![]() ![]() ![]() The unvaccinated also endanger people who are vaccinated because no vaccination is 100% effective, as is evident from the number of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in the U.S. The unvaccinated endanger people who are immunosuppressed or cannot be vaccinated because of their age or any other medical reason. The government has a compelling interest in preventing significant threats to other people’s health, and especially so in a pandemic. The Supreme Court has never been clear about the full range of what counts as “compelling,” but some cases are clear. The most stringent standard is that the government should not require people to violate their conscience without a compelling reason. There are a variety of ways to present a religious liberty claim, each with a different set of rules. The Bishop’s letter also included a template that can be used by a person who wishes to request a conscientious, religious exemption from any vaccine mandate.But the legal basis of Americans’ supposed right to a religious exemption to vaccination is less clear than such policies’ popularity would suggest.Īs a lawyer and scholar who focuses on religious liberties, I have supported religious exemptions for a baker who refused to create a cake for a same-sex wedding, a family-owned business that refused to provide emergency contraception to its employees, a Muslim prisoner who was obligated to grow a beard and many others.Įven so, I believe that under the general law of religious liberty – including the Constitution and state and federal religious freedom laws – the government has an easy case to refuse religious exemptions from vaccines against infectious disease. Both documents can accompany a person’s request for an exemption from the vaccine. Priests can assist in the process by providing two documents that can accompany an individual’s request for a conscientious exemption, a Statement of Resource issued by the National Catholic Bioethics Center and a Question & Answer resource provided by the USCCB. Since no one can speak for the conscience of another person, only the person who arrived at such a conclusion can write a letter affirming their conclusion,” he said. As such, their request is really an affirmation of the person’s conscientious objection, informed by their personal faith and personal circumstances. “When a Catholic decides to forgo the reception of the Coronavirus vaccine, that person is making the conscientious decision to hold themselves to a more rigorous religious practice than recommended by the Roman Magisterium. However, “because such a decision is made in conscience, informed by faith, for which only the person making the decision can attest,” the priest cannot write a letter directly endorsing the exemption, the Bishop said. The Bishop said that when people come forward requesting a letter of exemption from the vaccine, it is important that the priest meet with the individuals and explore the reasoning that led them to this conclusion. In such cases, the person may feel obligated in conscience to refrain from what is morally permissible for a variety of legitimate reasons. However, while the Church has urged Catholics to get vaccinated for the common good, the Bishop said it also recognizes that a Catholic, whose conscience is properly informed on the subject after prayerful reflection, can arrive at a personal decision to refrain from receiving the vaccine. ![]() Further, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has made it clear that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be received by Catholics in those cases where there are no alternative vaccines available. The Bishop reiterated that the Magisterium of the Church has clearly taught that there is no moral prohibition for any Catholic to receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Those who do not wish to be vaccinated must be reminded of their moral obligation to do whatever is reasonable and required by local authorities to avoid becoming infected and transmitting the virus to others.” “Our Holy Father and the CDF have taught us that reception of the vaccine fulfills the moral imperative to protect the health of our neighbor and the common good of society. “As you well know, this is a very complex issue, made more complicated by a great amount of misinformation that is found on the internet and via social media,” the Bishop said. In an August 17 letter to clergy the Bishop noted that his guidance is offered in response to inquiries clergy have received from parishioners seeking a letter to claim a religious exemption from any requirement to receive the Coronavirus vaccine. Caggiano has issued guidance for those who seek letters of exemption from the Covid-19 vaccine. ![]()
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