Religious Exemptions: See to it that no one misleads you...
First Amendment of the US Constitution
The purpose of this guide is to aid you in writing a statement that explain to your school or employers that you are exempt from any immunizations and medical testing procedures because of your genuine and sincere personal religious beliefs which are inconsistent with these medical procedures & experimentation. This is an exception to the rule and the First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that you are able to exercise your rights to follow, and adhere to, the religious tenets and practices of your faith.
See the following detailed example as an Affidavit. You may remove the notary portion of any example to use as a letter. Affidavits can be used in court as a sworn statement. Watch the webinar replays below for more examples from religious leaders to help you explain how you relate this belief to your faith.
Pointers for submitting your written notice:
- Do not mention a specific vaccine in your letter - ONLY speak to your faith
- Unless there is no other way to request your religious exemption - DO NOT submit via the schools forms that make your agree to discrimination or manipulate your words about your faith and your reasons for exemption/exception.
- Saving Grace for Later - If you are forced by a form to agree to vague restrictions that are yet to be determined, then you will later have a case against those restrictions because you agreed to them "under duress."
- Keep records of all communication with your school or work. Take screen shots of the forms you agreed to, if they cannot be printed.
- For students, send the notice to multiple departments at your institution, including the registrar, Dean's office, and President.
- Send your notice certified and get a return receipt to keep as a record.
It is the Law - Religious Freedom without Discrimination
Applicable law has been interpreted to mean that a religious belief is subject to protection even though no religious group espouses such beliefs or the fact that the religious group to which the individual professes to belong may not advocate or require such belief. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended Nov. 1, 1980; Part 1605.1-Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Religion. On the U.S. Supreme Court level in Frazee V. Illinois Dept. of Security, 489 U.S. 829, it was found that a state may not deny an exemption simply because a person is not a member of a formal religious organization.
See the following example for an Affidavit if necessary in the case where your Religious Exemption is denied. If your religious exemption is denied, you may want to have a lawyer follow up on your behalf that is well versed in medical freedom advocacy.
Segregation is Discrimination
We recommend you push back against the segregation based on your health status. Sign-up and get connected with NJStandsUp. If you are discriminated against let us know! To be discriminated against or treated differently for your religious beliefs and practices is not acceptable. Your employer or school should recognize that based on your sincerely held faith you are exempt from any vaccinations, injections, and testing of any kind. You are NOT to be segregated or treated differently for your faith, since doing so would interfere with the free exercise of your religious rights.