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Cardinal Cupich, Catholic religious sisters sue Illinois to halt assisted suicide law

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

A coalition of religious sisters has joined Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich in suing the state of Illinois to prevent enforcement of its assisted suicide law.

The law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in December 2025, allows doctors in the state to prescribe lethal doses of medication to patients in order to help them end their own lives. Among other rules, patients must have a terminal illness in order to qualify for receiving help to kill themselves.

The rule has received strong criticism from Catholic bishops in the state .

On Sept. 3, meanwhile, the religious liberty law firm Becket announced that Cupich and two orders of religious sisters had filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to halt enforcement of the law against the Catholic plaintiffs.

The suit, filed in U.S. district court , argues that the sisters — who belong to the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor — will be forced to either “abandon their religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life or face significant fines and penalties” if they refuse to participate in the suicide regime.

The suit notes that by Sept. 12, healthcare providers in…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (4) 🌐 Translate comments

Daniel Wilson

This is a tough one. The Little Sisters of the Poor already went through the Obamacare fights, and now Illinois wants to make them choose between their vows and fines? Cardinal Cupich and the Carmelites are right to push back on this. I hope the court sees that forcing a Catholic nursing home to help end lives isn’t religious liberty.

Никола Ангеловски

Мислам дека сестрите од Little Sisters of the Poor веќе го поминаа она со Obamacare, а сега повторно ги туркаат да избираат помеѓу верата и казните. Кардиналот Купич и кармелитките имаат право да се спротивстават, особено кога станува збор за светоста на животот кај стари и болни луѓе. Да видиме што ќе каже судот, но ова не е фер.

Сергей Белов

Сестры из Little Sisters of the Poor уже прошли через суды с Obamacare, а теперь в Иллинойсе снова ставят их перед выбором: либо нарушай обеты, либо плати штрафы. Кардинал Купич и кармелитки правильно подали в суд — нельзя заставлять тех, кто ухаживает за стариками и больными, участвовать в этом. Интересно, что скажет суд к 12 сентября.

Σπύρος Μιχαηλίδης

Κρίμα που φτάσαμε σ’ αυτό το σημείο. Οι Little Sisters of the Poor ξαναπερνούν τα ίδια με το Obamacare, μόνο που τώρα είναι για να μην αναγκαστούν να δίνουν φάρμακα που σκοτώνουν τους ηλικιωμένους που φροντίζουν. Ο Καρδινάλιος Κούπιτς κάνει καλά που τις στηρίζει. Ας ελπίσουμε το δικαστήριο να το δει καθαρά.