As we near the end of the school year, the buzz around vaccine mandates is increasing. For example, the University of Notre Dame has already informed their students that vaccines will be required for the Fall semester.
Away from education, mandating vaccines among our men and women in service to our country is looking more and more certain across all the branches of service.
Then there are employers. People working in the health care industry have been dealing with this for some time already and it promises to spread broadly across all lines of work.
What do we do? It is most helpful to start by building a command of the facts. Are the mandates statutory in nature? What are the exemption laws in your state? Is there relevant case law in addition to, or in place of, statute?
Happily, there is a reference website that gathers much of this information and makes it easily accessible. Please go here: State Vaccine Requirements – National Vaccine Information Center (nvic.org) and click on your state for up-to-date information on public schools, employment sectors, higher education and state employees. Information on applicable statutes is also available.
Getting familiar with this information is important as it allows one to address the first question posed above – Is the mandate statutory? If so, then the statute must address what is already law in very specific terms. If the mandate is not the product of the legislative process, it makes the path easier, at least in theory. A regulation, administrative rule or executive order cannot set aside statute. Exemptions protected by law cannot be removed by any of these means and any changes need to go through the legislative process.
So, follow the process. File your exemption for medical, religious or philosophical reasons. Use your command of the facts and insist that the law be followed.
And a note to Catholics facing this situation. You are likely to have people push back and tell you that the Church and the Pope have said that the vaccines are okay and that it is a ‘moral obligation’ and an ‘act of charity’ to take the vaccine. Prepare to speak the truth, that seeking an exemption is consistent with Church teachings on freedom of individual conscience and consistent with the position of the USCCB.
I spoke to two United States Air Force officers earlier today about this general issue. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is a bit of a different animal but the right to objections of conscience has a long history in military service. We discussed their situations and both will be meeting with their Chaplains with all relevant supporting documentation in one hand and a copy of A Statement of Conscience, To Awaken Conscience in the other. The Lt. Colonel got it. To move without resistance is to surrender. ‘Surrender’ is a dirty word in his line of work and he is ready to fight with honor. He will not be alone.
To all Catholics: FACT- the Pope has NO AUTHORITY under Canon Law, to approve the taking of an illicit abortion related vaccine. Pope Francis has NOT ONCE spoken with infalable authority since becoming Pope.
That’s right, and I agree. His comments do carry some weight, though, and I’m afraid many Catholics and especially non-Catholics don’t get the distinction. I hope and pray he would mention other treatments which have been proven highly effective in both prevention and helping alleviate covid, like ivermectin. It’s a travesty that the use of it is being prohibited in many countries. There are many clinical studies showing its effectiveness, and now megadata compiled by Dr. Lawrie which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQkoL2l3-gg&t=2137s It’s vital that doctors get this info bc WHO and the FDA are blocking this knowledge (why?).
This is criminal that our government, educational institutions and companies are mandating that you must be COVID vaccinated.
All of the presently approved COVID vaccines were made using ABORTED BABY TISSUE! I refuse to get the vaccine for this very reason. Go to congforlife.org for details.
In general support of the argument that mandates are on shaky legal ground, here’s an article published today on MedScape: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/949013?src=mkm_covid_update_210408_MSCPEDIT&uac=358263MY&impID=3300410&faf=1
There is lack of clarity around authority. Whenever that exists, ties are broken in favor of individual liberties. That has been legal doctrine since the beginning of the republic.
It is also worthy of mention that MedScape has a clear organizational bias, almost always in support of the alphabet soup agencies that have been directing responses and actions due to COVID-19.
I would like to know specifically where, as a Catholic, in the church teachings and/or catechism I will find the freedom of individual conscience for my religious exemption I’m writing up for my employer. I’ve spent hours researching, reading, etc and all this is very overwhelming to dig through. I meet with my religious leader tomorrow at 3 and would really appreciate this information. It’s not that I can’t or won’t look it up on my own, it’s that time is of the essence and I’ve been digging and digging. Thank you in advance!
I have provided some information via email. I hope you find it helpful.
https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbc-news/vaccineletter
Try the National Catholic Bioethics Center. This is where I got my letter of exemption and resources.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, executive secretary of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, has publicly stated under EUA “vaccines are not allowed to be mandatory.”
And yet, a few in New York have been fired, Houston Methodist has mandated it… The walk to mandates across healthcare is only a matter of time. Besides… how long can it be only under EUA?
Also the Military… Good luck refusing a vaccine… maybe a chance at vaccines grown on fetal cells… but tested? Be prepared to be shown the inconsistancy of your past medical choices and have your position tore apart. I filed my CO papers… its quite a process and that is an established practice. Vaccines… well… not really.
It won’t be easy in many cases. Litigation will certainly follow.
We will be pushed as far as we allow ourselves to be pushed. Our arguments are substantial – moral compromise, the law and the unknown long-term effects of the vaccines. But we have to have the argument.
But University of Notre Dame and the like are private institutions that do not have to take regligious exemptions. It is very frustrating for college-age kids that have already started or committed to an insitution.
It’s pretty darned ironic that we’re talking about a Catholic university . . .
It is true that private institutions have a different set of rules, but I’d bet a dozen chocolate chip cookies that an organized group of alumni could bring this issue to the Board of Regents and get something to happen. I’ll say it again – people will push you as far as you let them. If we grumble and acquiesce, they win and we lose.
If I had a child attending Notre Dame, rest assured I’d already be in South Bend camped out in somebody’s reception area.
I appreciate all of the leadership and work and encouragement you are providing, family Trasancos. I work in a Catholic facility, and am wondering if I should put a copy of A Statement of Conscience in my administrator’s box.
Katie, that sounds like a great idea!
Can I please be provided information on prior influenza vaccines that have used fetal tissue cell lines from aborted babies?