Catholic groups and a pharmacist sue Illinois over assisted-suicide law

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Little Sisters of the Poor and pharmacist Luke Vander Bleek have sued the state of Illinois over the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (EOLOA). The Becket Fund argues the law requires religious health providers to inform patients about assisted suicide, assist in qualifying for lethal medication and even allow deaths on their premises, contrary to Catholic doctrine.

The plaintiffs request a federal court block the law before its September 12 enforcement date, which would impose heavy penalties on dissenting providers. They contend the statute infringes on free-exercise rights, free speech, the ADA, Equal Protection and the Supremacy Clause, citing Supreme Court precedents such as NIFLA and Masterpiece Cakeshop. If upheld, the law could force Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies to participate in assisted-dying procedures or lose federal funding. The case follows a similar challenge in New York, where a narrow religious exemption also left providers to facilitate the process.