Roman Catholic Nuns Sue New York Over Transgender Mandates

A group of Roman Catholic nuns in New York has initiated legal action against the state, claiming that a recent law requiring transgender affirmations in certain facilities is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit is brought forth by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who operate the Rosalie Hill Home, a facility with 42 beds catering to indigent cancer patients. They argue that the law infringes on their religious freedoms.

This legislation, known as Senate Bill S1783A, is described by the New York State Senate as a “bill of rights” for residents of LGBT long-term care facilities. The goal is to safeguard against discrimination based on “actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.” Key requirements include using patients’ chosen pronouns, housing assignments that align with patients’ gender identities, and unrestricted restroom access.

The nuns allege that the law conflicts with the First and Fourteenth Amendments and are seeking both declaratory and injunctive relief.

“Requiring someone to identify another person with a gender other than their God-given gender compels engagement in conduct contrary to the foundational teachings of the Catholic faith,” reads their complaint.

They further argue that compelling Catholics to affirm the gender identity of others effectively requires adherence to a different religious perspective.

This lawsuit follows multiple letters from the New York State Department of Health, detailing requirements and training protocols related to gender ideology.

Marie Edwards, the Superior General of the Hawthorne Dominicans, stated, “We, the Sisters, have cared for patients of all walks of life, ideologies, and faiths. We treat each patient with dignity and Christian charity. We have never had a complaint. We cannot carry out New York’s orders without violating our Catholic faith.”

The defendants in this lawsuit include New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, along with various officials from the state’s Department of Health.

For over 125 years, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have focused solely on providing care to terminal cancer patients, specifically those without any other caretakers. Notably, they do not claim insurance or government subsidies for their services.

“We cannot cure our patients, but we can ensure their dignity and worth in their final days and keep them pain-free and comfortable,” noted a representative from the Catholic Benefits Association.

The Little Sisters of the Poor, another Catholic group, previously engaged in legal battles against government mandates related to contraceptive and abortion coverage from 2012 to 2020.

The Daily Caller attempted to contact the New York State Department of Health for a response but had not received any comment at the time of this report.