Politics

In a recent attack, which critics are calling the most bloodthirsty GOP campaign they have seen in years, Newt Gingrich has accused Mitt Romney of following in President Barack Obama's footsteps – threatening America's religious freedom by pushing for a secularized government.

The jab happened Monday, when Gingrich, a converted Catholic, told Fox News' Bret Baier, "I think Gov. Romney is extraordinarily insensitive to religious freedom in America and the Obama administration is clearly engaged in a war on religion."

Gingrich referenced Romney's previous career as a Massachusetts governor, when he chose to cut Medicaid funding to health care services that benefited Jewish and Catholic facilities. more >>

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has fought back against criticism of comments he made last week where he was accused of comparing the state's gay marriage debate to the tumultuous civil rights movement of the mid-20th century.

"What was I attempting to juxtapose was that the advocates of same-sex marriage say the reason for doing this, in part, is because the public of New Jersey wants it. So I said 'Okay, have a referendum and prove it.'" Christie told reporters.

Christie's misunderstood comments came last week when he said, "The fact of the matter is I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South." more >>

Most evangelical Republicans in Florida believe that Mormons are not Christian, but they also find Mitt Romney an acceptable nominee for the Republican Party.

According to a recent NBC/Marist Poll in Florida, 62 percent of evangelicals likely to vote in Tuesday's primary say that members of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints are not Christian. Only 40 percent of the full sample believe the same.

When asked who they would vote for, more evangelicals chose Romney (34 percent), a Mormon, than any other candidate. more >>

Many pundits view Ron Paul's candidacy as the most controversial among GOP voters. His brand of conservatism, highlighted by his return to the gold standard and protectionist ideas have attracted a throng of loyal followers but the one issue that concerns many is his stance on Israel and the Middle East.

Speaking on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Paul tried to clear up the misconception that he would allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.

"That would be my goal, too," Congressman Paul said addressing President Obama's comment that "nothing would be off the table" in dealing with Iran. "I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon, it's just the approach" in preventing Iran from going after nuclear weapons capability. more >>

Rick Santorum's 3-year-old daughter, Bella, will be leaving the ICU Monday after nearly facing death.

Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, was admitted to the hospital Saturday with a severe case of pneumonia.

"A simple cold can kill her, and it almost did this weekend. She ended up with pneumonia and a cold," Santorum told conservative commentator Glenn Beck on his radio show Monday. "But she was able to get great care and yesterday really made a great turnaround and she will be out of the ICU today and so we are getting back to normal here. more >>

Several Catholic dioceses urged Catholics this past weekend to take political action against the Barack Obama administration for mandating that faith-based schools, hospitals and charities provide insurance coverage for contraception and abortion-inducing drugs.

In an unprecedented move, dioceses in Maine, Arizona and New Orleans issued statements to their churches criticizing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and urging Catholics to write their congressional representatives about it, according to USA Today. These statements were then read to congregants during the weekend masses.

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond issued a statement to its 108 parishes, saying that the contraceptive mandate, which was reaffirmed earlier this month by Health and Human Services Department Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, "is an example of government violating our rights." more >>