Court to Hear EWTN Challenge to Contraception Mandate

Federal Court Had Stayed Decision to Force Compliance

Oral argument in the Eternal Word Television Network's challenge to the contraception mandate in the Affordable Healthcare Act is set for Feb. 4 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

EWTN, which delivers Catholic-targeted programming 24/7, says it should not be forced to provide contraception to its employees or information to its health care plan administrator so they can provide it.

The same court back in June granted EWTN an injunction pending that oral argument staying a lower court decision that EWTN either provide the health care option or face fines of  $35,000-per-day.

The injunction was granted after the Supreme Court said in the Hobby Lobby case that "business owners don’t give up their religious freedom when they start a business.”