President Obama will announce a plan that attempts to accommodate religious employers opposed to a rule that would require them to provide access to birth control for women free of charge.

The administration announced last month that religious-affiliated employers had to cover birth control as preventive care for women. Churches and houses of worship were exempt, but all other affiliated organizations were ordered to comply by August 2013.

Until Obama announces the change, senior administration officials said in cases where employers have religious objections, their insurance companies will be required to reach out to employees and offer the coverage directly.

The White House received opposition to the measure from Catholic clergy as well as Republican leaders this week.

An anonymous senior administration source said because the president has yet to make an announcement on the decision, bristled at the suggestion that the new plan was a compromise.

The official said, “We’re sticking to principle in terms of guaranteeing free contraceptive coverage for women.”

Friday morning, in a memo to reporters the Republican National Committee said Obama is trying to ride the fence on the issue.

“This is a dangerous game when dealing with a fundamental American right protected by the Constitution such as religious freedom,” the RNC said.

House Speaker John Boehner this week called the mandate “an attack on religious freedom” in a rare House floor speech and vowed legislative action to reverse it.

“If the president does not reverse the attack on religious freedom, then the Congress, acting on behalf of the American people and the Constitution we are sworn to uphold and defend, must,” Boehner said.
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