Catholic Nuns Sue New York Over Assisted Suicide Law, Citing Threat of Jail Time
A coalition of Catholic religious orders filed a federal lawsuit on July 17, 2026, challenging New York''s Medical Aid in Dying Act. The plaintiffs, including the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and the Little Sisters of the Poor, argue the law forces them to facilitate assisted suicide in violation of their religious beliefs.
A group of Catholic nuns and religious healthcare organizations filed a federal lawsuit against New York state on July 17, 2026, targeting the state''s new Medical Aid in Dying Act.
The plaintiffs include the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. They filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
The law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in February 2026, allows terminally ill patients with six months or less to live to request a prescription for life-ending medication. It takes effect August 5, 2026.
The religious orders argue the law does not provide adequate protection for faith-based providers. They say it requires them to counsel patients on all end-of-life options, including assisted suicide, and may force them to facilitate the process through referrals or by allowing the practice on their premises.
Failure to comply, they argue, could result in fines, loss of licensure, and criminal charges. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is representing the plaintiffs.
"We will never submit to New York''s culture of death," said Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He said the church''s mission is to accompany the sick and dying with compassion, not to end their lives.
Governor Hochul''s office said participation under the law is voluntary and that religious facilities have the right to opt out. The plaintiffs dispute that characterization, saying the opt-out provisions are too narrow to protect their institutions.
The lawsuit seeks an emergency injunction to block the law before it takes effect. The case is the latest in a series of legal conflicts between Catholic institutions and New York state regulations.
