Catholic nuns, cardinal sue Illinois over assisted-suicide law

Catholic nuns in Illinois filed a federal lawsuit against state officials on Thursday seeking to block provisions of the state’s new assisted-suicide law before it takes effect Sept. 12.The plaintiffs, including the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Little Sisters of the Poor and Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, allege in the 93-page complaint that the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act violates their religious rights by requiring health-care providers to inform and counsel terminally ill patients about assisted suicide and, in some circumstances, document their requests and refer them to providers willing to participate.The lawsuit also names Luke Vander Bleek, a Catholic pharmacist and owner of Fitzgerald Pharmacy in Morrison, Ill. The plaintiffs argue that the law requires pharmacists who object to assisted suicide to refer patients to willing pharmacists.The law allows mentally capable adults with an incurable, irreversible disease expected to result in death…
Catholic nuns, including the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor, along with Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and a Catholic pharmacist, have filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois state officials. The lawsuit challenges the state's new End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, set to take effect on September 12. They argue that the law violates their religious rights by mandating that healthcare providers inform and counsel terminally ill patients about assisted suicide, document requests, and refer patients to participating providers. Mother Mary Rose Heery stated, "Illinois cannot ask us to replace that promise with help ending their lives." The plaintiffs seek injunctions to protect them from participation and referral requirements and from potential liability for discouraging assisted suicide.
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