A federal lawsuit has been filed on Thursday against the nation’s largest Catholic health care group. The lawsuit accuses Trinity Health of denying women reproductive health procedures such as emergency abortions.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed an amended complaint Friday against Trinity Health, headquartered in Livonia, in US District Court in Detroit.

According to the lawsuit, Trinity Health requires all of its hospitals to meet the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. “They prohibit Catholic hospitals from terminating the pregnancy of a woman suffering a pregnancy complication, even if such care is urgently needed to protect a woman’s health or life”, said lawsuit.

It says hospitals within the system have failed to provide women with the emergency care required by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and the Rehabilitation Act because of the policies.

ACLU of Michigan attorney Brooke Tucker said in a statement announcing the lawsuit that they have raised their voice today to fight for pregnant women who are denied potentially life-saving care because doctors are forced to follow religious directives rather than best medical practices.

He said catholic bishops are not licensed medical professionals and they have no right to tell how doctors should practice medicine, especially when it violates federal law.

Trinity Health issued a statement in response to the lawsuit saying that the case has no merit. A spokeswoman with Trinity Health released a statement that said a federal court already dismissed a similar ACLU claim and Trinity will seek dismissal of this lawsuit.

"We’re taking a stand today to fight for pregnant women who are denied potentially life-saving care because doctors are forced to follow religious directives rather than best medical practices,” ACLU of Michigan attorney Brooke Tucker said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “Catholic bishops are not licensed medical professionals and have no place dictating how doctors practice medicine, especially when it violates federal law.”

“The Ethical and Religious Directives are entirely consistent with high-quality health care, and our clinicians continue to provide superb care throughout the communities we serve,” the statement went on to say. “We are proud that more than 25,000 licensed physicians work directly with our health system and share our commitment to people-centered care."