More than
forty Catholic dioceses and organisations in the United States are to sue the
Obama Administration over its policy of forcing Catholics employers to put
their workers in insurance plans that are contrary to Catholic ethos.

These plans
provide workers with free abortifacients, such as the Morning-After-Pill, sterilisation
and contraception, all of which are against Catholic teaching.

The
dioceses and organisations taking the action say the Obama administration is
violating their freedom of religion which is guaranteed by the First Amendment
of the Constitution.

The
archdioceses of New York and Washington DC are among those taking part in the
legal action.

The website
of the Washington DC says: “This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by
the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom
to practice one’s religion without government interference.”

It
continues: “It is not about whether people have access to certain services; it
is about whether the government may force religious institutions and
individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious
beliefs.”

The
decision by the Obama administration to force religious employers to put their
workers in insurances schemes that provide free abortifacients etc has caused one
of the fiercest Church/State clashes in recent years.

The
decision has been condemned by numerous Catholic Church leaders, Protestant
Church leaders, among others.