[count-your-change]

“They are two means to the same end, with the same result on marriage, family and culture”.

I disagree but that I've already said. If the argument against the mandate is to be framed as a 1st. amendment conflict then it doesn't really matter whether it's two means or, or one, it's a case of God's commandments versus men's.

On that basis I'm interested in how this “tug o’war” ends up. If the Catholic leadership blinks it loses.

[D-fendr]

First I don't think they'll blink. From another posted article:

The Catholic bishops were a thorn in the side of the Obama administration and congressmen who were looking for an excuse to fold and vote for it. It did not adequately protect life and conscience, and so they opposed its passage.

Second, the laity has a key role. What the regime is trying to do is split the leadership from the laity and neutralize the Church. I think, in this case, the crucial point is not the Bishops.

It will help, of course, if all religious people and their leaders join in, but Catholicism is the regime's primary target.

Thanks very much for your reply.