The Diocese of Rockville Centre, Catholic Health and several Catholic religious orders have filed a federal lawsuit challenging New York's new Medical Aid in Dying Act, arguing the law violates their religious freedom by requiring them to participate in physician-assisted suicide.
The lawsuit, filed July 17 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, names Bishop John O. Barres, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Catholic Health among the plaintiffs, along with several Catholic nursing homes and religious organizations across the state. It seeks to block enforcement of portions of the law before it takes effect Aug. 5.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act allows mentally capable adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live to request medication they may choose to self-administer to end their lives.
The lawsuit does not challenge the legality of medical aid in dying itself. Instead, the plaintiffs argue the law's conscience protections are too limited and could require Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and health care workers to discuss assisted suicide with patients, make referrals to participating providers or otherwise assist in the process despite religious objections.
According to the complaint, the Diocese of Rockville Centre oversees Catholic Health, one of Long Island's largest health care systems, and is responsible for ensuring its hospitals and ministries operate according to Catholic teaching.
"We will never submit to New York's culture of death," Bishop John O. Barres said in an emailed statement. "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."
The lawsuit argues Catholic teaching prohibits participation in assisted suicide in any form and contends the law violates the First Amendment's protections for the free exercise of religion as well as federal conscience protections for health care providers.
Among the plaintiffs are the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
"For over 125 years, we have ministered to the poor who are dying of cancer as if they were Christ Himself," Mother Marie Edward, superior general of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, said in an emailed statement. "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."
The plaintiffs argue the law's protections for religious organizations are not sufficient, saying it still requires some providers and faith-based organizations to take actions that conflict with their beliefs, including discussing the option with patients or referring them to providers willing to participate.
Nicolette Simmonds, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said the administration could not comment on the pending litigation but defended the law.
"While we cannot comment on any pending litigation, under this historic legislation participation is entirely voluntary, and religious facilities have the right to opt out if they choose to do so," she said in an emailed statement. "What this law does is allow terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live to make a voluntary, informed decision. It reflects years of thoughtful planning and consideration. The Department of Health is working on regulations that will implement the law thoughtfully and responsibly."
The governor's office also said the law does not require physicians, nurses, pharmacists or other health care providers to participate in medical aid in dying. According to the administration, religious facilities and their affiliates may prohibit the practice on their premises, restrict employees from participating and discipline employees who violate those policies.
The lawsuit names Attorney General Letitia James, Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and Michael C. Iannuzzi, interim chair of the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct, as defendants.
Becket, the public interest law firm representing Bishop Barres, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and several of the religious organizations, said it plans to file a motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to temporarily block enforcement of the law while the case proceeds.
