SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The University of Notre Dame on Tuesday filed another lawsuit against the U.S. government, saying the federal health care overhaul forcing it to provide health insurance for students and employees that covers birth control contravenes the teachings of the Roman Catholic institution.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in South Bend claims the U.S. Affordable Health Care Act violates Notre Dame's freedom to practice religion without government interference. Under the law, employers must provide insurance that covers a range of preventive care, free of charge, including contraception. The teachings of the Catholic church prohibit the use of contraceptives.
"The government's accommodations would require us to forfeit our rights, to facilitate and become entangled in a program inconsistent with Catholic teaching and to create the impression that the university cooperates with and condones activities incompatible with its mission," the Rev. John I. Jenkins, the university's president, said in a statement. "In these ways, we contend, the regulations compel us to violate our religious beliefs."
Notre Dame says in the lawsuit that its employee health plans are self-insured, covering about 4,600 employees and a total of about 11,000 people. Its student health plans covers about 2,600 students. The lawsuit says Notre Dame's health plans do not cover abortion-inducing products, contraceptives or sterilization.
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