Day last week – voters approved same sex marriage rights in Maryland, Maine and Washington state. On Saturday, Vatican officials used media to speak out against attempts to “erase” the prominence of heterosexual marriage. "It is clear that in Western countries there is a widespread tendency to modify the classic vision of marriage between a man and woman, or rather to try to give it up, erasing its specific and privileged legal recognition compared to other forms of union," Father Federico Lombardi said in a Vatican Radio editorial. He went on to ask: “Why not contemplate also freely chosen polygamy and, of course, not to discriminate, polyandry?" There are 77.7 million registered U.S. Catholics. Last Tuesday’s gay marriage wins marked the first time marriage rights for LGBT individuals were achieved through popular vote. (Reuters)

[ALSO READ: Gay Community Has Best Election Night Ever]

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Pope's Ex-Butler Sentenced to 18 Months for Leaking Papers

Former butler stole papers that detailed corruption and leaked them to an Italian journalist

The  former butler for the pope was convicted of aggravated theft and sentenced to 18 months in prison today. 

Paolo Gabriele, who served as the butler to Pope Benedict XVI, admitted he stole papal documents and gave them to Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. Nuzzi used them as the basis for his best-selling book, "Sua Santita" ("His Holiness").

Gabriele was also ordered to pay the costs of the trial at the Vatican City courthouse.

The case has been the subject of serious interest because the book revealed corruption within the Roman Catholic Church.