Baptist college files suit against contraceptive mandate

PINEVILLE, La. — A Baptist college has joined the list of schools and universities suing the federal government in opposition to the Obama administration’s contraceptive/abortion mandate, making it clear the issue is not simply a Catholic one.

Louisiana College — affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention — filed suit Feb. 20 in federal court, saying the mandate violates the U.S. Constitution by, among other things, entangling the government in religious matters and forcing the college to violate its “sincerely held religious beliefs regarding abortion.” 

“The time for silence is over,” Louisiana College President Joe W. Aguillard said. “Louisiana College will not sit by and allow this or any government to usurp our God-given religious freedoms.”