WASHINGTON -- Democrats are deeply divided over President Barack Obama's new rule that religious schools and hospitals must provide insurance for free birth control to their employees.

Facing intense pressure, the White House has indicated that it is trying to come up with a compromise.

Obama announced Friday he directed the Health and Human Services Department to push the compromise through.

"Under the rule, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive services -- no matter where they work,"said Obama. "So that core principle remains. But if a woman’s employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -- not the hospital, not the charity -- will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge, without co-pays and without hassles.

"The result will be that religious organizations won’t have to pay for these services, and no religious institution will have to provide these services directly," said Obama.

But Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Catholic, is calling the rule unacceptable and un-American.

Another Catholic senator, Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, is pleading with the administration to, in his words, "correct this decision which will erode the conscience rights."

Several Democrats, including Senate candidate Tim Kaine in Virginia and Illinois congressman Dan Lipinski, have assailed the administration mandate.

Kaine, Virginia's first Catholic governor and now running for a U.S. Senate seat, says the administration's new rule is too broad and has to include exemptions for schools and hospitals run by religions that oppose birth control.

In an Associated Press interview, the former Democratic National Committee chairman applauds a broad mandate that insurance policies cover contraception for employees.

But Kaine said the White House has to reach a compromise with Catholic bishops and others angered by the directive that forces them to violate their teachings or violate the law.

At the same time, some female Democratic lawmakers have backed the administration for supporting women's health with the new rule.