Most Catholics give Obama low marks

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A majority of Catholics disapprove of U.S. President Obama's job performance as debate still surrounds his administration's birth control policy, a poll said.

A Rasmussen Reports national survey released Tuesday indicated 59 percent of likely Catholic voters nationwide at least somewhat disapprove of the president's job performance, while 40 percent said they at least somewhat approve.

Sixty-one percent of Evangelical Christians and 52 percent of other Protestants said they at least somewhat disapprove of the job Obama is doing in the White House, the Rasmussen Reports survey indicated.

The Health and Human Services Department issued an interim rule mandating health insurance plans for employees of Catholic hospitals and other religiously affiliated institutions include coverage for birth control, sterilization and other preventive services, raising the hackles of Catholic church leaders and members of the Republican Party.

After the policy was announced, Obama announced a modification to the rule, saying women will have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive services, but if a women's employer objects to birth control for religious reasons, then the insurance company will be required to offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge.

Among all likely voters, 50 percent said they approve of how the president is doing and 49 percent said they disapprove.

Results are based on a nationwide telephone survey of 3,500 likely voters conducted Feb. 6-12. The margin of error is 2 percentage points.