The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and The Missonary Sisters of Saint Benedict 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.”
The Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict and Saint Joseph’s Home for the Aged are also members of Catholic Benefits Association. The order traces its roots to eastern Europe under severe persecution at the turn of the century. New York became a new home for the congregation after the outbreak of war prohibited their return to Europe. Once they were settled, the Sisters turned their attention to caring for the least of these. They live to glorify “the Sacred Heart of Jesus and manifest His loving touch throughout the world.”
Now, however, the State of New York threatens to shut down the ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Rosary Hill Home, the Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph’s Home for the Aged 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, Rosary Hill Home, the Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict, and Saint Joseph’s Home for the Aged do not comply, they face fines, injunctions, a potential loss of licensing and imprisonment.
Documents
Press Release: Benedictine Sisters Join Dominican Sisters in Seeking Relief from New York's Gender Ideology Rules for Nursing Homes
September 1, 2026
Statements and Quotes - for Media Use
September 1, 2026
Request for Pre-Motion Conference
August 31, 2026
Verified First Amended Complaint with Exhibits
August 31, 2026
Verified Complaint For Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
April 2026
Press Release: New York Requires Nuns Serving Dying Cancer Patients to Use Gender Ideology
April 6, 2026
New York Public Health Law § 2803-C-2 Text
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 they 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.
About the Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict
The Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict is an international congregation with communities in five countries (Poland, Ukraine, Brazil, Ecuador, and the USA). The congregation counts about 300 Sisters who serve in more than forty different communities throughout the world and thrive to embody the spirituality and the vision of Saint Benedict of Nursia whose motto was, “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work). Their lives are a daily glorification of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and an effort to manifest His loving touch throughout the world. In the USA, they have communities in Chicago, IL, Ephrata, PA, and St. Joseph’s Home in Huntington, NY. Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict in Huntington presently counts 23 sisters who are always open to serving the people of God and leading them to His kingdom. (see https://mssbny.org/the-missionary-sisters-of-st-benedict/)
The Missionary Sisters of Saint Benedict established their community in New York during the war-torn decades of the early 1900’s. Their ministry of Saint Joseph’s Home for the Aged, established in the 1970’s, reflects the traditional Benedictine spirituality of daily prayer and work.
Saint Joseph’s Home for the Aged fosters an environment that cares for the whole person with dignity and compassion in glorification of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Multimedia Files
Please credit the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne when using photos.
News
Fox News: Catholic nuns caring for dying patients fight New York trans rule, face jail time
The Christian Post: Nuns caring for cancer patients challenge NY LGBT law forcing them to 'violate' beliefs on sex
The Tablet: Dominican Sisters Challenge NY State Gender-Identity Law
Legal Insurrection: Nuns Caring for Terminally Ill Sue New York Over Transgender Mandate
Daily Caller: Catholic Nuns Again Forced To Defend Themselves In Court From Godless Liberals
The Good News Room: Dominican Sisters Serving the Dying Seek Religious Exemption From New York Mandate
Aleteia: Nuns who care for dying poor face jail time under New York law
National Review: Catholic Nuns Sue N.Y. over Law Requiring Nursing Homes to Use Preferred Pronouns, Allow Mixed-Sex Bathrooms
The Catholic Herald: New York sisters sue state over ‘preferred pronouns’ mandate
USA Today: Why Catholic nuns are suing over transgender care and religious freedom
The Washington Times: Catholic nuns serving dying patients fight New York transgender mandate on pronouns, rooming
National Catholic Register: Dominican Sisters Challenge New York Gender-Identity Law in Court
Editorials
Wall Street Journal: Democrats vs. Nuns, Again
New York Post: New York nuns forced to fight back against crazy gender law telling them to treat biological men as women at hospice
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.
Protect your organization
Join CBA in order for your organization to be covered by our protections. Legislative and judicial challenges could limit the scope of relief for new CBA members, so time is of the essence. As always, CBA vigorously protects the religious liberty of our members and will continue to challenge new immoral mandates.
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