Judge: Government can't require Tom Monaghan to provide contraception coverage for employees

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 new federal 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. in Ann Arbor Township just outside the city of Ann Arbor.

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.

Monaghan sued the federal government in December over the act's mandate that would force employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception and sterilization. He cited religious reasons,

Monaghan sold most of his controlling stake in Domino's Pizza in 1998 to private equity company Bain Capital.