So how many women will suffer due to this?

BOSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. civil liberties group sued the federal government Monday, charging it violated the Constitution by contracting a Roman Catholic entity to help victims of human trafficking. (Who else would be contracted, Planned Parenthood? Maybe the National Organization for Women (NOW)? How about the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)? Yeah, fat chance.)

The American Civil Liberties Union said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was imposing its beliefs on victims of human trafficking by not allowing federal grant money to be used for contraception or abortion. (It's called following religious beliefs, stupid. That would be the prime motivation for getting involved with these victims in the first place. Know any secular organizations willing to shoulder the load?)

When the bishops applied for the contracts, they said they would not work with subcontractors who provided abortion services or contraceptives, such as condoms, which conflict with Catholic teachings, according to the ACLU.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston said the Department of Health and Human Services violated the separation of church and state by giving the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops $6 million in grants from 2006 through 2008. (How many victims were helped by this "heinous" act of utilizing a religious organization? Did they do any research into that?)

Many women victims of human trafficking are forced to work as prostitutes, and face a high risk of assault and rape, the ACLU said in court papers. (Yep, and cutting off funding for a group that effectively aid them is SO sensible! Or not.)

The Department of Health and Human Services permitted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops "to impose its own religiously based substantive restrictions on the use of grant funds," the ACLU argued. (Yeah, this was done regarding subcontractors to the USCCB! The victims still received help! Doesn't anyone get that?)

The suit asks the court to stop the department from allowing its grants being spent in a way that is restricted by religious beliefs. (Heaven forbid! Wait, can't say the "H" word can I? Sorry.)

Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the bishops' conference said the $6 million figure cited in the suit was the full amount authorized. But "far less" money had been appropriated, she said without giving a figure. (Yep, no dummy there. Cite a figure and the ACLU will demand payback. Let the bastards work for it! Go sister, go!)

"The problem of trafficking in this country is huge and serious and the Catholic Church has the best network of services bar none," she said. "Going to the Catholic Church for social services is very logical." (Unless you're a (likely) college educated idiot who wouldn't want the taint of religious beliefs attached to any help you receive. No problem there, I doubt any victim looking for help is so idiotically selective.)

Representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment. (If I was a rep for the HHS I'd be out getting drunk over this shit. Really.)

This is insane. Is there anyone else out there willing to do the work of the Catholic Church in this area? If so, are they as effective? How come questions like that aren't asked when crap like this comes up?