HHS had a perfectly vanilla approach to this issue, much like the current compromise. Jarrett forced HHS to add controversy about some church organizations being exempt and others not. They objected loudly, including in an all-male panel before a congressional committee. It was the perfect photo-op. It also got every idiot in the GOP with something to say about contraception to open their mouths (remember justifiable rape). They did not have-to walk into a buzz saw, but they could not help themselves. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/us/politics/valerie-jarrett-is-the-other-power-in-the-west-wing.html