Here is a taste of Amy Sullivan's (in my opinion, very sensible) take on the Mourdock dust-up:

Take a look again at Mourdocks words: I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And...even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, thatitis something that God intended to happen. The key word here is it. I think its pretty clear that Mourdock is referring to a life that is conceived by a rape. He is not arguing that rape is the something that God intended to happen.This is a fairly common theological belief, the understanding of God as an active, interventionist. Its also not limited to conservative Christians. There are liberal Christians who also argue that things work out the way theyre supposed to.

The whole thing is worth a read.