Christian organisations that provide end-of-life care are suing the state of New York over new assisted suicide laws which they claim violates their freedoms of religion and speech.
Ten plaintiffs, including the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, The Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, are trying to stop the laws before they take effect next week.
Benjamin Fleshman, an attorney for religious liberty legal advocate Becket which is representing the plaintiffs, told CBN News the laws force them to help terminally ill patients kill themselves in violation of their faith.
He said the four orders of Catholic nuns and several Christian health care ministries “want to be able to continue doing what they’ve done for over a hundred years.”
“That is to provide compassionate, loving, Christ-focused care to these patients without having to sacrifice their religious beliefs to do so.”
NEW YORK IS WORST U.S. STATE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the laws safeguard “the right to bodily autonomy” by giving patients who have been diagnosed with less than six months to live the option of taking life-ending drugs.
It is the 14th state to allow assisted suicide and a recent survey by First Liberty Institute’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy’s Religious Liberty in the States index found New York was the worst of all 50 American states for religious freedom.
EXEMPTIONS STILL FORCE CHRISTIANS TO VIOLATE THEIR BELIEFS
The new laws allow some medical providers to opt out of administering the life-ending drugs for religious reasons.
However, Mr. Fleshman said the state still requires them to counsel terminally ill patients about every available option, which will includes suicide.
He claims the state often forces the workers to help the patients meet the requirements for assisted suicide.
“If they’re not willing to prescribe the drugs themselves, they have to help the patient find somebody else who will do that,” he explained.
WHAT THE PLAINTIFFS SAY – CARMELITE SISTERS FOR THE AGED AND INFIRM
Mother Mary Rose Heery, Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, issued a statement through Becket:
It said: “At our homes, we bring Christ’s unbounded love to elderly New Yorkers of every background and walk of life.”
“We strive to bring His compassion to those entrusted to our care, ensuring that no resident ever has to die alone.”
“These laws strike at the heart of that vocation.”
WHAT THE PLAINTIFFS SAY – DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HAWTHORNE
Mother Marie Edward, Superior General of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, also spoke out, saying: “For over 125 years, we have ministered to the poor who are dying of cancer as if they were Christ Himself.”
“Our calling is to offer comfort, prayer, and loving medical care to those in their final days –not death.”
“We pray the court will protect our freedom to remain faithful to that ministry God has entrusted to us.”
WHAT THE PLAINTIFFS SAY – DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE
Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre said: “We will never submit to New York’s culture of death.”
“Assisted suicide is a grave moral failure that puts the elderly, the disabled, and those suffering from mental and emotional illness at risk of abuse and manipulation.”
“Christ the Divine Physician calls us to accompany the sick and dying with compassion, not abandon them to death.”
“The court should protect that millennia-old mission.”
VIOLATING LAW COULD CLOSE DOWN MINISTRIES
Violating the law, could threaten the very existence of their ministries.
“That includes fines for every time that you refuse to refer somebody or help them obtain assisted suicide drugs,” Mr. Fleshman warned.
“It also could include some jail time.”
“There are criminal sanctions that could be imposed and professional sanctions for any doctors who refuse to prescribe these drugs or who refuse to refer people to receive these drugs.”
LAWSUIT SEEKS TO ENFORCE AN INJUNCTION NEXT WEEK
Becket filed a federal lawsuit challenging the mandate on July 17.
Attorney Fleshman said it petitions the court for an interim injunction and ultimately seeks permanent protection for the plaintiffs to care for terminally ill patients without being forced to take part in, or even discuss, suicide.
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