Oct 31, 2013 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Federal government attorneys urged a federal judge not to grant a temporary injunction against provisions regarding insurance coverage for contraception and abortion for a charity organization affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

A federal judge scheduled a Nov. 12 hearing and said he wants to hear attorneys talk about what happens if the Diocese and its related entities, including Catholic Charities, don’t abide by mandates in the law.

Justice Department attorneys argued if Catholic Charities objects to coverage for contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, its insurance administrator must then provide the coverage at no charge and seek reimbursement from the federal government.

Attorneys for the diocese said playing even an indirect role in providing such coverage amounts to “facilitating or enabling evil.”