As a life-long Catholic, the often blind loyalty of many in my faith to the Democrat Party has befuddled me for years. Regardless of the promotion of a social agenda at odds with the Doctrinal Principles of the Church, Catholics have continued to overwhelmingly support Democrat candidates. Even Barack Obama – "the most antilife presidential candidate ever" – got 54% of the Catholic vote in 2008. That may be about to change.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius – a professed Catholic herself – announced in late January a new regulation mandate that she would implement as part of the ObamaCare legislation requiring that all employers – regardless of moral objection - would be required to provide contraception, sterilization, and the "morning after pill" – an abortifacient – to all employees through employer provided health insurance programs.

It was as if a bomb went off.

Catholic Universities, Hospitals, Schools, Daycare Centers, Adoption Agencies, Homeless Shelters, as well as thousands of private employers that similarly have a moral objection to the mandate would be forced under the rule to violate their faith – a principle protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

While the immediate reaction was greatest within the Catholic community, very quickly people of all faiths realized it was not just an issue involving reproductive health care, but one of religious liberty – a foundational issue of American culture.

I have been pleased that the issue has captivated much of America, and we hope the concern remains top-of-mind. Even the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 didn't seem to mobilize and energize the Catholic community and people of faith like this arrogant breech of authority by the Obama White House. Regardless of outcome, this arrogant abuse of power should be reason enough to deny Barack Obama a second term in office.

I'll not attempt to re-write the extensive record already created by this controversy. It has dominated news media as well as pulpits and even the halls of Congress for the last month, and likely will for some time to come. We would, however, be remiss if we failed to compliment the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops led by Archbishop (Newly appointed Cardinal) Timothy Dolan for the courageous, outspoken challenge of the mandate. In their latest public letter, the Conference of Bishops said the Administration's mandate amounts to "government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. In a nation dedicated to religious liberty as its first and foun