Many Faith Leaders Say No to Endorsing Vaccine Exemptions
Peter Smith of the Associated Press reports, “As a significant number of Americans seek religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, many faith leaders are saying: Not with our endorsement.” Leaders of the Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches, as well as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have issued formal statements condemning religious exemptions for vaccinations. Others, including some Jewish and Muslim leaders, have urged their community members to get vaccinated, but have not gone as far as to publicly denounce the issuance of religious exemptions by their clergy.