(ChurchLeaders) As ChurchLeaders has reported, some U.S. pastors are distributing letters that grant religious exemption from COVID-19 vaccinations. But while those documents may contain valid points about a congregant’s personal beliefs, experts say they probably won’t hold up under legal scrutiny.
The increased interest in seeking religious exemption comes as more employers (as well as schools, churches, and entertainment venues) require proof of vaccination against the novel coronavirus. Lawmakers have become leery of religious exemption arguments against COVID shots, saying they’re often a cover for political positions and anti-vaccine stances. Pastors and religious liberty organizations, however, say they’re helping parishioners stand up for their God-given freedoms.