Outside the Beltway

Providing a little context for Pope Francis’ background+Erick Erickson needs to learn a little history.

Habemus Papam

A federal judge poses an interesting question in a case over Obama’s contraceptive mandate.

Pope Benedict XVI explains that he’s just too sick and tired to stay on as pontiff.

Ross Douthat says American women should stop being decadent and have more babies.

Demographics are not destiny; policy positions drive decision, ultimately.

Once again, the Keystone State is teasing the GOP.

The Romney Campaign is reportedly planning a more aggressive campaign against the President for the fall.

NYT executive editor Jill Abramson is shocked that her outgoing public editor thinks her paper “virtually bleeds” a “kind of political and cultural progressivism.”

The latest round of the Chick-fil-A controversy is perhaps the most absurd yet.

There is a disturbing trend in Western nations toward enforcement of laws against “insulting” religions.

The Catholic Church has fired a legal shot across the bow of the Affordable Care Act.

Thoughts on tradition, church, and state.

Marriage has always been an evolving institution.

Andrew Sullivan wants the Catholic Church to give up its hatred of homosexuals. There’s another alternative.

Mitt Romney won big in Illinois last night, and moved a big step closer to wrapping this race up.

The argument over contraceptive coverage mandates has not gone well for conservatives.

Rick Santorum’s views on the role of religion in public life are built on lies about American history.

There’s an entire industry that profits from exploiting political controversy and division. Why do we let them get away with it?

Rick Santorum would do well to listen to the words of the last Catholic to be President of the United States.

In order to succeed on the right today, you have to do more than just say the President is wrong. You have to say that he’s evil.

The race appears to be tightening in The Wolverine State.