Obama to change birth control rule

President Barack Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior administration officials tell The Associated Press that President Barack Obama on Friday will announce that religious employers will not have to cover birth control for their employees. He will demand instead that health insurance companies be the ones responsible for providing free contraception.

Obama’s abrupt retreat is an attempt to address concerns from Roman Catholic leaders and end an election-year nightmare for the White House. Obama’s Republican opponents have criticized his handling of the issue.

Women will still get access to birth control no matter where they work.

But religious organizations that see contraception as a violation of their faith can refuse to cover it, and insurance companies will then step in.

Senior administration officials confirmed details to the AP on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement by Obama.