PITTSBURGH — The city’s Roman Catholic bishop has sent a letter opposing new federal regulations that would require health insurance plans to cover contraception and sterilization procedures as “preventive care.”

Bishop David Zubik sent the letter Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Gov. Tom Corbett and some lawmakers from Western Pennsylvania in which he called the regulations “an attack on Catholic beliefs and the religious liberty of Catholics to adhere to their beliefs,” A Pittsburgh newspaper reported Wednesday.

The bishop is concerned that faith-based organizations, like Catholic Charities, or the church itself might be forced to pay for contraception and sterilization coverage for employees even though the church opposes such practices.