![]() ![]() Title VII’s definition of “religion” is broad and encompasses all aspects of “religious observance and practice, as well as belief.” The U.S. However, faith leaders’ statements supporting an individual’s claimed religious exemption are not similarly shielded from liability, and faith leaders would be wise to refrain from professing that sincerely held religious beliefs in opposition to a vaccine mandate are supported by the beliefs or teachings of a faith community. Application of the ministerial exception in the context of vaccine mandates and denial of exemptions likely provides the religious employer with protection from judicial review of their exemption and accommodation decisions regarding ministerial employees. A difference can arise with employees who qualify as ministers of the faith and are subject to application of the ministerial exception, which recently has been expanded to include employees who “play a vital role in carrying out the mission” of the religious employer. In some cases, employees of faith communities are treated exactly the same as employees of secular organizations. Many faith communities have instituted and communicated COVID-19 vaccine mandates for their employees that allow for health-related and religious exemptions. Faith leaders, however, would be wise to limit any language “supporting” a religious exemption to the requesting individual’s sincerely held belief and omit statements suggesting that such belief is approved or even mandated by the beliefs or teachings of a faith community. Faith leaders have a right to provide written support of an individual’s claimed religious exemption – and those statements may be considered by employers in granting a religious exemption – but they do not have an obligation to do so. ![]() ![]() There is a strong argument that a religious employer’s decision to deny certain employees’ religious exemption requests, even if the requests are based on sincerely held religious beliefs, will be immune from judicial review.In the context of vaccine mandates and religious exemption requests, religious employers and faith leaders continue to receive religious exemption requests relating to vaccine mandates or requests to write letters in support of individuals’ claimed religious exemptions. ![]()
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