A federal judge on Friday granted Biola University relief from complying with a government mandate to provide employees with insurance coverage for abortifacients. The preliminary injunction allows the university to exclude coverage for the objectionable drugs while its court case against the federal government proceeds.
The university issued the following statement:
"The case is about whether the government can force Biola University - under penalty of severe fines - to violate its deeply held religious convictions about the sanctity of human life. Biola applauds the court for taking the initial step as the university seeks to protect its constitutionally granted religious freedom."
Biola filed its federal lawsuit in August 2012 to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate, which requires faith-based employers to provide insurance coverage for all government-approved contraceptive drugs - even those considered by many to be abortifacient - at no cost to employees regardless of religious or moral objections. The suit, filed jointly by Biola and Grace College, and Seminary in Indiana, argues that the controversial regulation violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as the First and Fifth amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
