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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Friday ruled that religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations, including hospitals and universities, choose have to offer birth-control coverage to women employees otherwise than that gave the organizations an extra year to comply.

In a judgment expected to draw opposition from pious conservatives, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a eventual rule requiring affiliated groups to make provision a broad range of services, from implanted contraceptive devices to the aurora-after pill. Many do not at boon.

The government's decision does not put to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and some religiously-affiliated elementary and secondary schools, that remain exempt.

But it comes in the manner that a blow to the interests of more religious authorities.

When HHS first announced plans to adopt the nativity control rule last August, it stirred protests from exact groups including the Roman Catholic Church that wanted the immunity to apply to a broader rank of organizations. The Catholic Church holds contraception to have ~ing sinful.

The change, intended to make unwanted pregnancies and abortions, is faction of President Barack Obama's healthcare gain upon, his signature domestic policy achievement, which is facing major challenges from the Supreme Court and Republicans this year while the president seeks re-election.

"This decision was made after very careful cause, including the important concerns some bear raised about religious liberty," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius related in a statement.

"This proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing interview to important preventive services."

Religious-affiliated nonprofit organizations, great number of which currently do not put forward birth control coverage, have until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new rule. Other employers mouldiness begin covering the services from August 1, 2012.

(Reporting By David Morgan; Editing by Vicki Allen)

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