Cardinal Cupich, Catholic groups sue Illinois to block assisted-suicide law

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and a rural Illinois pharmacist filed federal lawsuits to block Illinois’s End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act before it takes effect on September 12, arguing the law forces Catholic providers and religious caregivers to facilitate or participate in physician-assisted deaths, contrary to their beliefs. The filings, supported by Becket, claim the act violates religious freedom by forcing actions that undermine the sanctity of life and by restricting how caregivers may speak about life-affirming care. Plaintiffs contend the law’s requirements for providers to promote or not discourage assisted suicide and to allow certain types of patient referrals would coerce religious organizations and staff, exposing them to fines or other penalties. Advocates for the law say supporters view physician-assisted suicide as a matter of autonomy and end-of-life choice, while opponents emphasize the risk of coercion and the dignity concerns raised by the Catholic Church. The suits follow earlier actions by other religious groups and come after a pending temporary restraining order related to earlier challenges, as Illinois seeks to implement the law later this month. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction to prevent the law from taking effect, arguing it infringes on religious liberty and ethical commitments of the plaintiffs.