CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY July 26, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Settlement Reached in Suit Brought by Navy SEALs, Personnel Denied Religious Accommodation from COVID Vaccine
Settlement says Navy class members’ careers will not be impacted by refusal to take vaccine, more training for commanders on religious liberty.
Ft. Worth, TX — Attorneys representing dozens of Navy SEALs, other personnel in the Navy Special Warfare community, Navy Special Operators, and thousands of Navy servicemembers who had religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate have reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of the Navy. The settlement ensures that the careers of these brave men and women who refused the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will not have their careers adversely affected. See First Liberty’s Fox News interview about the settlement here:
“We are thrilled that this settlement protects the religious liberty rights of Navy service members, to include our chaplains who provide much needed spiritual support to our nation’s warriors.” said The Right Reverend Derek LS Jones, executive director of Chaplain Alliance. “Our military service members put their lives on the line to protect our Constitutional rights. This settlement provides meaningful relief to ensure our greatest national assets can continue to be successful in their careers.”
Service members can get more information about the settlement at navyvaxsettlement.com.
In the settlement, the Navy agrees to “re-review the personnel records of all Class Members to ensure that the U.S. Navy has permanently removed records indicating administrative separation processing or proceedings, formal counseling, and non-judicial punishment actions taken against the Class Member solely on the basis of non-compliance with the COVID-19 Mandate and adverse information related to non-compliance with the COVID-19 Mandate.” Servicemembers who elected to leave service after being mistreated by the Navy are now part of the Class and will also get their records corrected. The Navy also agreed to post a statement affirming the Navy’s respect for religious service members, provide more training for commanders who review religious accommodation requests, and revise a policy related to accommodation requests that was changed during the mandate.
The Right Reverend Derek Jones
Executive Director, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty
Bishop of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, the Anglican Church in North America
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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