Cardinal Cupich, Nuns' Lawsuit Claims New IL Right-To-Die Law Is A 'Ticket Punch' For A Patient's Death

CHICAGO–Cardinal Blase Cupich, two orders of Catholic nuns and an Illinois pharmacist are suing the state over claims that a new law forces them to help terminally ill patients end their lives—in direct violation of their religious beliefs.

Named as defendants are Terry Prince, in his official capacity as director of the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs, and Sameer Vohra, in his capacity as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Also named as a defendant is Mario Treto Jr. in his official capacity as secretary of the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation.

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"The Gospel calls us to uphold the inviolable dignity and worth of the human person, from life's first moment to its natural end," Cardinal Cupich said in a written statement. "As Catholics, we oppose efforts to undermine human dignity by pushing our brothers and sisters toward suicide. We pray that the courts will protect our freedom to continue advocating and caring for the sick and dying as our faith demands."

Attorney Mark Rienzi, president of the nonprofit, public interest law firm Becket, is asking a federal court to block Illinois's End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (EOLOA) before it takes effect on Sept. 12. The attorney claimed the new law imposes significant fines and penalties against healthcare providers who refuse to take part in assisted suicide. The complaint was filed on behalf of elder-healthcare ministries Little Sisters of the Poor in Palatine and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and pharmacist Luke Vanderbleek.

Catholic healthcare ministries have been a refuge for the sick, elderly and dying across Illinois for almost 175 years. Today, that work includes Catholic hospitals treating millions of patients each year, the elder-care ministries of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor, and other faithful Catholics working in health care, like small-town community pharmacist Luke Vander Bleek. All of them serve patients according to their Catholic faith, which calls them to heal and protect human life, not end it, the complaint stated.

"The elderly people who come to our homes are looking for a place where they will be cherished and cared for until natural death," said Mother Julie Marie, Mother Provincial of the Chicago Province of the Little Sisters of the Poor. "They should be free to choose that kind of care without having assisted suicide inserted into it by the state. We simply want to continue giving them the loving home they came to us for."

Illinois is one of 13 states, including Washington, D.C., that have right-to-die or death with dignity laws that allow for medical aid in dying, plus Montana through a state supreme court ruling rather than statute, making 14 jurisdictions in total. Governor Pritzker signed the Medical Aid in Dying bill (SB 1950) last December, a law that will provide qualified terminally ill patients with the option to seek medication to peacefully end their lives on their terms in consultation with physicians. The legislation to provides terminally ill patients with autonomy, dignity and peace at the end of their lives

According to Reinzi, this means faithful Catholics cannot prescribe or dispense lethal drugs, direct or refer patients to obtain them, or help facilitate a patient's suicide in any way. Yet Illinois' new EOLOA law forces them to do exactly that. Healthcare providers who object to participating in assisted suicide must still inform patients about their "right" to kill themselves, help them qualify for lethal drugs, and pass them along to someone willing to help them obtain those drugs—effectively punching the patient's ticket for death. Pharmacists like Vander Bleek must fill prescriptions they know will be used for suicide or refer patients to another pharmacy that will.

"The state should stop trying to make Catholic nuns help patients kill themselves. It is awful for Illinois to be forcing every sick and dying person within its borders to hear its message of suicide at their lowest moment—regardless of whether they want it or not," Reinz said. "Patients deserve the freedom to seek healing, hope, and accompaniment without the government forcing suicide into the conversation. The Constitution protects that freedom."