Justice Department Supports Catholic Nuns Challenging New York Transgender Policies

The Justice Department is supporting a group of Catholic nuns who believe New York’s transgender policies threaten their religious beliefs. This could affect their ability to provide care for indigent cancer patients in their final days. Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, stated, “States should take notice that they cannot require Americans to abandon their religious beliefs in the name of woke gender ideology.”

For over a century, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have delivered free palliative care to impoverished cancer patients. Dhillon highlighted that the sisters might face a dilemma between their faith and their licensing if New York’s law is enforced. The law could impose fines, licensing losses, and other penalties for non-compliance with policies tied to gender identity, pronouns, and access to sex-specific facilities.

The law in question, the “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and people living with HIV long-term care facility residents’ bill of rights,” was signed into law on November 30, 2023. It prohibits discrimination in care facilities based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Enforcement includes fines up to $2,000 per violation, escalating to $5,000, potential prison time, court-ordered compliance, and further fines reaching $10,000.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne operate a home in Westchester County for terminal cancer patients. They argue the law forces them to room residents by gender identity rather than biological sex, ensure access to opposite-sex bathrooms, and comply with staff training in gender ideology. Their lawsuit states New York’s health department recorded “zero complaints” from their residents during a four-year review, with hefty complaints logged against other facilities.

Martin Nussbaum, representing the Dominican Sisters on behalf of Catholic Benefits Association, emphasized that both Rosary Hill Home and its professionally licensed staff risk losing their licensing. According to him, the Attorney General’s acknowledgment of the sisters’ case highlights the conflict between state policies promoting gender ideology and religious freedom.

A spokesman for New York Governor Kathy Hochul describes the lawsuit as “another sad attempt by the Trump administration to weaponize the justice system.” The governor’s office defends the law as a measure that saves taxpayer money and reduces fraud. The Department of Justice has not provided a comment.