Catholics please help (vaccination issue)

[uptowngirl]

I need to know if your local Catholic school (or Diocese) allows religious exemptions. Ours does not. We met with the Priest and they are flawed in their understanding of the law (NC). They think that Religious exemptions are only possible if the entire church is against vaccines (like Amish, etc.). We are preparing to meet with the Bishop and I need some facts. We have received a medical exemption for our son, but I will not "go away" on behalf of the other parents who NEED the religious exempt. if you can help, please let me know. I won't contact your parish and tell them you told me (if you're concerned).

[nurturebaby]

Unfortunately, I don't know I just wanted to bump you post as I'm interested as well. Please let us know of the outcome!

Good luck!

[peilover010202]

Well, at this point, our Catholic School has allowed them. BUT, our ds is just in preschool and the school's form SPECIFICALLY states that for preschool the "recommended vaccines are XXX", but for K the "REQUIRED vaccines are XXX".

I found found some REALLY good info - but while the Vatican does provide for vaccines being your choice (on the ones derived from aborted fetal cells), they don't really say about the others. And with a religious exemption, it's all or none.

I posted a thread about this about a year ago, in the vaccines forum and got some good feedback. I will look for it later.

Here's another good piece, seems maybe the Catholic stance has changed a bit.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=927839

[peilover010202]

Okay, here's the thread I was looking for:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...526&highlight=

[Peppermint]

Here even the Catholic schools' exemptions are actually approved by the public school district office/Dr.

We were able to use a religious exemption when our dd was in school.

[alegna]

My understanding is that our diocese has decided to refuse religious exemptions. Off to see if I can find it in writing.

-Angela

[tulipmama]

I believe it depends on how the statute is worded. Go back to the wording and try to find the annotations if you can. If the statute says "all" or "any" school, then that included private schools, including Catholic school, unless the statute is worded differently.

[liseux]

We have religious exemptions at Catholic school. In our area they are required to treat the exemption the same way a public school would. I also went and spoke to the school nurse about it before enrolling my kids and she is fine with it. I just get a phone call if chicken pox or anything else similar shows up in school.

[channelofpeace]

The diocese (Wichita, KS) from which I grew up in, and i just moved from last year, does not allow religious exemptions. They did until a few years ago, but it seems the superintendent has some sort of chip on his shoulder about it. So the Bishop listened to him instead of all the concerned non-vaxxing parents

[MilkTrance]

What about in Canada?

[mommyof3andcountin]

I have no idea what our Catholic Schools do, since I HS, but here's a good Catholic website that is anti-vax.

http://www.cogforlife.org/

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by MilkTrance

What about in Canada?

I am in Ontario and I believe that our is worded differently. It is religious or moral reasons. I guess I could not morally allow my child to be vaccinated because I believe it is harmful.

[momo7]

No, they will not allow it for religious reasons, because there is nothing about vaccinations that are contrary to the faith and morals of the Catholic religion. BUT They will allow you to opt out as a consciencious objector and if you state that vaccination is against your personal morals and beliefs. All you have to do is write your philosophy and sign it and that is enough to keep you from having to vaccinate your children. There are a lot of Catholics in my community who do this, I would say about 80% of our parish is like this so we are pretty much left alone about it.

[elmh23]

Does anyone know what the Santa Fe Archdiocese does?

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by uptowngirl

I need to know if your local Catholic school (or Diocese) allows religious exemptions. Ours does not. We met with the Priest and they are flawed in their understanding of the law (NC). They think that Religious exemptions are only possible if the entire church is against vaccines (like Amish, etc.). We are preparing to meet with the Bishop and I need some facts. We have received a medical exemption for our son, but I will not "go away" on behalf of the other parents who NEED the religious exempt. if you can help, please let me know. I won't contact your parish and tell them you told me (if you're concerned).

Catholic schools are obligated to honor religious exemptions under the law, just like every other school.

If you need any help, contact Debi Vinnedge at www.cogforlife.org. She can tell you exactly what you need to do, and she specializes in forcing Catholic dioceses to honor religious exemptions. She has won cases here in the D.C. Metro area against the Washington and Baltimore Archdioceses. And, she has an attorney in North Carolina who works with her that I have spoken to who specializes in this area of law. His name is Alan Phillips and here's his website: www.vaccinerights.com.

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by MilkTrance

What about in Canada?

Well, only 3 provinces in Canada even have legislation for vaccination and school entry. And the legislation isn't even for all of the vaccines (for example, in Manitoba, it's only for the measles vaccine). And legal exemptions are VERY easy to obtain because vaccination isn't mandatory in Canada; you just sign a form saying you object to vaccination. In all other provinces you do nothing because there is no legislation.

You can look here for more info http://www.vran.org/legal/forms.htm

[guest^]

Originally Posted by StacyL

Catholic schools are obligated to honor religious exemptions under the law, just like every other school.

If you need any help, contact Debi Vinnedge at www.cogforlife.org. She can tell you exactly what you need to do, and she specializes in forcing Catholic dioceses to honor religious exemptions. She has won cases here in the D.C. Metro area against the Washington and Baltimore Archdioceses. And, she has an attorney in North Carolina who works with her that I have spoken to who specializes in this area of law. His name is Alan Phillips and here's his website: www.vaccinerights.com.

There are 17 dioceses left,who DO NOT allow for religious exemption

In your first sentence,I questioned this with the people you are talking about, and I was under the impression,that this simply is not the case. Private schools can and do set their own rules.

The problem does seem to be with the superintendants-those with chips on their shoulders,and lack proper info.

OP-can you give us an update?

mp

[spero]

Originally Posted by StacyL

Catholic schools are obligated to honor religious exemptions under the law, just like every other school.

Not in MS or WV.

In NYS, only public schools and schools that receive state/federal funding are legally obligated to accept exemptions.

Not saying that it's right, mind you ... but that's the letter of the law as of today.

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by spero

In NYS, only public schools and schools that receive state/federal funding are legally obligated to accept exemptions.

Not true.

Here's a list of recent cases for NY. An excerpt from an interesting one:

Notable Cases

In the Matter of JD & JD vs. PRC School (2006), United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

recently in December of 2007 the Archdiocese reversed their position and there is no longer a standing blanket rejection for Catholic school children to secure religious exemptions to attend parochial schools in the New York Archdiocese. This change in position of the Archdiocese is of enormous significance and effects hundreds of Catholic families that Ms. Finn represents throughout New York State who oppose vaccines due to Christian based religious beliefs.

I am aware that MS and WV as yet have no law pertaining to religious exemption.

Another article on an NY case from Barbara Loe Fisher (an anti-vaccine advocate):

http://www.todayschiropractic.com/is...us_exempt.html

The religious exemption to vaccination is protected and can be defended under the law, no matter what faith is embraced. And it is very important for more individuals who belong to mainstream churches to defend their religious beliefs about vaccination within their own faith.

On Jan. 31 this year, New York federal Judge Michael Telesca ruled in favor of a mother, who is Roman Catholic and opposed to vaccination of her daughter based on her religious beliefs within her faith. Judge Telesca said that the mother had “demonstrated her religious beliefs were genuine. … This Court may not pass on the wisdom of [her] belief, nor on the manner upon which she came to hold that belief, provided that she maintains a sincere and genuine religious objection to immunization.”

[kate~mom]

my parents are catholic school principals (archdiocese of ny) and both have stated that they would not accept religious exemptions - although it has never come up.

although - in reading the pp's legal citation, this conversation was before 12/07. interesting!