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New York Archbishop Joins Nuns in Lawsuit Over Assisted Suicide Law
Confirmed
In Short: Archbishop Ronald Hicks of the Archdiocese of New York has joined a lawsuit filed by four orders of Catholic nuns and other Catholic healthcare ministries against New York's assisted-suicide mandate, according to Becket, a religious liberty law firm.
Archbishop Ronald Hicks of the Archdiocese of New York has joined a lawsuit filed by four orders of Catholic nuns and other Catholic healthcare ministries against New York's assisted-suicide mandate, according to Becket, a religious liberty law firm. The lawsuit, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm v. James, seeks to protect Catholic healthcare providers from a law that would force them to participate in assisted suicide, which they believe violates their faith and mission.
ArchCare, a Catholic healthcare ministry, has joined the lawsuit, emphasizing its commitment to the Catholic Church's longstanding mission of caring for the sick. 'We refuse to allow New York to force us to harm the very ones we’ve been called to care for,' said ArchCare, highlighting its dedication to compassionate care.
The lawsuit argues that assisted suicide is incompatible with the compassionate care offered by the Sisters and ArchCare. 'Assisted suicide is completely incompatible with the compassionate care that the Sisters and ArchCare offer. We are urging the court to protect these Catholic ministries as they continue their life-saving work, rather than forcing them to help end lives like New York wants,' said Becket in a statement.
Archbishop Hicks's involvement in the lawsuit was announced by Becket on October 30. He is the latest Catholic prelate to join the legal fight against assisted suicide in the U.S., following Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres and others. The plaintiffs argue that the state’s assisted suicide rules would force them to participate in practices contrary to their mission and core Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life.
On July 30, New York agreed to an order that temporarily protects the nuns and ministries from the new law. Similar victories have been secured in Illinois, where a federal court ordered the state to hold off on enforcing suicide rules against Catholic objectors while the suits play out.
Archbishop Hicks also confirmed the development in an email to clergy members, saying the agreement had been reached but still required formal signatures to become final. 'The only fully-accredited acute care hospital in the U.S. Devoted exclusively to the palliative care of adult patients with life-limiting illnesses' is part of this lawsuit, highlighting the importance of the issue.
The Archdiocese of New York and attorneys for about 1,300 parishioners who said they were sexually abused by clergy have agreed to an $800 million settlement of their legal claims, the second-largest involving a Catholic archdiocese in the U.S. Archbishop Hicks sent an email Saturday to clergy confirming the settlement after attorneys for the survivors of alleged abuse announced it.
What's confirmed
- WASHINGTON – Archbishop Ronald Hicks, the Archdiocese of New York and the Catholic healthcare ministry ArchCare have joined a lawsuit brought by four orders of Catholic nuns and other Catholic healthcare ministries against New York’s assisted-suicide mandate.
- “As Catholics, we are guided by the compassion of Jesus to serve those of every background who are in need of healing,” said Archbishop Ronald Hicks.
- Archbishop Hicks is now seeking the same protection for the Catholic healthcare providers within the Archdiocese of New York.
- On July 30, New York agreed to an order that temporarily protects the nuns and ministries.
- Archbishop Ronald Hicks joined a suit brought by several orders of religious sisters against the state’s recently instituted suicide regime.
- In addition to the New York ruling, the Catholic objectors in Illinois — which include the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Springfield — have secured victories at federal court, with a judge ordering the state to hold off on enforcing suicide rules against them while the suits play out.
- Hicks is the latest Catholic prelate to join the legal fight against assisted suicide in the U.S. A total of four bishops and dozens of religious sisters have sued the governments of New York and Illinois after the states enacted assisted suicide programs.
- The Catholic plaintiffs in that suit argued that the state’s assisted suicide rules would force them to participate in the process of helping suicidal patients kill themselves, a violation of core Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life.
- The archbishop added his name to a lawsuit that includes Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St.
- The Archdiocese of New York and lawyers for about 1,300 parishioners who said they were sexually abused by clergy have agreed to an $US800 million ($A1.1 billion) settlement of their legal claims, the second-largest involving a Catholic archdiocese in the US Archbishop Ronald Hicks sent an email on Saturday to clergy confirming the settlement after lawyers for the survivors of alleged abuse announced it.
What's still developing
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