The local chapter of the National Organization for Women Friday struck back at the Catholic Church's opposition to a federal requirement that employers -- including Catholic hospitals and educational institutions -- provide insurance coverage for prescriptive contraceptives without charging employees.

Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo decried the ruling last week, saying it "strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith."

Nearly a dozen protesters stood for an hour in the evening along Secor Road in front of Mercy St. Anne Hospital and across from Reger's religious goods store with signs showing support for the new health-care mandate and criticizing the church and its bishops.

Anita Rios, president of the Toledo NOW chapter, said the organization wanted to get the message out that the new law providing women access to free contraceptions "is a basic human right."

She said access to free contraceptions would reduce the number of abortions for women who cannot afford the prescriptions.

"I see women who come in for abortions tell me flat out that 'I couldn't afford to pay for the pills," Ms. Rios said.

Contraceptions for women without health insurance can cost between $30 and $80 a month, she said.

The new health-care mandate "would relieve a lot of human misery," she said.

Ms. Rios said NOW chose to protest in front of St. Anne, one of seven Catholic-affiliated hospitals in northwest Ohio operated by Mercy, because of Secor Road's traffic volume and its high visibility.

First Published February 4, 2012, 5:44 a.m.