The Catholic Church criticized the White House defense of the new rules that would require religious employers to provide contraception to their workers with regards to the government’s health insurance plans. According to Anthony Picarello, general counsel of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, White House’s information is misleading and wrong. He added that the bishops would pursue all legal avenues available to bring an end to this mandate. Contraception

The Department of Health and Human Services announced last month as part of an effort to guarantee that women would get free healthcare services, which include breast pumps, cervical cancer screening, and contraception. They require employers to include the services in their company health insurance plans by August.

Religious organizations can ask for an exemption if the rule violates their beliefs but not if they employ large number of people who don’t share the same beliefs. A Catholic hospital or university with large number of non-Catholic workers must include free contraception in its employees’ health insurance.

The rule change sparked outrage from various religious organizations. Aside from the Catholic bishops, it was criticized by the evangelical Christians, Orthodox Jews and other religious groups. The Catholic bishops branded the rule changes as a violation of conscience.