US President Barack Obama will reportedly announce an ‘accommodation’ on his controversial birth control coverage mandate.

White House, Obama to announce ‘accommodation’  on controversial birth control mandate

The reversal shows the White House is willing placate Catholic church leaders concerned the mandate would force them to abandon their religious beliefs against contraception

(NYDN) President Obama is backtracking on birth control.

The White House on Friday will announce an “accommodation” for religious organizations outraged over the controversial new rule that requires all employers, including faith-based organizations, to provide contraception coverage to their workers, as first reported by ABC News.

The exact details of the compromise are not clear, but the rules would be tweaked so insurance companies could work around religious institutions to provide birth control coverage directly.

It could follow existing plans in a majority of states, like Catholic universities that offer an employee health plan that covers birth control. But it’s yet to be seen if the change is enough to appease critics.

The reversal shows the White House is willing placate Catholic church leaders and Republicans who are concerned the mandate would force them to abandon their religious beliefs against contraception. Lawmakers also argue it’s in violation of the First Amendment.

Most experts have long assumed the economy would be the biggest issue in the lead-up to the presidential election this fall. But with the jobless rate having gone down five months in a row, social issues are coming to the fore.

In recent days, conservatives and progressives have clashed over the funding of Planned Parenthood, gay marriage in California and now the federal birth control mandate.

It’s possible the White House announcement could be delivered by Obama himself, who on Thursday deflected comment on the legislation, which would go into effect in August.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan ripped Obama’s plan on Thursday, arguing the President broke a promise from last year assuring him he would not do anything to “impede” the Catholic church.

But Vice President Biden, a practicing Catholic, signaled willingness to compromise in the swing state of Ohio on Thursday. He told Cincinnati radio station WLW that he’s “determined to see that this gets worked out.”