(Image Source: Fox News)

It’s the Obama administration versus the Catholic Church. The issue at hand? A mandate finalized two weeks ago that requires religious organizations provide contraception in health insurance plans. The feud was reignited after Heath and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius penned an opinion piece in USA Today.

“The public health case for making sure insurance covers contraception is clear. But we also recognize that many religious organizations have deeply held beliefs opposing the use of birth control ... in the rule we put forward, we specifically carved out from the policy religious organizations that primarily employ people of their own faith.”

Churches are exempt from the rule, but Fox News points out other institutions are in a gray area ...

“Devout Catholics and other religious leaders say the exemption is too narrow as many large, Catholic-affiliated schools and colleges and hospitals employ people of numerous faiths and therefore won’t qualify for it.”

And the Catholic Church says, “not good enough” and that the Obama Administration has waged a war on religious freedom. A writer for the Washington Post tells MSNBC now is not a good time for the President to engage in a battle of morals.

“It’s a somewhat odd fight for the President, or at least his administration to pick. Catholics, go back to 2000, you can go back further than that, but Catholics are regularly a swing group.”

And Republicans are taking note. GOP presidential front runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are using the opportunity to send a message about the sitting President.

Romney took to Twitter, Tweeting -- “If you’ve had enough of the Obama Administration’s attacks on religious liberty, stand with me … ”

Gingrich took a more direct approach on Sunday’s Meet the Press--

“He basically declared war on the Catholic Church. That’s the language of the Archbishop Dolan of New York, and I think you’re gonna see a very severe reaction to the idea of a radical Obama administration … ”

But the LA Times says this fight won’t do too much damage to the Obama campaign.

“Democratic strategists point to statistics showing widespread approval of birth control among Catholic voters, suggesting a gulf between clergy and parishioners. Catholic doctrine opposes birth control, but surveys show many Catholics use contraceptives.”

The mandate would take effect in August 2013.