Washington Post political writer Melinda Henneberger shockingly stated, Wednesday, that “maybe the Founders were wrong” to guarantee religious liberty. Henneberger appeared on Hardball to discuss the Obama administration’s decision to force the Catholic Church to provide birth control in health care.

Discussing the battle between the left and those who see it as a threat to the First Amendment, she declared, ” Maybe the Founders were wrong to guarantee free exercise of religion in the First Amendment but that is what they did and I don’t think we have to choose here. ” Henneberger’s awkward comment came as she attempted to defend the Catholic Church. [MP3 audio here.]

See video here: http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2012/20120208063012.aspx

Host Chris Matthews speculated about the Catholic Church capitulating: “Can you imagine them saying we give up? We’re going to provide full insurance coverage with no co-pay for everything now defined by the FDA as birth control…They’re going to go for this?”

Henneberger shot back, “That will never happen.”

She added, “…What [the Obama administration is] doing is guaranteeing people, you know, these Catholic outfits and others can’t serve the populations that they were called to serve. But, it does not have to come to that.”

So, Henneberger’s larger point was defensive of the Catholic Church and of religious liberty. However, her comment on the First Amendment was poorly phrased.

Read More: http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2012/20120208063012.aspx