Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Four orders of Catholic nuns and several Catholic healthcare ministries sued New York late last week over a new law that forces them to help terminally ill patients kill themselves in violation of their faith.
Laura Wolk Slavis represents the nuns, and she says they just want to continue in the service that they've been doing for more than 100 years. "But what this law requires them to do is to help their patients and residents access information, counsel them about the benefits, and even to help qualify them for the drugs that are taken for the sole purpose of ending their lives, and these nuns, they just can't do that. That is that is directly contrary to their faith, and directly contrary to the type of service that they've been providing to their patients until this point," Slavis explains.
Refusing to abide by MAID could have significant consequences. "Up into including time in jail. They they also risk financial fines and they risk the loss of the licenses that are necessary to operate their homes. So this really strikes at the very heart of their ability to continue in their ministry," says Slavis.
She says this lawsuit is extremely important for the First Amendment and for every American who relies on the First Amendment for their own freedoms. "The First Amendment freedoms of the patients who want to face death in their own way, and in a way that does not force hearing about or or or knowledge of or pushing toward assisted suicide, so we are very hopeful that this lawsuit will help to remind the state of New York that it is required to respect the First Amendment rights of its citizens, including those who provide critical and necessary healthcare in accordance with their religious beliefs. New York claims that this law is about choice. It says that this law is is enacted so that people can determine how and and when they die. But by co-opting religious institutions, they're actually taking away choice. They're taking away choice from the patients who want to seek care from these sisters, and that's just-it's not allowed under the Constitution. And if New York really cares about choice, then they need to allow these sisters to continue to serve," says Slavis.
The law goes into effect on august 5. Slavis has filed requests with the court to give her clients relief before the law goes into effect. She adds the court ordered a hearing for August 3.
Lawyer for nuns says this violated their religious freedom
Lawyer for nuns says this violated their religious freedom
