The Obama administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to keep in place an Obamacare requirement that certain religious-affiliated groups cover birth control and other reproductive health services in their employee insurance plans . The high court was poised to decide whether to grant a temporary injunction sought by a Catholic charity of nuns to delay the mandate , which carries fines for non-compliance . The Denver-based Little Sisters of the Poor and other non-profits had filed a lawsuit against the federal government , saying the contraception coverage requirement violates their moral beliefs and their religious liberty . Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an emergency injunction on Tuesday for the charity that cares for the elderly poor and sought a response from the Obama administration . The Catholic-affiliated group submitted a rebuttal after the Justice Department submitted its brief . It is not clear how Sotomayor will handle the matter ultimately , but one option would be to ask the broader court to weigh in . The appeal again thrusts the politically charged Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare , into the national legal spotlight . President Barack Obama 's signature domestic initiative , ruled constitutional by the court in 2012 , became even more controversial this past fall during its flawed public rollout . The current case spotlights a major sticking point in the law over contraception coverage . The mandate was designed by the administration to give women employed at nonprofit , religious-based organizations -- such as certain hospitals and private faith-based universities -- the ability to receive contraception through separate health policies with no co-pay . 5 things : Obamacare and contraception . A court ruling on this matter could ultimately impact dozens of religious groups and businesses that have mounted legal challenges in recent months . Church and state . The church and state issue now in the spotlight involves rules negotiated last year between the Obama administration and various outside groups to address the controversy over contraception . Under the law , churches and houses of worships are exempt from the mandate . But other nonprofit religious-affiliated groups , such as church-run hospitals , parochial schools and certain charities must either provide no-cost contraception coverage or have a third-party insurer provide separate benefits without the employer 's direct involvement . Organizations that choose to opt-out of direct coverage must sign a document certifying their religious objections , and the government would then require the outside insurer pick up the costs . `` At that point , the employer-applicants will have satisfied all their obligations under the contraceptive coverage provision , '' the Justice Department said in its brief with the Supreme Court . The Catholic charity has `` no legal basis to challenge the self-certification requirement or to complain that it involves them in the process of providing contraceptive coverage , '' the government said . But the Little Sisters of the Poor and the entity that administers its insurance plans , Christian Brothers Services , both qualify for exemptions under the conditions in the law , the Justice Department said . But the groups raised objections in their appeal to the Supreme Court that an exemption ultimately amounts to tacit approval of something that violates their religious and moral beliefs . Contraception coverage would be provided by someone in the future -- and they oppose that . `` The government demands that the Little Sisters of the Poor sign a permission slip for abortion drugs and contraceptives , or pay of millions in fines '' for non-compliance , said Mark Rienzi , senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty , the group representing the nuns . `` The sisters believe that doing that violates their faith , and that they should n't be forced to divert funds from the poor elderly and dying people they 've devoted their lives to serve , '' Rienzi said . The Supreme Court in March will take up a related challenge to the birth control mandate , when it hears arguments over whether some for-profit corporations should be exempt , again on religious liberty grounds . Supreme Court to take up contraception case .
Supreme Court Justice Soniya Sotomayor issued emergency injunction on Tuesday . The case again puts Obamacare in legal spotlight . Case prompted by suit from Denver-based charity run by nuns . Ruling could impact dozens of religious groups and businesses .