Nearly ALL Children
Can Qualify for the Religious Vaccine Exemption
There are, 19 states that currently allow a philosophical objection
to vaccinations for school admission. Thanks to the incredible groups
like the National Vaccine Information Center, it is likely more states
may be added. Texas is likely to make the total 20 in the near future.
However, 48 states (all but Mississippi and West Virginia) allow
for a religious exemption. There has been a Supreme Court ruling
on this issue, which provides broad interpretation of the meaning
of religious exemption.
A parent's religious "beliefs" are sufficient to qualify
for the religious exemption. The "belief" is defined as
a faith that occupies a place in their lives parallel to that held
by the orthodox belief in God or any sincere religious beliefs, which
are based upon a power or being to which all else is subordinate
and on which all else is ultimately dependent
They qualify if they believe that not giving the vaccines is what
they must do to follow God's will for them in fulfilling their role
as responsible parents. Their child's immune system is a creation
of God and that God has given their child and that to vaccinate would
violate their faith in what God created.
The parents do NOT have to be part of a recognized religious organization.
You don't have to join any church; you can be any religion at all.
But if they are a part of an established religion (Catholic, Protestant,
Islam, etc.) they can still have their own perceptions of what it
means to follow God's will which may be counter to what that organization
states.
The case is established with legal precedent at the US Supreme
Court level. (United States Supreme Court in Sharon Levy vs. Northcourt
cases)
The important rule here is that if a school district denies religious
exemption they are violating your federally protected civil rights
under the first amendment by what is called state action and under
federal law you are entitle to money damages.
SOURCE: National Vaccine Information Center website |