– OSV News / Kate Scanlon
Four religious orders and Catholic organizations dedicated to healthcare filed a lawsuit against the state of New York on July 17 over a new law that allows doctors to help terminally ill adults die by assisted suicide.
In a lawsuit filed by Becket, a law firm specializing in freedom of religion, the Carmelite Sisters for the Elderly and the Sick, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, and the Little Sisters of the Poor argued that the law would compel them to facilitate such deaths, which would constitute a violation of their faith.
Mother Mary Rose Heery, prioress general of the Carmelite Sisters for the Elderly and the Sick, stated on July 20: “In our centers, we bring Christ’s infinite love to New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and social statuses.”.
“We strive to bring His compassion to those in our care, ensuring that no resident has to die alone,” he said. “This law undermines the very essence of that calling.”.
The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Supporters of physician-assisted suicide argue that this practice protects the autonomy of people who are suffering in their final days, but its opponents argue that it undermines the dignity of human life and leaves sick or dying people vulnerable to coercion, among other concerns.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly condemns the practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, considering them “morally unacceptable” and a violation of the Fifth Commandment: “You shall not kill.”.
Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat from New York, signed the law into effect in February, arguing that she had “put in place” safeguards during the legislative process that ensured the “integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions.” The state’s Catholic bishops were among those who opposed the law.
“That is both unacceptable and unconstitutional.”
However, Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and lead attorney for the healthcare organizations, stated in a July 20 press release: “New York is forcing sick and dying people to consider suicide at their most difficult moment, regardless of whether they request it or not.”.
“And what’s worse, he’s recruiting the nuns who care for them into his suicide cult by threatening them with exorbitant fines and professional ruin,” Rienzi said. “That is both unacceptable and unconstitutional. We are confident that the federal courts will put an end to this situation.”.
Becket, which represents religious orders and Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre, New York, has stated that religious institutions plan to file for a preliminary injunction against the law in the coming days.
In a statement, Bishop Barres added: “We will never submit to New York’s culture of death.”.
“Assisted suicide is a grave moral failure that exposes the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from mental and emotional illnesses to the risk of abuse and manipulation,” said the bishop, whose diocese is also listed as a plaintiff. “Christ, the Divine Physician, calls us to accompany the sick and the dying with compassion, not to abandon them to death. The court should protect that age-old mission.”.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions filed by Catholic nuns against recent New York State laws. Earlier this year, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who operate a 42-bed palliative care program for terminally ill individuals without financial means, challenged a law establishing requirements regarding gender identity accommodations for nursing home residents.
New York is one of 13 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, that have legalized assisted suicide.
This article was originally published in English on OSV News. We are reprinting it here with permission. You can read the original article HERE.
