Catholic Online Forum

DETROIT — The founder of Domino's Pizza is suing the federal government over mandatory contraception coverage in the health care law.

Tom Monaghan, a devout Roman Catholic, says contraception isn't health care but a "gravely immoral" practice.

He filed a lawsuit Friday in federal court. It also lists as a plaintiff Domino's Farms, a Michigan office park complex that Monaghan owns.

Detroit — The founder of Domino's Pizza won't be subject to a new federal healthcare law requiring contraception coverage while a lawsuit he filed challenging the new mandate is pending, a judge has ruled.

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff of the Eastern District of Michigan on Thursday granted an emergency motion by Tom Monaghan to temporarily halt the enforcement of the federal Health and Human Services mandate.

Monaghan, a devout Roman Catholic, and the Domino's Farms Corp., sued the federal government alleging the law violates their rights and has asked the court to strike it down.

"It was the best case scenario for us," said Erin Mersino of the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, who is the lead attorney on Monaghan's case. "It was a favorable opinion, and we are very happy for our clients."

The lawsuit is among 11 others nationwide challenging the new mandate that became law in August.

Zatkoff's ruling halts enforcement of the mandate against Monaghan and his property management company, of which he is the sole owner and shareholder.

Domino's Farms Corp. manages an office complex owned by Monaghan and is not affiliated with Domino's Pizza. Monaghan sold the pizza company in 1998.

Temporary restraining orders have been granted by federal judges in eight of the other pending cases, three other requests to halt implementation of the mandate have been denied. None of the cases have been resolved yet, Mersino said.