Rockville Diocese Sues Over Assisted Suicide Law

The Diocese of Rockville Centre is leading a federal court fight to block New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act, arguing the new law would force Catholic ministries on Long Island to violate their faith by participating in physician-assisted suicide.

Bishop John O. Barres said the Diocese will not compromise its religious mission.

"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."

The Diocese joined Catholic Health, four religious orders of Catholic nuns and other healthcare ministries in filing the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

The complaint names Attorney General Letitia James, Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and Office of Professional Medical Conduct Executive Director Michael Iannuzzi as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, the Medical Aid in Dying Act requires objecting healthcare providers to discuss assisted suicide with terminally ill patients, determine whether they qualify for life-ending medication, and transfer or refer them to providers willing to prescribe the drugs.

The plaintiffs argue those requirements violate their religious beliefs and federal conscience protections. They also contend providers who refuse could face civil fines of up to $2,000 per violation, professional discipline, injunctions and possible criminal penalties.

Mother Mary Rose Heery, Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said, "At our homes, we bring Christ's unbounded love to elderly New Yorkers... ensuring that no resident ever has to die alone. This law strikes at the heart of that vocation."

Sister Justyna Owsiejko of the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict said, "New York is trying to force us to abandon that vocation and help our residents commit suicide. That is something we will never do."

The lawsuit asks the federal court to issue an injunction preventing the law from taking effect on Aug. 5 and ultimately declare it unconstitutional.