Syndicated columnist Mike McManus has apologized for failing to disclose his work for the Bush Administration:

Last Friday I was the subject of a Page 1 story by USA Today. It questioned my integrity, which has never before been challenged. Frankly, it has been a stunning experience, which has taken time for me to absorb. What’s particularly painful, I write a column called “Ethics & Religion” and am guilty of an ethical lapse. How did this happen?

At the heart of the story are two facts. First, a non-profit group I am President of, Marriage Savers, received $10,200 from the Department of Health and Human Services to meet with local leaders organizing “Healthy Marriage Initiatives.” HHS recognized that Marriage Savers has developed proven ways to reduce the divorce rate, by organizing churches to adopt a “Community Marriage Policy.” HHS wanted to transplant this successful strategy to other cities.

Second, I wrote columns praising the Administration for its Healthy Marriage Initiative, without disclosing that Marriage Savers had received a consulting fee.

In retrospect, that was a conflict of interest. I am truly sorry. I ask the forgiveness of newspapers publishing my column and of you, as readers.

Note that McManus did not say “I’ve done nothing wrong,” as Armstrong Williams defiantly argued. Nor did he say he forgot about the payment, as Maggie Gallagher asserted. Clearly, McManus was wrong not to disclose his relationship with the Bush Administration, but I give him a great deal of credit for recognizing the error and apologizing for it in a straightforward manner.

Thank you, Mr. McManus, for your humble apology. Your grace is appreciated.

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