Nashville Catholic Institutions Sue Over “Contraception Mandate”

Catholic institutions in Middle Tennessee are joining dozens of others around the country and suing the Obama Administration. The Dioceses of Nashville, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Aquinas College and others have filed a lawsuit in federal court.

Religious groups – and Catholics in particular – have bristled at what’s been dubbed a “contraception mandate,” saying the Affordable Care Act is requiring faith-based employers to “provide morally objectionable services.”

The timing of the Tennessee filing is based on insurance plan renewals, which came up in August. A Diocese spokesman says organizations have been unable get health coverage for employees “consistent with Catholic beliefs.”

A written statement says Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee informed Catholic organizations that it was “unable to exclude coverage for oral contraceptives” because of new federal mandates.

A total of seven catholic entities have filed suit, including Father Ryan and Pope John Paul II high schools.