Christian World | New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks and Catholic health ministry ArchCare have joined Catholic sisters suing the state over its medical aid-in-dying mandate

ACW | October 31, 2026 — New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks, the Archdiocese of New York and its health ministry ArchCare have joined a lawsuit by Catholic sisters challenging New York's assisted-dying mandate, the religious liberty law firm Becket said.

Becket, which represents the sisters, said in a statement on Friday, October 30, that an amended complaint was filed in federal court on October 29. The case was first filed on July 17.

The original plaintiffs are the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Catholic Health, according to Becket.

Becket says New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act requires providers to counsel terminally ill patients about the option, help them qualify for lethal drugs and refer them to willing prescribers. It says those who refuse could face heavy fines, loss of their licenses and even jail.

New York agreed on July 30 to a consent order for a temporary restraining order that protects the original plaintiffs while the case proceeds, Becket said. Hicks is seeking the same protection for the archdiocese's providers.

"We refuse to allow New York to force us to harm the very ones we've been called to care for," Hicks said. Becket senior counsel Adéle Keim said assisted suicide is "completely incompatible with the compassionate care that the Sisters and ArchCare offer." No response from New York state appeared in published reports.

Background: Four bishops and dozens of religious sisters have sued New York and Illinois over assisted-suicide programs, EWTN News reported. In Illinois, a federal judge has ordered the state not to enforce its rules against Catholic objectors, including the Archdiocese of Chicago, while that case proceeds.

Why it matters: The Catholic plaintiffs argue the rules would force them to take part in ending patients' lives, in violation of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life, EWTN News reported. Becket is litigating the case as Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm v. James.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Becket — Archbishop Hicks joins nuns in lawsuit challenging New York's assisted-suicide mandate; EWTN News — New York archbishop joins religious sisters in suing state

Photo: Becket