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Ohio School Sues Over Birth Control Mandate
By: Associated Press
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Franciscan University of Steubenville is suing Obama administration officials over the federal mandate requiring most employers to cover birth control.
The school and an association of Michigan dioceses said Monday the mandate violates religious freedom by requiring a Catholic entity such as the university to comply.
President Barack Obama offered to soften the mandate to accommodate religious groups, but U.S. Roman Catholic bishops say the change doesn't go far enough.
Earlier this month Franciscan University said it was dropping its student health insurance program partly because of the new federal health care rule requiring religious-affiliated institutions' insurance plans to provide contraception coverage.
The university said in a statement Monday the requirement makes it impossible to operate freely as a Catholic institution.
Catholic groups filed similar lawsuits around the country Monday.