CALL Concerned About Forced Compliance to Vaccination in Armed Forces

CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY November 1, 2021 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427

CALL Concerned About Forced Compliance to Vaccination in Armed Forces

WASHINGTON — Many organized and independent faith traditions have made official statements regarding their official positions on the current COVID vaccinations. Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty (CALL) is concerned that these various positions are being used to justify or condone forced compliance to “mandatory” vaccinations in our Armed Forces. No service member should be compelled to receive the vaccine should they hold to a sincere conscientious objection. The ‘right of conscience’ is clearly understood, and consistently protected by our courts, as our first protected right in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

Citing the precedent of law — such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act — Chaplain Craig Muehler, President of CALL, said, “We are thankful for the many who are diligently working to aid those serving our nation in uniform who seek a religious accommodation from recent directives dictating forced vaccinations.”  The government has an extremely high standard to meet before they can deny an individual’s request for religious accommodation. Yet current military leadership appear to be universally ignoring these legitimate requests. “We encourage those so inclined to receive the COVID vaccination, and continuing boosters, to continue to get their vaccinations,” said Bishop Derek Jones, Executive Director of Chaplain Alliance. “At the same time, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty firmly supports those whose conscience does not permit them to be vaccinated for reasons of faith and religious conviction.”

Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces.

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