The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne v. Hochul
Case Summary
The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and The Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer dba Rosary Hill Home are members of the Catholic Benefits Association. For over 120 years, the Sisters have cared for the dying poor. Founded in 1900 by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the Sisters operate Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed skilled nursing facility in Hawthorne, New York, that provides palliative care and comfort to impoverished cancer patients in their final days. The Sisters and Rosary Hill Home accept no payment for their services, relying instead on their own labor and charitable donations to fulfill their mission: “We cannot cure our patients, but we can assure the dignity and value of their final days and keep them comfortable and free of pain.”
Now, however, the State of New York threatens to shut down the ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Rosary Hill Home, and the ministry of similar CBA members unless they violate their Catholic faith. New York’s LGBTQ Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights, codified at New York Public Health Law § 2803-c-2, requires long-term care facilities to assign patients to rooms based on their stated “gender identity” rather than biological sex, use patients’ “preferred pronouns” even when the patient is not present, post notices affirming compliance with these requirements, and ensure all staff receive “cultural competency” training indoctrinating them in gender ideology.
The state health law exempts facilities operated by the Church of Christ, Scientist but provides no exemption for Catholic organizations. If CBA members like the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and Rosary Hill Home do not comply, they face fines, injunctions, a potential loss of licensing and imprisonment.
Documents
Verified Complaint For Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
Press Release: New York Requires Nuns Serving Dying Cancer Patients to Use Gender Ideology
About the Hawthorne Dominicans
The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne live and pray in a holy tradition that dates back to the time of Saint Dominic in the 13th Century. Traditions of the Dominican Order, such as love of the Church and the Holy Father, wearing the habit, devotion to the Passion of Christ and Our Blessed Mother, are a major focus of the community’s life.
They are committed to the traditional pillars of Dominican Life: Prayer, Community Life, Study, and Preaching. As Dominicans, they are charged to preach to and serve the people of God. The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne preach God’s love and His healing presence in the world today through our ministry to his sick poor. Each Sister is challenged to balance the two dimensions of Dominican life – contemplative and active – in her own life.
Like Saint Dominic who was full of solicitude for all of humanity, Mother Mary Alphonsa was moved with tender compassion for the most neglected and marginalized segment of society in her day, the cancerous poor.
Mother Alphonsa’s intention in forming her Congregation was to bring the healing spirit of Christ and his Church to those who were most in need while asking nothing in return. She learned in all things to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit and to find hidden spiritual treasures in the lives of those who supported the work no matter what their religious or cultural background.
Multimedia Files
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What You Can Do
CBA Protections
CBA has secured protections, shielding members from immoral federal mandates, including requirements to provide contraception, abortion, sterilization, gender affirming care and related counseling. CBA’s permanent injunctions provide protection for the member, their insurer, and TPA.
Members are also protected from immoral federal mandates on employment practices. Contact CBA to learn how these protections can secure your religious liberties.
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