Obama-administration apologist admits problem with Catholic voters

Time columnist Amy Sullivan concedes that the Obama administration has a problem with Catholic voters, but argues that it was bad staff work--not a decision from the White House--that caused the difficulty.

When the Department of Health and Human Services terminated a grant to the US bishops' conference, because the bishops' program did not provide abortion and contraceptive services, the move was an unnecessary provocation, Sullivan says. Defending the administration's move nevertheless, she suggests that "partisanship," rather than a sincere concern about religious freedom, has motivated the public protests by Catholic bishops and their supporters. However, Sullivan concludes that "by bungling policy decisions and basic communications strategy, it has handed plenty of ammunition to its opponents."

Read her column "Is the Obama Administration ‘At War’ with Catholics?"