MISHAWAKA — In 2012, the U.S. government began implementing its requirement that certain employers, who provide a health plan to their employees include, free-of-charge, certain women’s reproductive preventative services including abortifacients, contraceptives and contraceptive counseling.
As a not-for-profit dedicated to religious beliefs that do not permit such practices, Franciscan Alliance was exempted under a “Safe Harbor” from providing such services until Jan. 1, 2014. Because of this deadline, Franciscan Alliance joined with other similarly situated corporations to seek injunctive relief in the federal court system to preserve its protections under the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
