Judge: US can't make Monaghan offer contraceptives

A judge has blocked the federal government from requiring the founder of Domino's Pizza to provide mandatory contraception coverage to his employees under the health care law.

 

   U.S. District Judge Lawrence Zatkoff on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the contraception provision of the law against Tom Monaghan and Domino's Farms Corp. near Ann Arbor, Mich.

 

   Monaghan is a Roman Catholic who says he considers contraception a "gravely immoral" practice. He offers health insurance that excludes contraception and abortion for employees. 

 

   The new federal law requires employers to offer insurance including contraception coverage or risk fines.

 

   Domino's Pizza spokesman Chris Brandon says Monaghan sold his controlling stake in Domino's in 1998 to private equity company Bain Capital and sold his remaining Domino's stock in 2004.