As significant numbers of Americans seek religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, many faith leaders are saying: Not with our endorsement.
FILE - In this Saturday, July 11, 2020 file photo, mourners attend the blessing of ashes of Mexicans who died from COVID-19 during a payer a service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, before they were repatriated to Mexico.
“No clergy are to issue such religious exemption letters,” Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros said, and any such letter “is not valid.” A number of dioceses have adopted policies similar to New York's, and bishops in El Paso, Texas, and Lexington, Kentucky, have mandated vaccines for employees. The issue is becoming more heated as public- and private-sector employers increasingly impose mandates.
“There is no credible religious argument against the vaccines,” he said via email. “Christians who are troubled by the use of a fetal cell line for the testing of the vaccines would also have to abstain from the use of Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, and other products that used the same cell line if they are sincere in their objection.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Florida vaccine advocate loses 6 members of her family to Covid-19 within 3 weeksAfter months of knocking on doors in the neighborhoods of Palm Beach County, Florida, trying to convince members of the community to get vaccinated, Lisa Wilson said she lost six members of her family to Covid-19 in a three-week span.
Read more »
Tokyo Olympics Didn’t Worsen Covid-19 Spread, Data SuggestOutside specialists still see issues with Japan’s porous bubble for Summer Games participants.
Read more »
Dr. Fauci Shuts Down Nicki Minaj's Claims About COVID-19 Vaccine Side EffectsDr. Anthony Fauci has invalidated Nicki Minaj's claims from Monday about swollen testicles being one of the side effects of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Read more »
Australia COVID-19 cases rise but vaccination surge gives hopeAustralia's Victoria state reported its biggest one-day rise in COVID-19 cases of the year on Thursday as a surge in vaccinations nationwide raised hope for easing restrictions with almost 70% of the adult population having had a first dose.
Read more »
1 in every 500 US residents have died of Covid-19As officials in the United States debate vaccine boosters and requirements, a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University and US Census Bureau data shows about one in 500 residents has died of Covid-19.
Read more »