NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- A federal court denied the University of Notre Dame's request to be exempt from the Affordable Care Act's birth control requirement.

The federal health care law requires all employers to provide health insurance that covers contraceptives.

On Friday, a circuit court in Chicago upheld a judge's earlier ruling against the school.

Notre Dame's lawsuit challenges a compromise offered by the Obama Administration.  

The compromise attempted to create a buffer for religiously affiliated universities and other organizations that oppose birth control.

"Our concern remains that if government is allowed to entangle a religious institution of higher education like Notre Dame in one area contrary to conscience it's given license to do so in others," said Paul Browne, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications.