Bruning sues feds over contraception coverage

From the Lincoln Journal-Star:

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning has made good on his word to file a legal challenge over a federal health care mandate that he says coerces church-affiliated groups to subsidize birth control.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Bruning sought a permanent injunction of the regulation.

Joining him in the suit are the attorneys general of South Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Oklahoma, as well as Catholic Social Services, Pius X High School, Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America, Sister Mary Catherine of Lincoln and Catholic missionary Stacy Molai of Omaha.

Each would be affected by the rule, which comes as part of the health care reform law

“This regulation forces millions of Americans to choose between following religious convictions and complying with federal law,” Bruning said in a news release.

He called the regulation a violation of the First Amendment guaranteeing religious freedom, and he said it was “a threat to every American, regardless of religious faith.”

“We will not stand idly by while our constitutionally guaranteed liberties are discarded by an administration that has sworn to uphold them,” Bruning said.