Poll: Catholics support new contraception policy

By Sam Baker - 02/11/12 05:30 PM ET

Catholic voters largely approve of President Obama's new policy on contraception, according to a poll released Saturday by groups that support the policy.

Supporters say the poll shows that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and congressional Republicans, who oppose the new policy as an affront to religious freedom, are out of step with the public. The new survey was conducted Friday evening, after Obama announced new "accommodations" for some religious employers.

According to the poll, 57 percent of Catholic voters — and 59 percent of Catholic women — support the mandate Obama outlined Friday. Under the new policy, women who work for institutions like Catholic hospitals and universities can obtain birth control from their insurance company without a co-pay, but their employers don't have to include contraception in their healthcare plans.

Public Policy Polling conducted the new poll on behalf of a coalition that includes Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. The findings indicate that Obama gained some ground with Catholics by alterning the policy. An earlier PPP poll found that 53 percent of Catholic voters approved of the White House's original mandate, which required religious employers to provide contraception coverage directly.

The White House revised the policy under pressure from religious groups, Republicans and several prominent Democrats. As expected, the Conference of Catholic Bishops said the changes don't go far enough. And congressional Republicans still intend to move legislation that would repeal the coverage mandate.

According to the PPP poll released Saturday, 55 percent of Catholic voters oppose repealing the requirement that insurers cover contraception without co-pays or deductibles.