CatholicVote.org, a top national grassroots Catholic group, announced that 100 percent of Roman Catholic bishops (180 in total) who lead a diocese in the U.S. have publicly denounced the mandate that their insurers for church-related institutions cover birth control.

"Our Catholic hospitals, schools and charities are under attack by a federal government which refuses to recognize their First Amendment right to religious freedom. These organizations are pillars in our communities, built over the centuries with love by generations of Catholics," said Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org

"Our bishops recognize that they are stewards of this proud heritage. That's why every single bishop has come to the defense of our precious Catholic institutions. Lay Catholics of all backgrounds and viewpoints stand united with our bishops in defense of our right to the free exercise of our religion," said Burch.

"A new Rasmussen poll indicates that 65 percent of Catholic voters opposed the HHS mandate. Even Catholics who struggle with Church teachings on birth control can agree that the federal government has no right to force the Church to violate its teachings," said Burch.

The list of 180 Roman Catholic bishops was compiled on the American Papist blog of Thomas Peters, and carried exclusively on CatholicVote.org.

"The completion of this list is a testament to Catholic pride and reveals the solidarity that exists between the laity and their bishops. Grassroots Catholics came together from across the country and helped build this list, which reflects their desire to unite with their bishops and fight for our Constitutional right to live out our Catholic faith in America. Catholics across the country have sent a clear message to their bishops: 'When you lead in unison, we will stand with you!'" said Peters.

The list of bishops and links to their public statements can be found here - http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=26957

CatholicVote.org was launched in September 2008 as a new effort to educate, organize, and mobilize the Catholic vote. The national group was responsible for one of the most watched online commercials during the 2008 presidential campaign, watched by nearly 3 million viewers on YouTube alone. The group also received national attention for a second life-affirming viral ad depicting ultrasound images celebrating the life of President Obama. The popular site hosts the award winning American Papist blog, along with other political commentary relevant to Catholic voters. The organization regularly communicates with nearly 600,000 e-mail subscribers and supporters.