Government agencies are now evaluating thousands of requests for religious exemptions and the sincerity of the beliefs involved. Into this human resources quicksand steps Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC) with a bill, the Religious Freedom Over Mandates Act, that prevents any federal agency from keeping records about the religious exemption process. It says no federal funds can be used to “establish, operate, maintain, or support any system of records on religious accommodations requested by, or granted to, an employee, detailee, contractor, consultant, intern, applicant, volunteer, or any other person with respect to any COVID–19 vaccination requirement.” Congressman Norman says he actually wants to preclude the government from creating a “religious registry,” which could have been better accomplished with a differently worded bill.
Now first and foremost, according to public health professionals we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible and ultimately religious exemptions are a major obstacle to public health. Second, if there are to be offer religious exemptions they should not be anywhere near as flimsy as the federal government allows here. And third, if you’re evaluating requests for exemptions, you need to be able to keep at least some “system of records”, like keeping track of who is approved or not approved. And ideally a “Why.” Otherwise no one can find out what decisions have been made and the religious exemption becomes a joke and a means for anyone and everyone to avoid vaccination….or does it?
What if a government agency turned down absolutely everyone who asked for a religious exemption? Congressman Norman might want to know about this, and it’s exactly what has been happening at the Defense Department. Last month the first two religious exemptions were finally granted after hundreds were denied and there was some publicity. How would we know about this or any vaccine exemption data if there can be no “system of records?” Knowing who’s not vaccinated in the federal and healthcare workplace is too important to avoid keeping records about it.
You can tell your Members of Congress to oppose the Norman bill and to oppose religious exemptions to vaccine requirements in general by clicking here. |
