From my syndicated column this week on the Virginia ultrasound bill, the HHS mandate, Komen, and more: We are seeing this culture of death strengthen its foundations when we let bullies have their way with public policy and nonprofits and their corporate sponsors, and when the federal government tells religious Americans they must comply with a radical ideology or be fined — and mercilessly... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Romney is campaigning now in eastern Iowa, where he did well in 2008. http://is.gd/Dr8LRd Noteworthy: Romney did well in an area dominated by Catholics. (Dubuque is 75% Catholic). Just look at the map from 2008. http://is.gd/6vaE99 Rich Lowry says Santorum’s focus on families and the working class sets h... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Michael Sean Winters is not a right-winger. Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter rails against the Obama administration for not providing a true religious exemption in their contraception mandate and also calls it bad politics. http://is.gd/WaNb1l Even Commonweal magazine published an ed... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Obama would lose Pennsylvania if the election were held today, says Paul Kanjorski. http://cvote.to/9B  Kanjorski is a Democrat from Scranton who lost his House seat in 2010. And by the way, CatholicVote.org’s PAC had something to do with that defeat. http://cvote.to/9C   Fred Barnes has a must-read art... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of Harrisburg, PA: “School choice is a social justice issue.” http://cvote.to/88 Austin, Texas suspends law attacking pregnancy centers.  http://cvote.to/89 New national CBS poll has Cain 18, Romney 15, Gingrich 15; Cain losing support of women. PDF. http://cvote.to/8A But a M... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Republicans take over Virginia Senate, pending a recount. Bryce Reeves (right) has an 86 vote lead. If that holds, the GOP will control both house of the Legislature and the Governor’s office. http://cvote.to/7w Ohio voters rejected GOP’s public union reform plan but also rejected President Obama’s hea... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. It’s been 88 years since a non-Democrat won New York’s 9th Congressional District, held recently by scandal-tarnished Anthony Weiner. The New York City district covers portions of Queens and Brooklyn. But yesterday, pro-life and pro-family Catholic Bob Turner won the seat by a large margin, 54% to 46%. M... More

Senate Republicans got some great news, according to Washington Post political blogger Chris Cillizza: Virginia Sen. Jim Webb‘s decision not to seek re-election creates an open seat in traditionally Republican territory that could further tilt the map in the GOP’s favor as they aim to win back the Senate in 2012. Right now, it is expected that Republicans will nominate former Senat... More

Today a federal court in Richmond struck down the federal mandate to purchase private insurance as unconstitutional. The mandate is a central feature of President Obama’s health care law. From the ruling: “An individual’s personal decision to purchase — or decline purchase — (of) health insurance from a private provider is beyond the historical reach” of the U... More