A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates

[tstor]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

The legal basis of this request [religious exemption] is Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which requires American employers to accommodate employees’ religious beliefs. One evangelical church near Sacramento has reportedly issued more than 3,000 letters requesting exemptions, and a pastor in Brooklyn told The New York Daily News that 60 percent of his congregation has asked for them. Given that evangelicals account for a substantial portion of people refusing vaccination, especially in the Delta-ravaged Bible Belt, the road to ending the pandemic may very well now run through the religious exemption issue.

[...]

First, there is no actual religious basis for exemptions from vaccine mandates in any established stream of Christianity. Within both Catholicism and all the major Protestant denominations, no creed or Scripture in any way prohibits Christians from getting the vaccine. Even the sect of Christian Scientists, which historically has abstained from medical treatment, has expressed openness to vaccines for the sake of the wider community. The consensus of mainstream Christian leaders — from Pope Francis to Franklin Graham — is that vaccination is consistent with biblical Christian faith.

Biblically based arguments against vaccination have been rebutted. The project Christians and the Vaccine, which I helped to found, has created numerous explainer videos in an effort to refute attempts by anti-vax Christians to hijack pro-life values, to distort biblical references like the “mark of the beast” and to inflame fears about government control. Christians who request religious exemptions rarely even try to offer substantive biblical and theological reasoning. Rather, the drivers for evangelical resistance are nonreligious and are rooted in deep-seated suspicion of government and vulnerability to misinformation.

My plea to my fellow Christians: If you insist on refusing the vaccine, that is your right. But please do not bring God into it. Doing so is the very definition of violating the Third Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

A private entity like a hospital can feel confident that it is not infringing on the religious liberty of an evangelical receptionist by insisting that he be vaccinated as part of his job requirement. My religious liberty is actually advanced by the ability of institutions to define job requirements for their employees. I want my church to be able to hire pastors who share our institution’s beliefs — and to be able to reject candidates who don’t. This means I must also support the right of a secular hospital to make a similar choice. Moral consistency demands it.

Exemption requests also likely fail on the grounds of sincere belief. We naturally look for consistency of a belief as a test of sincerity; it’s common sense. We would doubt the sincerity of a receptionist who demands vegetarian options at a workplace cafeteria when he frequently eats steak at restaurants. Any institution considering religious exemptions should require applicants to demonstrate that they have consistently refused other immunizations for religious reasons.

Vaccine hesitancy has never been a core religious belief of evangelical Christians. The vast majority of evangelicals have historically chosen to be immunized against polio, measles, tetanus and other diseases. As a child, I attended evangelical summer camps that required vaccinations, and as an adult, I worked for ministries with similar mandates. Some conservative evangelicals just don’t like the political taste of this particular vaccine on the menu.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Yeah a paywall for an article that I can almost guess what the content will be....

 

[Jeshu]

The bible has some clear indications that the vaccine might be more sinister than it appears.

The Lord this says about Babylon ruling the world.

Revelation 18:23b
"Your merchants were the world’s important people.
By your magic spell all the nations were led astray."

The magic spell, the power of this world has on us, more than ever before, is the vaccine. It is the vaccine which is leading all the nations astray. The globalist Bill Gates is behind it all, as are all the mighty merchants of the earth, including communist China, releasing the virus into the world and now making a profit out of its misery.

The imaginary of Scripture is crystal clear. Especially visible now in Australia were they are preparing electronic vaccination cards, without which we can not participate in society. Even convicted sex criminals don't have to do that at the moment, but soon all Australians have to do that to force us to have the vaccine. All because of a nasty flu that has nevertheless a 99 plus percent survival rate?

As far as i'm concerned Governments across the free world have turned against their own citizen and have become drug pushers for the big merchants and stolen our freedoms from us.

That God send us help from above fighting the lies ruling humanity right now. So many people are asleep to the evils ruling this planet. i pray for Jesus to come and save us from those evildoers.

Peace.


Revelation 18:4-8
Then I heard another voice from heaven say:


“‘Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back double for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;
I will never mourn.’
Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

One aspect of wisdom is choosing which battle is worth fighting. The vaccination debate is a pointless distraction from issues that really matter. If we love our neighbour as ourselves, surely getting vaccinated is the way to go. Who wants to pass on a disease that can kill when there is a vaccine?

 

[Aussie Pete]

The bible has some clear indications that the vaccine might be more sinister than it appears.

The Lord this says about Babylon ruling the world.

Revelation 18:23b
"Your merchants were the world’s important people.
By your magic spell all the nations were led astray."

The magic spell, the power of this world has on us, more than ever before, is the vaccine. It is the vaccine which is leading all the nations astray. The globalist Bill Gates is behind it all, as are all the mighty merchants of the earth, including communist China, releasing the virus into the world and now making a profit out of its misery.

The imaginary of Scripture is crystal clear. Especially visible now in Australia were they are preparing electronic vaccination cards, without which we can not participate in society. Even convicted sex criminals don't have to do that at the moment, but soon all Australians have to do that to force us to have the vaccine. All because of a nasty flu that has nevertheless a 99 plus percent survival rate?

As far as i'm concerned Governments across the free world have turned against their own citizen and have become drug pushers for the big merchants and stolen our freedoms from us.

That God send us help from above fighting the lies ruling humanity right now. So many people are asleep to the evils ruling this planet. i pray for Jesus to come and save us from those evildoers.

Peace.


Revelation 18:4-8
Then I heard another voice from heaven say:


“‘Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back double for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;
I will never mourn.’
Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

If you are so strong in God, go get the virus. Spread it around to your friends and family. Since it's so harmless, only a few of them will die or suffer months of debilitating side effects. And you will be standing up to the world - whatever the cost in other people's lives. If I shake my head any harder, it might fall off......

 

[Larniavc]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

I really don’t get this. Being a Christian does not mean that you could not infect and subsequently kill another person with Covid.

Why would anyone want to run that risk?

 

[Norbert L]

There are precedents within the OT that endorse quarantine laws, however that is after a person is already infected. The issue that complicates everything is technology and unforeseen consequences. The absolutely worst case scenario from my memory is Thalidomide. Not exactly a badge of creditability for how sciences are all knowing.

Then to compound things is when a person is vaccinated they are protected from death, while those refusing it only affects their own well being. However then there is the children. Do they belong to the parents or the government? A few other uncertain issues about them I can't be certain of. So there are even more things to consider.

 

[Mark Quayle]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

Maybe I'm looking at the context of the article wrong, but he seems to assume that Christian religious exemption from the vaccine is the Christians claiming their religion frowns on or prohibits vaccinations. But maybe he's only saying that is what SOME Christians are saying.

I'm not saying it. My problem with the vaccine is my problem with overbearing government and political correctness and liberal rule. If the science doesn't support it —and I don't see even the fake science and fake numbers supporting it— and I don't want it, then I shouldn't be forced to take it.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

He's wrong at least about Catholics. Catholics have a responsibility to form their consciences and then Catholics must follow their consciences. That means some Catholics may have an objection to going to war (any war or only a particular war) or may have an objection to a particular medical treatment. We do not have to follow in lockstep with the pope or with our bishop.

We have pope Francis, going beyond his authority in demanding we all be vaccinated. We have some bishops who will write letters of approval for conscience based objection, others who will refuse to do so, and others who say that while such objections are valid, they do not need any ecclesial letter to be valid.

Catholic objection is typically of a different sort than other Christians might object. Others might fear a vaccination for a variety of reasons. Or dislike the government. For Catholics the bigger sticking point is the remote cooperation with evil in that some vaccines use cell lines from aborted babies in the development process for their vaccine. Most use cell lines from aborted babies in the testing process for their vaccine. This IS a moral evil, yet it is a remote moral evil. Catholic moral teaching allows for a reluctant participation in a remote moral evil yet also allows for resistance to participation in any moral evil no matter how remote. It is a matter of conscience. Not all Catholics need to be in lockstep in fulfilling the dictates of their consciences. Catholics may not participate in proximate moral evil at all. They can choose about remote moral evil based on their own situation and calling.

Catholic conscience objectors to war have been recognized by the government since Vietnam, even while not all Catholics would be objectors. It should be the same now. If a Catholic does not want to participate in remote moral evil it should not be forced because it is forcing someone to violate their conscience to participate in evil.

Perhaps new vaccines will soon be developed which are not morally problematic and then the up to now resistant Catholics will flock to get those morally untainted vaccines. But for now there is a case for some Catholics to be granted a moral objection status to particular Covid vaccines (and any other medicines that may be developed or tested using cell lines derived from aborted babies).

 

[tstor]

Maybe I'm looking at the context of the article wrong, but he seems to assume that Christian religious exemption from the vaccine is the Christians claiming their religion frowns on or prohibits vaccinations.

This would need to be the case in order for it to be a religious exemption.

I'm not saying it. My problem with the vaccine is my problem with overbearing government and political correctness and liberal rule. If the science doesn't support it —and I don't see even the fake science and fake numbers supporting it— and I don't want it, then I shouldn't be forced to take it.

Then you would have political objections, not religious ones.

 

[tstor]

Perhaps new vaccines will soon be developed which are not morally problematic and then the so far resistant Catholics will flock to get those morally untainted vaccines. But for now there is a case for some Catholics to be granted a moral objection status to particular Covid vaccines (and any other medicines that may be developed or tested using cell lines derived from aborted babies).

You need not be concerned. The Pfizer vaccine does not use fetal cells for production and distribution.

 

[Tom 1]

I thought this was an interesting guest essay published by The New York Times. I have provided some relevant excerpts (emphasis mine) for those who don’t have a subscription.

A Christian’s Case Against Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates
By Curtis Chang
Sept. 6, 2021​

People love all that mark of the beast stuff. I suppose it's more exciting than reflecting on matters of good sense and responsibility.

 

[Jeshu]

If you are so strong in God, go get the virus. Spread it around to your friends and family. Since it's so harmless, only a few of them will die or suffer months of debilitating side effects. And you will be standing up to the world - whatever the cost in other people's lives. If I shake my head any harder, it might fall off......

My dear brother a vaccine does not help to stop spreading the virus, you can still be a carrier, and you can still die from the virus. You believe the lies the media told you not the truth as it really is.

So please shake your head all your like brother, i will not permit that poison to enter my body. So help me God.

i find it very sad that you have no better discernment than this when it comes to the world and what the wicked are up to.

Who sends pestilence to warn the people to turn from evil? So rather than shaking your head at me refusing to inject my body with poison, try calling sinners to repentance for that is what stops the virus for real not these fake vaccines.

If you don't believe me just look at Israel. They are the most vaccinated Country in the world and they are preparing their population for the fourth vaccine. That is precisely what happens when you destroy the natural immune system in people, then you need the magic spells from the merchants all the time. People are dying i record numbers there. The vaccine is a farce.

The plan of the greedy merchants was all along to have the whole world vaccinated at their will. Constant vaccines through out our lives or without our freedoms that is what people like Bill Gates have in store for us.

So glad Jesus is going to put a stop to all this when He comes.

 

[tstor]

My dear brother a vaccine does not help to stop spreading the virus, you can still be a carrier, and you can still die from the virus. You believe the lies the media told you not the truth as it really is.

"Studies show that vaccines reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by more than 80%, but the Delta variant is creating fresh uncertainty."

You're simply incorrect. The vaccine emphatically does help to stop the spread of the virus. Yes, you can still get infected even with the vaccine. That's not unique to this vaccine. Even a flu shot doesn't give you 100% immunity to the flu.

"COVID-19 vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death from the virus."

 

[chevyontheriver]

You need not be concerned. The Pfizer vaccine does not use fetal cells for production and distribution.

The Pfizer vaccine does not use fetal cell lines for production but did use them for testing. That is still a remote cooperation in a moral evil. Some Catholics will rightly object to such participation in a remote moral evil. Actually ALL Catholics should be objecting to it in one form or another. Some may outright refuse such vaccinations. That is a valid moral path. Others can accept such vaccinations and yet demand future vaccines not be produced or tested in morally tainted ways. That's my position. There should be options available which totally avoid an abortion connection, and those should be mainstream. Catholics should insist on it as a way of following a moral path.

 

[Mark Quayle]

This would need to be the case in order for it to be a religious exemption.


Then you would have political objections, not religious ones.

My religion teaches my body is my responsibility, and that government doesn't have the rights over it, except as far as results from lawbreaking (i.e. the government can arrest me and hold me in prison if I break the law). My religion also teaches living according to my conscience (No doubt you've heard of conscientious objection.)

 

[tstor]

The Pfizer vaccine does not use fetal cell lines for production but did use them for testing. That is still a remote cooperation in a moral evil. Some Catholics will rightly object to such participation in a remote moral evil. Actually ALL Catholics should be objecting to it in one form or another. Some may outright refuse such vaccinations. That is a valid moral path. Others can accept such vaccinations and yet demand future vaccines not be produced or tested in morally tainted ways. That's my position. There should be options available which totally avoid an abortion connection, and those should be mainstream. Catholics should insist on it as a way of following a moral path.

To quote the original article:

Exemption requests also likely fail on the grounds of sincere belief. We naturally look for consistency of a belief as a test of sincerity; it’s common sense. We would doubt the sincerity of a receptionist who demands vegetarian options at a workplace cafeteria when he frequently eats steak at restaurants. Any institution considering religious exemptions should require applicants to demonstrate that they have consistently refused other immunizations for religious reasons.

I sincerely doubt that a Catholic seeking a religious exemption for vaccination would be able to demonstrate consistency on this matter. To remove oneself from "remote moral evils" in some instances but not in others would be inconsistent and, likely, result in a failed religious exemption.

 

[tstor]

My religion teaches my body is my responsibility, and that government doesn't have the rights over it, except as far as results from lawbreaking (i.e. the government can arrest me and hold me in prison if I break the law).

How about a law mandating vaccines? The government restricts you from doing all sorts of things with your own body. You can't sell your organs, for example. You also can't walk around in public while naked. Do you have religious objections to these laws?

My religion also teaches living according to my conscience (No doubt you've heard of conscientious objection.)

And there are limits to this. You can't offer human sacrifices because your conscience demands it. You can't throw stones at your adulterous neighbor because your conscience demands it.

 

[Mark Quayle]

How about a law mandating vaccines? The government restricts you from doing all sorts of things with your own body. You can't sell your organs, for example. You also can't walk around in public while naked. Do you have religious objections to these laws?

If the law mandates the vaccine I may take it. As for selling my organs or walking around naked, are those laws intended for protecting my own body? Are they intended against encroachment on the lives of others? Or maybe for preventing moral chaos.

You are comparing apples to oranges.

And there are limits to this. You can't offer human sacrifices because your conscience demands it. You can't throw stones at your adulterous neighbor because your conscience demands it.

Of course not. As if! Nor is anyone allowed to drive anymore because they might have an accident and hurt someone else. Nor can we build near beaches because our house might be knocked into another if we get a strong enough storm surge or tidal wave. "C'mon, man", don't get ridiculous.

 

[chevyontheriver]

To quote the original article:

Any institution considering religious exemptions should require applicants to demonstrate that they have consistently refused other immunizations for religious reasons.

I sincerely doubt that a Catholic seeking a religious exemption for vaccination would be able to demonstrate consistency on this matter. To remove oneself from "remote moral evils" in some instances but not in others would be inconsistent and, likely, result in a failed religious exemption.

First, not all vaccines ever developed have used aborted baby fetal cell lines in development or testing. So an objection to one vaccine is not at all inconsistent if one does not object to all vaccines. Vaccines differ morally. The Catholic issue here is not an objection to all vaccines, just morally tainted vaccines.

Second, it is only becoming apparent which recently developed medical treatments are made or tested with the use of fetal cell lines derived from abortion. Seems that quite a few may be developed or tested using abortion derived cell lines. As that knowledge grows I would expect that Catholic objectors to participation in the remote evils of these products would want to abstain from all of them to follow their consciences. So refusing a particular Covid vaccine while unknowingly participating in remote moral evil by taking a compromised aspirin pill is not an inconsistency problem of the objector but a lack of information problem of the objector. More information will allow them to be more consistent. An informed conscience is required for that conscience to act correctly. No sin if the facts aren't known: no deliberate inconsistency if the facts aren't known. Let the facts be known.

It may be that using aborted baby fetal cell lines is close to a norm in medicine. That would be a terrible thing. It may be that we are participating in remote moral evil every time we turn around. We should object to that when we find out about instances of that, either by refusing such medicines in the future or demanding untainted medicines. There are enough Catholics, enough Catholic doctors and nurses, enough Catholic hospitals, and enough Catholic medical schools to make changes. We do not have to complacently participate even remotely in moral evil. We can resist, some of us by refusal. It is a moral choice for Catholics to do so.