The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last month that almost all employers, including church-affiliated employers, will have to cover all forms of contraception in employee health insurance plans.

The White House says it's a move that's important for millions of women in the United States.  The Catholic Church has long opposed the use of artificial methods of birth control.

Here in Rapid City, Catholic Social Services says the new policy would significantly affect their organization.

Executive director Jim Kinyon says, "Fundamentally, it might affect the kinds of benefits we're able to provide for our employees and secondly, it could have a long term impact of becoming an obstacle to us providing services to the 20,000 people we serve around Western South Dakota in the last year."

Kinyon says he hopes religious organizations across the U.S. step up to oppose the policy before it becomes mandated next year.

-Brendyn Medina