Catholic nuns sue NY over law forcing them to use trans pronouns, let men into women's bathrooms in hospice care

A group of Catholic nuns is suing New York Governor Kathy Hochul over a new law in the state that is requiring bathroom and other accommodations for people that identify as the opposite sex. The group of nuns has been offering care for the dying poor for around a century in New York at no cost to their patients, but now face jail time if they don't comply with pro-trans laws. 

"We are consecrated religious Sisters and have one mission," Mother Marie Edward, O.P, said to Fox News. "It is to provide comfort and skilled care to persons dying of cancer who cannot afford nursing care. We do not take insurance or government funds or money from our patients or families. The care is totally free."

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who run Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday against a law that requires them to assign rooms based on gender identity instead of sex, allow males to enter women's bathrooms, the use of preferred pronouns, required gender ideology training, and a slew of other pro-trans policies.

The law states that for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and people living with HIV long-term care facility residents' bill of rights," long-term healthcare facilities are banned "from discriminating against any resident on the basis of a resident’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or HIV status," a press release from Hochul's office said.

Edward told reporters, "New York’s gender ideology mandates not only violate our Catholic values, they threaten our existence with fines, injunctions, license revocation, and even jail time. This is why we were forced to go to court to seek protection of our religious exercise and freedom of speech so that we can continue our ministry to the poor."

A press release from the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne said, "The New York gender ideology mandate requires Rosary Hill Home and other long-term care facilities to house biological men in women’s rooms even over the opposition of a female roommate, to permit residents and their visitors of one sex to access bathrooms set aside for those of the opposite sex, to use false pronouns, to use language and 'create communities' affirming patients’ sexual preferences, and to accommodate patients desire for extramarital sexual relations. Long-term care facilities are also required to ensure that their staff members are trained in 'cultural competency' informed by the State’s gender ideology."

If the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne do not comply with the law, they face up to up to $2,000 per violation and could lose their licensing. They could even face up to one year in prison as well as fines up to $10,000.

A spokesperson for Hochul's office said in response, "While the Department does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation, the NYS Department of Health is committed to following state law, which provides nursing home residents certain rights protecting against discrimination including, but not limited to, gender identity or expression."