Religious Exemptions for Vaccines
Justin Haggerty | The Daily Knight
The Usurper Regime in Washington politicized COVID-19 to hijack the economy and electoral process and, now, it continues to weaponize the virus to suppress liberty and sow tyranny. From social distancing, wearing masks (and double masks), the suspension of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments, and the rush to inoculate the masses with immoral vaccines that were developed from or clinically tested on cells from aborted fetuses.
For those faithful Catholics who wish to protect their families from the COVID-19 vaccines, until there is a moral option, please read the below information to see the legal options in your state to receive religious exemption.
For public schools, The Conference of State Legislatures reported that "all 50 states have legislation requiring specified vaccines"... but, "there are 45 states and Washington D.C. that grant religious exemptions for people who have religious objections to immunizations." Of those states, "15 states allow philosophical exemptions for children whose parents object to immunizations because of personal, moral or other beliefs." Currently, but possibly not for much longer, "no state requires children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for school entry."
Source: Adapted from the LexisNexis StateNet Database and the Immunization Action Coalition, May 2019. * The existing statute in Minnesota and Louisiana does not explicitly recognize religion as a reason for claiming an exemption, however, as a practical matter, the non-medical exemption may encompass religious beliefs.
**In Virginia, parents can receive a personal exemption only for the HPV vaccine.
***Missouri’s personal belief exemption does not apply to public schools, only child care facilities.
Religious exemption indicates that there is a provision in the statute that allows parents to exempt their children from vaccination if it contradicts their sincere religious beliefs.
Philosophical exemption indicates that the statutory language does not restrict the exemption to purely religious or spiritual beliefs. For example, Maine allows restrictions based on "moral, philosophical or other personal beliefs," and Minnesota allows objections based on “conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian.”
*Missouri's philosophical exemption only applies to day care centers.
Sources: Chart adapted from Immunization Action Coalition, "Exemptions Permitted for State Immunization Requirements," 2017; LexisNexis; StateNet 2017
Note: List may not be comprehensive, but is representative of state laws that exist. NCSL appreciates additions and corrections.
Religious Exemptions (what really is one?)
It shouldn't be a surprise that not all "religious exemptions" are actually exemptible. Just because an individual says that their "religion" excludes them from mandated vaccines, doesn't make it theologically valid. In fact, that self-determination and self-convalidation is a form of the americanism heresy.
Very Well Family clarifies that "although some people in religious groups cluster and refuse vaccination, they are often actually claiming personal-belief exemptions and not true religious exemptions." While Catholics are not protestant Christian Scientists, who denounce all medical advancements and treatments, the Church has clearly defined it's position on immoral vaccines.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health published the view of Catholicism on religious exemption from immoral vaccines in 2016:
"The most morally questionable issue regarding vaccination in Catholicism is using cell lines derived from a voluntary aborted fetus. The Moral Reflection On Vaccines published by the Pontifical Academy for Life suggests that these vaccines should be avoided and proposes a search for alternatives. The examples of such vaccines are cell lines WI-38 (Winstar Institute 38) and MRC-5 (Medical Research council 5), several live vaccines against rubella (Meruvax, Rudivax, M-R-VAX), and vaccines against hepatitis (A-VAQTA and HAVRIX), chicken pox (Varivax), smallpox (AC AM 1000), and poliomyelitis (Polivax). In the case where no alternative vaccine is available, the use of the existing vaccine is morally acceptable in order to avoid serious risks for children and for the whole population (especially pregnant women). The moral acceptability of using this vaccine should be comprehended as “passive material cooperation” and “active material cooperation” too, which is cooperation with immoral action without evil intention, permitted only in the case of “extrema ratio,” that is in the case of extreme situations such as saving the lives of children. The document also suggests to parents to oppose participation in such medical procedures by their appeal by “objection of conscience” or to seek alternative sources of effective vaccines. Besides this document, the Catholic Church's Magisterium discusses bioethical issues with respect to forbidden sources of human biological materials in two further documents. Dignitas personae, n. 34-35 speaks of the illicit origin of human sources of biological material, founding its opinions on the dignity of the person, emphasized in the documents Donum vitae (I, 4) and Evangelium Vitae. In the case where ethically acceptable sources of vaccines are not available, it is necessary to weigh the vital importance and the risk of no vaccination. In these cases it becomes also allowed to use, even the, “morally inadvisable” vaccines."
This correctly outlines the moral and religious objection to vaccines that were devolved by and with the inherently evil act of the murder of the unborn. The same argument extends to the various vaccines for COVID-19:
Five COVID vaccines are connected to abortion:
1. Pfizer vaccine – connected to abortion
2. Moderna vaccine – connected to abortion
3. Oxford/AstraZeneca – connected to abortion
4. Johnson and Johnson/ Janssen – connected to abortion
5. Sanofi Pasteur & Translate Bio – connected to abortion
USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, addressed the issue in a memo to their brother bishops; “neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in fetal tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development or production,” the prelates said. "They are not completely free from any connection to abortion, however, as both Pfizer and Moderna made use of a tainted cell line for one of the confirmatory lab tests of their products."
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, TX projected this sad fact:
"Many Christians in our society, Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic alike, are too willing to allow an unborn child to be killed simply because they believe the unborn child’s death will somehow improve their lives….Just because the crime of abortion is considered legal in our nation does not mean it is morally permissible to use the dead bodies of these children to cure a global pandemic. Emphatically, this practice is evil.”
So, what can faithful Catholics do? Apply for a religious exemption; each state has their own forms, affidavit formats, and applications. Research your state's laws and exemption process.
Here are two examples from Kentucky and Georgia:
To avoid the accusation that any reservations to vaccines are personal-belief and not religious, obtain a signed and notarized letter from your priest that confirms your religious exemption for immorally developed vaccines. Make sure the vaccines or correctly and totally listed to clearly identify which vaccines violate Catholic moral teachings. Such a letter will reinforce your declaration, and will be far stronger than you saying that you have "religious exemption." Keep this handy if other public and private institutions, like airlines, begin to mandate the vaccine.
For further guidance, please consult your confessor.
In Christ Crucified and the Most Victorious Heart of Jesus.
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