A federal judge has ruled that orders of nuns in New York will not be forced by local state law to recommend medically assisted suicide to their patients while the case is pending in court. Four orders of Catholic nuns and several Catholic healthcare ministries sued the state of New York in late June regarding a new law that would force them to help terminally ill patients kill themselves, a severe violation of their Catholic faith.

Protecting Religious Freedom

Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and lead attorney for the healthcare ministries, said in a statement, “Forcing Catholic nuns to participate in suicide — and robbing New Yorkers of the choice to receive faithful, life-affirming care— is both unlawful and unjust.” The law firm successfully appealed to a federal court to block the law before it took effect on August 5.

The law would have required healthcare providers who decline to prescribe suicide pills to tell terminally ill patients about their ‘right’ to kill themselves, help them meet the requirements for obtaining suicide pills, and direct them to a provider willing to prescribe the lethal drugs. Refusal would have invited significant fines, license revocation, or even time behind bars.

Reaction from Catholic Leaders

Mother Mary Rose Heery, O. Carm., Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, replied, “Families entrust their loved ones to us because they know our homes will be places of tenderness, dignity, and faithful care. We are grateful that we can continue honoring that trust and remain beside every resident until the very end.” Sister Justyna Owsiejko, O.S.B., of the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, added, “Our home exists so that elderly people can spend their final days surrounded by peace, prayer, and the Sisters who love them. For now, they can rest assured that assisted suicide will not be forced into the sanctuary they call home.”

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.