Photo ~ The American Catholic bishops, who have been critical of the Obama White House on many issues, applauded Friday's immigration announcement.

White House receives political cover on immigration from religious groups

President Barack Obama is receiving political cover for his decision to stop deporting some young illegal immigrants from two big groups with whom his relations have been rocky: evangelical Christians and Catholics.

“We do give credit where credit is due,” said Kevin Appleby, director of Migration and Public Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Friday, when Obama made his announcement.

“We welcome the announcement, it will provide important relief to a vulnerable group that we believe should remain in the country,” Appleby said. “They didn't come here on their own volition; they came here with their parents. They are virtually Americans.”

In recent months, the Catholic bishops have hammered the White House over its new rule requiring insurance companies to offer free contraception to all employees, with a major Catholic religious liberty campaign around the issue scheduled to launch later this month.

The Catholic Church has filed dozens of lawsuits across the country against the so-called contraception mandate.

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