Justices divided over health law birth control plan

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court seems deeply divided over the arrangement devised by the Obama administration to spare faith-based groups from having to pay for birth control for women covered under their health plans.

The court's conservative justices are sounding supportive Wednesday of the groups' complaint that the administration's effort violates their religious rights.

The four liberal justices seem likely to vote to uphold the accommodation offered to faith-based colleges, charities and advocacy groups.

A 4-4 tie would uphold four appeals court rulings in favor of the administration. But different rules would apply in parts of the country in which another appeals court has sided with the challengers.