NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Dozens of Catholic universities, dioceses and other institutions filed lawsuits in courts around the country May 21 in a coordinated effort, spearheaded by the U.S. hierarchy, to overturn the Obama administration’s contraception mandate plan.
The 43 plaintiffs, which include 13 dioceses and the University of Notre Dame, said the mandate forces religious employers to provide contraceptive and sterilization services to employees that violate their beliefs. It infringes on First Amendment religious freedom protections, they said and they charged that the federal government’s exemption for religious organizations is too narrow.
“This filing is about the freedom of a religious organization to live its mission, and its significance goes well beyond any debate about contraceptives,” said Notre Dame’s president, John Jenkins, who famously awarded President Obama an honorary degree in 2009 despite anger from U.S. bishops.
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