The Justice Department has asked a judge to dismiss a legal challenge to a new federal rule that would require contraception coverage for employees of church-affiliated hospitals, schools and outreach programs.
Department lawyers argued in court papers Monday that they have
agreed not to enforce the rule until August 2013, and have promised
changes in the meantime to address the concerns of religious
groups.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says he is not persuaded.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Nebraska alleges that the new rule violates the First Amendment rights of groups that object to the use of contraceptives. It was filed by attorneys general from Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina
and Texas, as well as three Nebraska-based Catholic groups and two women.