2012 could be a “make or break” year for marriage, as the press is reporting today. In New Hampshire, Minnesota and North Carolina, pro-marriage advocates are on offense, working to repeal gay marriage (NH) or adding marriage to state constitutions that don’t have it yet (MN, NC). In New Jersey, Maryland and Washington State, gay marriage activists are trying to legalize gay marr... More

Alexander Burns at Politico has the story (and the audio:): The organization Catholic Vote is running automated phone calls in New Hampshire to support Rick Santorum’s campaign for president, saying the former Pennsylvania senator will “fight for us” and is the only candidate “talking about the family.” Catholic Vote, which endorsed Santorum last week, recorded a message fro... More

Three big news items about Rick Santorum today. CatholicVote, of course, endorsed Santorum yesterday. Read the press release here. This endorsement has generated a great deal of attention and press which should find its way into today’s lunchtime reader (stay tuned). First, his poll numbers in the next two primary states, New Hampshire and South Carolina, have improved dramatically in poll... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J. There was lots of reaction to the news reports of “The Vatican” supposedly endorsing the creation of a world centralized bank. CatholicLane.com has an article by Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican in which he implores people to actually read the text of the document. http://cvot... More

Good tidings for the Catholics of New Hampshire! New Hampshire’s 300,000 Roman Catholics have a new leader. The Vatican on Monday named the [Most] Rev. Peter Anthony Libasci (luh-BASH’-ee) to succeed Bishop John McCormack as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester. The 59-year-old Libasci is New York City native ordained in 1978 who most recently served as auxiliary bishop of the Dioces... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Great news from the Granite State: Pro-abortion Democrat John Lynch, who professes to be Catholic, won’t seek re-election to a fifth two-year term as governor of New Hampshire. His decision opens the race for governor wide open. Pro-life Catholic Ovide Lamontagne, who lost to (now Senator) Kelly Ayotte, ... More

All of our success at defunding Planned Parenthood state-by-state has clearly upset President Obama and his Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. After New Hampshire decided to cut $1.8 Million in taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood in their state, Kathleen Sebelius responded by giving $1 Million in taxpayer dollars directly to the abortion provider to make up some of the ... More