As COVID-19 vaccine mandates rise, religious exemptions grow

[left-of-center2012]

An estimated 2,600 Los Angeles Police Department employees are citing religious objections to try to get out of the required COVID-19 vaccination. In Washington state, thousands of state workers are seeking similar exemptions. And in Arkansas, a hospital has been swamped with so many such requests from employees that it is apparently calling their bluff. Religious objections, once used sparingly around the country to get exempted from various required vaccines, are becoming a much more widely used loophole against the COVID-19 shot.

It is not clear how many federal employees have asked for a religious exemption, though union officials say there will be many requests.

The allowance was enshrined in the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which says employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees who object to work requirements because of “sincerely held” religious beliefs. A religious belief does not have to be recognized by an organized religion, and it can be new, unusual or “seem illogical or unreasonable to others,” according to rules laid out by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But it can’t be founded solely on political or social ideas. That puts employers in the position of determining what is a legitimate religious belief and what is a dodge.

Across the U.S., public officials, doctors and community leaders have been trying to help people circumvent COVID-19 mask and vaccine requirements. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, pastor Jackson Lahmeyer is offering a “religious exemption” form on his church’s website for download, along with links for suggested donations to the church. The 29-year-old is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Anyone interested can get the form signed by a religious leader, or Lahmeyer can sign it himself if the person joins the church and donates. He said more than 35,000 people downloaded the form in just three days.

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-religion-los-angeles-arkansas-3ba53f2f00e1ab7105d7d128f2b1e65d

[Johonny]

1. Mass firing of unvaccinated seems like the only solution

unvaccinated is not a protected class. Although they will likely claim religious persecution. The odds all 2600 are of the same religion is zero so it would be hard to prove.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. It can be presumed the those 2600 are the "bad apples".

Firing them en masse would seem to be a good move.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Unvaxxed is not a protected class

They are exploiting the loopholes. Every thing that can be made into a loophole is becoming one.

These unvaxxed wastes of skin are pieces of shit with no moral compass or shame.

Fire them all. They only seem to comply when they are made to.

Let them suffer and make things very difficult for them until they get vaxxed.

Put up a tent by the hospital , park a refrigerated truck nearby and kick them out of ICU's and get the unvaxxed staff to look after them in the tent.

They are selfish and toxic bioweaponized assholes,

They block vaxxed people with serious health issues
from the help they need.

It makes me so angry these unvaxxed trash people are making vaxxed people die when they need help by no cause of thier own..

The unvaxxed have to pay they should'nt get a free pass at the expense of vaxxed people.

There needs to be priorities here.

I think a lot of people feel the same as I do.

[Skittles]

3. so, if you sincerely believe in nonsense, you can endanger the public health

Last edited Wed Sep 15, 2021, 09:56 PM - Edit history (1)

ridiculous

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. Agree

Unvaxxed need seperate facilities outside the ICU's.
So vaxxed people can get help too.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I sincerely believe in not washing my hands...even though I work in a restaurant.

Maybe someone could try that out as a test case.

[Owl]

9. So true

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Who could have seen that coming?

As far as the police are concerned, I will never again believe the "feared for their life" excuse for killing civilians. Covid has been the number one killer of cops since March of last year, and cops have the highest rates of mask and vaccine refusal of any profession.

They obviously don't fear death. They just like to kill people.

[tanyev]

8. A lot of people are going to learn that Covid doesn't recognize religious exemptions.

[Iris]

10. If a religious belief is new or illogical, sounds like screening for mental health disorders should

be considered. Sounds like schizophrenia to me.

[keithbvadu2]

11. Religious exemption for vaccine & quarantines?

Religious exemption for vaccine

Maybe a religious exemption from quarantine for someone with a contagious disease attending their services?

You can't deny my right to worship!

sarcasm ???

Some kids still get mumps, measles, chicken pox.

Bring 'em to church.