Gallup poll: Birth control flap hasn't affected Catholic view of President Obama

Has President Obama lost millions of Catholic voters because of his new policy to provide free birth control to America's women? No, according to Gallup.

PRINCETON, NJ -- Catholics' views of President Obama were little changed during a week in which the administration battled publicly with Catholic leaders over whether church-affiliated employers should have to pay for contraception as part of their employees' health plans. An average of 46% of Catholics approved of the job Obama was doing as president last week, compared with 49% the prior week, a change within the margin of sampling error.

What's more, Obama's approval among regular churchgoing Catholics and non-practicing Catholics is exactly the same: 46 percent.

The bishops might have the ear of Catholic punditry inside the Beltway, but apparently they don't have that great a hold on the rest of their flock.