TMS WEEKLY DISPATCH 8/14/26

Welcome to the TMS Weekly Dispatch for August 14, 2026, with the latest news and updates from the front line, to keep you in-the-know on all things Thomas More Society. If you missed last week's edition, click here.

BISHOP, LUTHERAN NURSING HOME, AND FOUR DOCTORS SUE TO BLOCK ILLINOIS ASSISTED SUICIDE LAW: Thomas More Society filed a federal lawsuit on August 11 to stop Illinois's “End-of-Life Options” Act before it takes effect on September 12.

We represent the Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois; the Lutheran Care Center, a nursing home owned and supported by 20 area Lutheran churches, which has cared for nearly 3,000 people since opening in 1969; and four faithful Catholic physicians.

The law commands objecting doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes to promote assisted suicide’s alleged “benefits” to terminally ill patients, refer patients to a practitioner “able and willing” to help them die, and attribute the death to the underlying terminal disease on the death certificate. Providers who follow their consciences instead face fines up to $10,000, loss of their license, and criminal prosecution.

“Illinois is forcing faith-based hospitals, nuns, and doctors into supporting the state's assisted suicide regime,” said Peter Breen, TMS Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation. “This immoral scheme flagrantly violates religious liberty and free speech rights, and we intend to stop it.”

Read our full press release here and the complaint here.

MASSACHUSETTS LEGALIZES ABORTION UP UNTIL BIRTH: On Monday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed HB 5595 into law, legalizing abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. The law overturns the preview 24-week state ban. Massachusetts is now the 10^thstate, along with Washington D.C., without any limitations on abortion.

Governor Healy’s administration has a robust track record of abortion extremism. In 2024, her administration launched a Planned Parenthood-endorsed $1 million state-funded campaign targeting pro-life pregnancy resource centers.

FROM THE ARCHIVES – LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Read TMS Founder & President Tom Brejcha’s September 2025 Letter to the Editor of the Chicago Tribune calling on Illinois to affirm the dignity inherent to every human, from the moment of conception until natural death. Full text here.

IN THE HEADLINES, MEDIA ROUNDUP

Here is a look at some of the coverage that ran this past week.

EWTN News: “Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki joins doctors, nursing home in suit against Illinois suicide law”
OSV News: "Bishop, doctors and Lutheran nursing home sue to block Illinois assisted suicide law”
Townhall: “Catholics Team Up With Lutherans and Doctors to Sue Illinois Over Its Assisted Dying Law”
The Center Square: “Religious, medical professionals challenge Illinois assisted death law”
Crain’s Chicago Business: “New lawsuit seeks to halt Illinois’ medical aid in dying law before it takes effect”
Peter Breen joined Raymond Arroyo on EWTN's The World Over to discuss our new lawsuit in Illinois. Watch below!