Catholic nuns sue New York, say assisted suicide law forces them to violate their faith

Catholic nuns and faith-based healthcare providers who person spent generations caring for New York's dying are suing nan state, arguing its caller assisted termination rule will unit them to break their belief beliefs by participating successful a believe they see morally wrong.

The lawsuit, revenge Friday successful national tribunal by complete 10 Catholic plaintiffs, including nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, nan Carmelite Sisters for nan Aged and Infirm, nan Little Sisters of nan Poor, nan Diocese of Rockville Centre and Catholic Health, argues New York's Medical Aid successful Dying Act compels belief healthcare providers to counsel terminally sick patients astir physician-assisted suicide, make referrals to participating providers and, successful immoderate cases, accommodate assisted termination successful their facilities.

The plaintiffs opportunity those requirements break the First Amendment, national healthcare protections and longstanding Catholic school connected nan sanctity of quality life.

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The Carmelite Sisters for nan Aged and Infirm serving a patient. (The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty)

"New York has put nan Sisters to a stark choice: either wantonness their belief beliefs regarding nan sanctity of life aliases look important fines and penalties," nan suit reads. "Through its euphemistically-named Medical Aid successful Dying Act, which builds upon requirements successful nan Palliative Care Information Act, New York has conscripted moreover belief healthcare providers and institutions to participate successful nan proviso of physician-assisted suicide."

New York’s Medical Aid successful Dying Act, which was signed into rule successful February, lets those who are 18 years and older who person been diagnosed pinch a terminal unwellness and fixed six months aliases little to unrecorded to petition and self-administer life-ending medicine if they are experiencing immense suffering, according to Compassion and Choices, who supports nan caller law.

The group notes nan measurement is based connected Oregon's long-standing assisted dying law.

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The Carmelite Sisters for nan Aged and Infirm. (The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty)

According to nan complaint, nan rule could compel belief organizations to facilitate physician-assisted termination by giving patients accusation astir nan practice, permitting unit to talk it pinch terminally sick patients, and helping patients complete steps required to suffice for life-ending medication.

The plaintiffs besides reason nan rule would require referrals to consenting providers and forestall nan organizations from disciplining labor who supply specified counseling aliases assistance successful conflict pinch nan institutions' belief beliefs.

Rosary Hill Home, tally by nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, 1 of nan plaintiffs, has cared for astir 45,000 low-income crab patients successful New York, providing free end-of-life attraction sloppy of their religion aliases taste background.

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A sister serves a resident. (The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty)

Mother Marie Edward, O.P., Superior General of nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, said, "For complete 125 years, we person ministered to nan mediocre who are dying of crab arsenic if they were Christ Himself. Our calling is to connection comfort, prayer, and loving aesculapian attraction to those successful their last days—not death."

Edward added, "We believe nan tribunal will protect our state to stay religious to that ministry God has entrusted to us."

In April, nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne sued New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, alleging nan state’s "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and group surviving pinch HIV semipermanent attraction installation residents' measure of rights" could unit them to take betwixt their religion and their ngo aliases look fines, nonaccomplishment of licensing and moreover jailhouse time.

Mother Mary Rose Heery, O. Carm., prioress wide of nan Carmelite Sisters for nan Aged and Infirm, said successful a statement, "At our homes, we bring Christ’s unbounded emotion to aged New Yorkers of each inheritance and locomotion of life."

Heery added, "We strive to bring His compassion to those entrusted to our care, ensuring that nary resident ever has to dice alone. This rule strikes astatine nan bosom of that vocation."

Mark Rienzi, president of Becket, who is representing nan Carmelite Sisters, nan Dominican Sisters, nan Benedictine Sisters, and nan Little Sisters of nan Poor, arsenic good arsenic Bishop John O. Barres and nan Diocese of Rockville Centre, said successful a connection that, "New York is forcing sick and dying group to see termination astatine their lowest moment, sloppy of whether they inquire for it aliases not."

"Worse, it’s conscripting nan nuns who attraction for them into its termination cult connected symptom of crushing fines and master ruin," Rienzi added. "That is some unconscionable and unconstitutional. We’re assured nan federal courts will put a extremity to it."

Martin Nussbaum, wide counsel for Catholic Benefits Association, who is representing nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne successful nan transgender measure of authorities lawsuit, told Fox News Digital that nan Catholic Benefits Association "is wholly supportive of nan Becket suit seeking belief exemption from New York’s assisted termination law."

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A Dominican Sister of Hawthorne hugs a resident. (Photo: Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne)

"Just arsenic successful nan Catholic Benefits Association lawsuit for nan Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, nan State of New York is trampling connected nan belief liberty and reside authorities of Catholic nuns providing selfless work to men and women connected their last journey," Nussbaum added.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, nan Carmelite Sisters for nan Aged and Infirm, nan Little Sisters of nan Poor, and nan Diocese of Rockville Centre and Catholic Health for comment.