![]() Human services staff, at workplaces ranging from airlines to health care facilities to restaurants, review the requests and determine validity.īut their decisions are increasingly challenged. Individuals seeking exemptions typically provide written explanation to their employer about why the vaccine violates their religious convictions, and provide any other documentation required. It requires employers to accommodate someone's "sincerely held" religious beliefs and practices unless doing so would create undue hardship on the employer. Religious exemptions are based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religious beliefs or moral convictions. That complicates the exemption argument that the vaccine violates a specific religion. Pope Francis, for example, called getting a vaccine "a simple and profound way of promoting the common good." Leaders in most of the major religious traditions, including Muslims and Jews, also have encouraged members to be vaccinated. "It's an individual and personal decision whether to receive a COVID vaccine," Hebda wrote in a statement to area Catholics, noting that Catholic Church teachings say the vaccines are morally acceptable. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda has discouraged clergy from writing the appeals, noting that vaccine exemptions don't require clergy certification. Paul and Minneapolis for telling parishioners that they've been "lied to" about the seriousness of COVID-19 and that he wouldn't take a vaccine unless "they force it upon me." Robert Altier, a well-known priest who last year was reprimanded by the Archdiocese of St. ![]() John Paul Echert declined to comment on the issue. It's unclear whether Holy Trinity Church was actively promoting the exemptions, or simply facilitating exemption requests for those who asked. "We know there are boilerplate exemption forms circulating online." "There are certainly sincere objections to the COVID vaccines … but we know that some people are being encouraged to characterize their objections as religious, whatever the actual basis is," said Thomas Berg, a professor of law and public policy at the University of St. Such exemptions can be given if the vaccine violates sincerely held religious beliefs.īut there are no specific requirements or proof, or even standardized application forms, putting employers in an often difficult position of determining if the request is legitimate. Paul.Īs a growing number of public and private employers issue vaccine mandates for workers or guests, many Americans are exploring religious exemptions to the rules. "I have no issue with people getting a religious exemption if it's legitimate, but it seems like they were just giving it out to anyone," said Lincoln, of St. The church staffer even read her the letter, said Lincoln, who was outraged. Her call was returned by a woman who confirmed that the church had a letter for requesting the exemption from employers. Lincoln called the church and left a message inquiring about the exemption. ![]() A neighbor had written "Need a vaccine exemption? … Holy Trinity Church in South St. A recent post on Kate Lincoln's neighborhood website caught her by surprise.
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