A federal judge has granted an injunction in a class-action lawsuit by almost 200 religious organizations that prohibits the government from enforcing the federal health care law's requirement that insurance coverage include access to the morning-after pill and similar contraceptives.
A preliminary injunction was granted Friday by U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti. The injunction prevents the government from enforcing the mandate on the religious groups as the lawsuit is litigated.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 187 ministries that provide their employees with health benefits through GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The ministries object to providing four out of 20 Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptives, including the morning after pill and the week after pill that they allege may cause early abortions.