Several parents, supported by a conservative group, have filed a federal lawsuit against California over a state law that eliminated religious exemptions for school-mandated vaccines. The lawsuit comes as Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature are reportedly considering adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required inoculations for schoolchildren. Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty, is challenging SB 277, arguing that the legislation violates the constitutional rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of California, names state Attorney General Rob Bonta as a defendant.
SB 277, signed into law by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2015, went into effect on January 1, 2016, and removed nonmedical exemptions for state-mandated immunizations for children entering public or private schools. The law applies to children enrolled in elementary or secondary schools, daycare centers, and preschools, both public and private. The lawsuit alleges that the state legislature and Governor Newsom have attempted to add COVID-19 to the list of required vaccines for school entrance, despite the virus posing a small risk to schoolchildren.
The complaint also argues that California allows immigrant and homeless children to attend public and private schools without proof of vaccination. It states that exempt unvaccinated children under SB 277 are still able to participate in extracurricular activities and attend religious services. The lawsuit questions California’s claim that religiously exempt students pose a greater risk than secularly exempt students.
The complaint highlights the religious convictions of four parents who, after conducting their own research, discovered that some required childhood vaccines were derived from aborted fetal cells. These parents decided not to continue vaccinating their children, believing it would make them complicit in abortion. The lawsuit claims that even vaccines not directly associated with aborted fetal cells are made by manufacturers who profit from their use.
One parent mentioned in the complaint began researching vaccines after her third child developed injuries and was later diagnosed with autism. While that child received a medical exemption, the parent’s younger children, whom she chose not to vaccinate, were unable to register in public or private school.
According to the complaint, 45 states and the District of Columbia currently offer religious exemptions from compulsory school vaccination laws, while California is one of only five states that does not offer a religious exemption. Advocates for Faith and Freedom seek to restore the ability for parents and students to lodge a religious objection based on sincerely held beliefs. They anticipate that the case will eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Robert Tyler, president of Advocates for Faith and Freedom, emphasized that medical autonomy and quality education should not be mutually exclusive, and the government should not mandate parents to choose one over the other.
For further information, contact reporter Danielle Wallace at [email protected] or on Twitter: @danimwallace. Stay updated on the 2024 campaign trail and exclusive interviews by subscribing to our newsletter.
