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Roman Catholic religious sisters and healthcare organisations are suing the State of New York over its forthcoming assisted suicide law, arguing that it would force them to participate in practices that violate their religious beliefs.
Ten Catholic plaintiffs filed the lawsuit, including the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and Catholic Health.
The legal challenge concerns New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act, which is due to take effect on 5th August. The law will allow adults diagnosed with an illness or condition expected to cause death within six months to request lethal drugs.
The plaintiffs argue that, when combined with existing requirements under the state’s Palliative Care Information Act, the legislation will compel Catholic healthcare providers to tell sick and dying patients about assisted suicide, refer them to doctors willing to provide it, and potentially permit assisted suicide deaths within their facilities.
They claim that these requirements breach their rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects religious freedom and freedom of speech.
“New York has put the Sisters to a stark choice: either abandon their religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life or face significant fines and penalties,” the lawsuit states.
The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne operate Rosary Hill Home, where they provide end-of-life care to people regardless of their religion or background. The order has cared for approximately 45,000 people during the final stages of life.
Mother Marie Edward, Superior General of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, said the sisters’ vocation was to provide comfort, prayer, and medical care, rather than intentionally cause death.
“For over 125 years, we have ministered to the poor who are dying of cancer as if they were Christ Himself,” she said. “Our calling is to offer comfort, prayer, and loving medical care to those in their final days, not death.”
Mother Mary Rose Heery, Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said the legislation struck “at the heart” of their work caring for elderly people and ensuring that residents did not die alone.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is representing several of the religious orders and Church bodies involved in the case.
Its president, Mark Rienzi, accused New York of conscripting religious carers into assisted suicide under threat of fines and professional penalties.
The plaintiffs are asking the federal courts to prevent the state from forcing Catholic institutions and religious sisters to promote, facilitate, or accommodate assisted suicide contrary to their belief in the sanctity of human life.
SPUC CEO John Deighan has commented on the case, saying: “The service offered by the Sisters is the epitome of good healthcare. It is a ministry. The State of New York’s assisted suicide law decimates that ministry. Nobody should be forced to kill their patients or refer them to others who are willing to do it; that completely overturns the ancient view of care in the West. There were concerns in Holyrood over the conscience provisions in the Scottish assisted suicide Bill and SPUC is glad to have helped defeat it. New York’s legislature didn’t make as wise a decision. We hope that the courts in the State will be able to give the Sisters (and their patients) the protection their lawmakers denied them.”
