A group of Roman Catholic nuns who run a home for terminally ill cancer patients in New York has filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that a new law on gender identity protections forces them to violate their religious beliefs.
The plaintiffs, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, operate Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed facility that has cared for indigent cancer patients for more than a century. According to the complaint, the sisters do not accept payment through insurance or government programs and instead provide free end-of-life care to patients who have no one else to support them.
At the center of the legal challenge is Senate Bill S1783A, a New York law designed to protect residents in long-term care facilities from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure establishes what the state describes as a “bill of rights” for LGBT residents. Among other provisions, it requires facilities to use a resident’s preferred pronouns and to assign rooms and allow access to restrooms based on a person’s gender identity.
The sisters argue that those requirements conflict directly with their Catholic faith. In their filing, they say the law compels them to affirm beliefs about gender that contradict core teachings of their religion. The complaint frames this as a violation of both the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom, and the Fourteenth Amendment.
The lawsuit also points to guidance issued by the New York State Department of Health, including so-called “Dear Administrator” letters that outline expectations for compliance and staff training on gender identity issues. The sisters say these directives leave them with no way to follow the law without compromising their religious convictions.
In a public statement, Mother Marie Edward, the order’s general superior, said the sisters have long cared for patients from all backgrounds without issue. She emphasized that their mission is rooted in providing dignity and compassion at the end of life, but added that the new mandate puts them in an impossible position.
“We have never had complaints,” she said. “We cannot implement New York’s mandate without violating our Catholic faith.”
The lawsuit names several state officials as defendants, including Governor Kathy Hochul and leaders within the state Department of Health. The sisters are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, which would block enforcement of the law against them.
Supporters of the law say it is intended to ensure that vulnerable residents in care facilities are treated with respect and are not subject to discrimination. Critics, including the plaintiffs in this case, argue that it fails to account for religious organizations that operate according to long-standing doctrinal beliefs.
The dispute echoes earlier legal battles involving religious groups and government mandates. Catholic organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, previously challenged federal requirements related to contraception coverage, setting up broader debates about where to draw the line between anti-discrimination policies and religious liberty.
As the case moves forward, it is likely to become part of that ongoing national conversation, raising familiar questions about how to balance competing rights in healthcare and beyond.
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