US Supreme Court Halts Birth Control Mandate For Catholic Group Tuesday Dec 31,2013

A Supreme Court justice has blocked implementation of portions of President Barack Obama's health care law that would have forced some religion-affiliated organizations to provide health insurance for employees that includes birth control.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor's decision came Dec 31,2013 Tuesday night after a different effort by Catholic-affiliated groups from around the nation. Those groups rushed to the federal courts to stop Wednesday's start of portions of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor acted on a request from an order of Catholic nuns in Colorado, whose request for a stay had been denied by the lower courts.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor is giving the US Govt until Friday morning to respond to her decision