Under the Oak is a blog authored by Brigid from Ireland who shares her love for the Irish Saints and the liturgical calendar: "Under the Oak is dedicated to the saints of Ireland, especially to our national patroness, Saint Brigid of Kildare. The main source used here is the 9-volume collection Lives of the Irish Saints, by the Rev. Canon John O'Hanlon, a work in the public domain."  Don't let her claim regarding resources fool you.  Brigid has spent hundreds of hours researching to obtain the many resources she utilizes in her stories on the saints.  Her blog is a rich companion for any lover of the Irish saints.

Here is an example of the quality resources Brigid shares with you:

A 17th Century View of Saint Brigid: Brigida Thaumaturga

Brigid, Under the Oak, February 17, 2012.

Michael Novak has an article online at the National Review where he lists the four premises of the Obama Administration's recent violation of the separation of church and state.  His approach of breaking it down into premises is important since its the premises that often get lost in the deceptive rhetoric of public dialogue.  Here are the four premises as I have broken them down in bullet point fashion:

1. That its a contraception manadate.  Its not a mandate; its a power grab.
2. That abortifacients, contraception, sterilization, and arguably abortion by extension, are not private choices but women's health.  Once they claim its women's health they then jump to a right to access and ultimately the right to have others pay for that access.
3. That the President has the power to make laws regarding the self-understanding of churches.
4. "The fourth hidden premise is that the president also has the power to trample on the free exercise of religion by individual laypersons of faith and devotion. If they do not work directly in a house of worship, the president says, these individuals are bound by this unconstitutional mandate, even if it violates their consciences."

Read the Article:

Obama's Deceptive Hidden Premises

Michael Novak, National Review Online, February 17, 2012.

The Obama administration has gone so far over the top with their actions as of late...

I was on the way to work on Friday morning when I tuned on the radio to hear Jamie Allman's voice.  Jamie was lamenting the recent turn in focus from the economy to social issues.  He recalled a Fox News headline that claimed the election has now shifted to the social issues, and in particular its turned to the issue of funding contraception and religious liberty.   In my opinion Jamie Allman is a conservative that shoots fairly accurately but unfortunately he often misses the bulls-eye.  Yes, Obama's government take over of business and health care is alarming but the biggest problem here is the control he will exercise on the life choices of families and organizations. Let's put things into perspective, the business world and the economy should work to serve the community, primarily the local community with the family at its core.  I believe this order has been reversed until this recent shift.  The true motivation to fight for a just economy is to have the fight on social issues and to enable the development of a family centered local community.

The Obama administration's attempt to undermine the role of religious liberty in American culture fell far short with a 9-0 decision in favor of the ministerial exception.  the case was Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC.  The case concerned whether religious groups have the right to choose their leaders without interference from the government.  The question of the reach of the ministerial exception had been a matter of debate.  Does the ministerial exception cover an employee of a school who performs largely secular duties?  The Obama administration was attempting to narrow the definition of the ministerial exception to the relationship between a House of Worship, not a school or other religious outreach, and employees in ministerial positions.  This is the classical argument that secular liberals use to claim that religion has no place in the public sphere, that it must be kept in the privacy of a home or place of worship.  Rejecting this idea, the court explained  that the ministerial exception “protects a religious group’s right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments.” The Washington Times quotes Roberts:

“The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so too is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith, and carry out their mission,” said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who wrote the court’s 39-page opinion.

“When a minister who has been fired sues her church alleging that her termination was discriminatory, the First Amendment has struck the balance for us,” Chief Justice Roberts said. “The church must be free to choose those who will guide it on its way.”

Allowing former employees to file anti-discrimination lawsuits “could end up forcing churches to take religious leaders they no longer want,” he said.