The military COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadlines have passed and not one religious exemption has been granted, NTD reported. If this isn’t discrimination, what is?
Lawyers for the troops say the military is violating the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and are urging courts to intervene.
“It’s now the point where I think we can call it what it is. It appears to be blatant religious discrimination when the military has now conceded, both publicly and in court filings I should say, that they have approved multiple numerous medical and administrative exemptions but yet they have refused to approve any religious accommodations,” Mike Berry, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, told The Epoch Times.
“That’s the textbook definition of religious discrimination,” he added.
On the other hand, the military has granted 12,109 medical or administrative exemptions.
Troops trying to get religious exemptions say they’ve been told it’s pointless to apply. Some have hired lawyers and sued the federal government.
First Liberty Institute brought a suit last month on behalf of dozens of Navy personnel, alleging the Biden administration has violated federal law in its refusal to grant exemptions to troops on the basis of their religion. Another lawsuit was filed by Liberty Counsel on similar grounds.
None have succeeded to date.
THERE IS HOPE
U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, a George W. Bush nominee, while not issuing a preliminary injunction, wrote in an order last month that denial of religious exemption requests “will result inevitably in the undifferentiated (and therefore unlawful under RFRA) denial of each service member’s request,” based on current data, according to NTD.
Merryday ordered the Pentagon to provide the court with details on religious exemption requests beginning on Jan. 7, 2022. He also indicated he may issue an injunction at a later time.
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Of course not the Biden purge is beginning. Do you think that China Joe has a hard on for the military because they gave his Nare do well son a dishonorable discharge?????
MO I am a veteran and this is completely different. The military has completely ignored natural immunity which is a change from past regulation. Also, we trained for a full year in the midst of the pandemic when there was no vaccine, but as soon as a vaccine is available none of that matters we must take it or be forced out. This is wrong- they should recognize natural immunity and honor the religious beliefs of those who serve.
The vaccine mandate for an experimental vaccine was an illegal order in violation of both US and international law binding on us by treaty. Every officer who enforced it is a criminal who violated his oath of office. The lesson of the Nuremberg trials is that “I was just following orders” is not an acceptable defense. The lack of courage demonstrated by our officer corps is disheartening. We have a bunch of cowards with an apparent traitor as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. This should make our enemies feel very confident.
Lawrence, I mean this kindly, but you are out of your mind. You are comparing troops getting a vaccine shot, which they are already required to get many as a prerequisite to serve, to offenses charged during Nuremberg? That is absolutely ludicrous.
Allow me to give you a dose of reality. Troops must get tetanus, polio, MMR, diphtheria, anthrax, etc in order to serve. This one is no different. To make a charge like you did on U.S. officers is unwarranted and outrageous.
Actually it is different. Those others vaccines were tried and tested through proper procedures over the course of many years and hundreds of trials.
This “vaccine” has not gone through those same procedures.
Add in the thousands of deaths and injuries that these often deadly jabs are producing and we have a serious problem with all of the “vaccines”.