Catholic Bishops Up In Arms Over Abortion Drug Mandate

Catholic bishops across the country are expressing deep concern over a federal government mandate that will force the Catholic Church to fund the use of abortion-inducing drugs.

The Catholic Church is calling it unconstitutional. The mandate is a recent decision from the Obama Administration. It will force all employers, including the Catholic Church, to offer female employees health insurance that will cover contraception, sterilization and drugs to force abortions.

In churches across the country, Catholics are being urged to contact their senators and representatives in an effort to overturn the mandate. The Catholic Church is calling it an attack on religion.

In Oklahoma City, Archbishop Paul Coakley is speaking out against the decision. Coakley wrote a letter that was read at each church in archdiocese on Sunday, January 29.

About 22 percent of Americans are Catholics. There are more than 160,000 Catholics in Oklahoma.

On Wednesday, February 1, News 9 will look into both sides of the issue and show viewers how churches in Oklahoma City are working to have their voices heard.