Supreme Court Denies Health Care Workers' Religious Challenge to NY Vaccine Mandate
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Supreme Court on Monday denied two requests from New York health care workers who said the state's vaccine mandate for their industry violates their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion.
The court's unsigned order offered no explanation of the ruling. Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, dissented and criticized the court for purportedly denying religious freedom. Justice Clarence Thomas said he would have granted the application but did not join the dissent. New York requires health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they qualify for a medical exemption. No religious exemptions are offered. The same three justices who objected to Monday's ruling also dissented in the court's rejection of a challenge from Maine health care workers in October. Religious challenges to vaccine mandates might object to the requirement in general or specifically the use of fetal-cell lines derived from aborted fetuses to develop and test vaccines. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says it's morally acceptable to receive the vaccines.
Outlets across the spectrum reported on the news. Many reports from right-rated outlets highlighted the religious freedom angle in their headlines. Some voices from right-rated sources focused on how conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, who were nominated by former President Donald Trump, joined their liberal colleagues in supporting the decision and accused them of working against religious liberty. Others highlighted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's criticism of people seeking religious exemptions.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Supreme Court Allows Vaccine Mandate for New York Health Care Workers
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday refused to block New York’s requirement that health care workers be vaccinated against the coronavirus even when they cite religious objections.
As is often the court’s practice in rulings on emergency applications, its unsigned order included no reasoning. But Justice Neil M. Gorsuch filed a 14-page dissent saying that the majority had betrayed the court’s commitment to religious liberty.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. joined Justice Gorsuch’s dissent. Justice Clarence Thomas also said he would have blocked the vaccine requirement, but he gave no reasons....
From the Center
Court rejects religious challenge to New York’s vaccine mandate for health care workers
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down two requests to block New York’s vaccine mandate for health care workers. Two groups of health care workers are challenging the mandate, arguing that it violates their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion. But over the public dissents of three conservative justices, the court denied the workers’ requests to put the mandate on hold while litigation continues.
The dispute centers on a regulation issued by New York’s state health department that requires all health care workers in the state to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless...
From the Right
Barrett and Kavanaugh Supply Another Majority to Deny Religious-Liberty Exemption
For the second time in less than two months, Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh joined with Chief Justice John Roberts and the Supreme Court’s three progressives (Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan) to uphold a state vaccine mandate over a religious-liberty challenge by medical professionals.
This time, it was New York’s vaccine mandate, which initially included an exemption for religious objectors. These objectors included some Catholics and other Christians who oppose abortion. The vaccines are derived in part from abortion — specifically, from fetal-cell lines used in...
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