Latest news with #religiousexemption
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A West Virginia parent sues seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations
CHARLESTON, (AP) — A West Virginia woman filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations for her young child. Miranda Guzman alleges that the state's vaccine mandate violates a 2023 West Virginia law that stipulates the government would not be able to 'substantially burden' someone's constitutional right to freedom of religion unless doing so 'is essential to further a compelling governmental interest.' Guzman sued the state and local boards of education and the county schools superintendent in Raleigh County Circuit Court. West Virginia was among just a handful of states that granted only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order in January allowing religious exemptions. However, the state Board of Education voted this month to direct public schools to ignore the executive order and instead follow long-standing school vaccine requirements that are laid out in state law. Also, two groups have sued over the governor's order, saying the Legislature, not the governor, has the authority to make such decisions. Guzman obtained a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate from the state health department and enrolled her child in elementary school for the 2025-26 school year. But on June 17, Guzman received an email from the Raleigh County school superintendent rescinding the certificate, according to the lawsuit. Guzman's attorneys said 'the straightforward legal issue" in the lawsuit is whether enforcement of the state vaccine mandate violates the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. West Virginia Board of Education spokesperson Christy Day referred to a June 12 statement from the board that its intent is to 'do what is best' for public school students, educators and school service personnel. 'This includes taking the important steps of protecting the school community from the real risk of exposure to litigation that could result from not following vaccination laws,' the earlier statement said. A telephone message left with Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Serena Starcher wasn't immediately returned. West Virginia's school vaccination policy long has been heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the country for children. State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before starting school. Morrisey, who is not a party to the lawsuit, held a news conference Tuesday in Beckley in support of Guzman. 'This is not about whether or not about parents should vaccinate their children,' Morrisey said. 'This is about standing up for religious liberty.' At least 30 states have religious freedom laws, including one signed by Georgia's governor in April. The laws are modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Colorado pledges not to enforce gender identity rules for Christian children's camp after lawsuit
Print Close By Kristine Parks Published June 25, 2025 FIRST ON FOX—Colorado has formally agreed to exclude religious children's camps from the state's transgender accomodation licensing requirements after a Christian camp filed a federal lawsuit. In a new settlement agreement shared first with Fox News Digital, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood said it would not force Camp IdRaHaJe or other faith-based children's resident camps to adopt new gender identity rules in order to maintain a state license. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) amended its state licensing rules in February to incorporate the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). Under the new rules, children's resident camps in the state that are considered "places of public accommodation" must allow campers access to showers, sleeping and dressing facilities that align with the campers' gender identity. The department previously implemented gender identity rules regarding bathrooms in 2018. Camp IdRaHaJe, which derives its name from the hymn, "I'd Rather Have Jesus," is a Christian children's summer camp for kids ages 6 to 17 that has operated in the state since 1948. CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMP SUES COLORADO OVER NEW TRANSGENDER RULE The camp filed a legal complaint in May after allegedly being denied a request for a religious exemption last year. It argued that the state's new gender rules violate its religious beliefs. Last week, Colorado agreed to update the language in its licensing regulations, clarifying that "churches, synagogues, mosques or any other place that is principally used for religious purposes" are not considered "places of public accommodation" and are thus not beholden to the gender identity rules. It also agreed not to "cite, suspend its license, revoke its license or otherwise take enforcement action" against Camp IdRaHaJe based on alleged noncompliance with these regulations. "This is a great victory for Camp IdRaHaJe, which is now protected from state action that would force it to comply with radical gender ideology policies that violate its deeply held religious beliefs," Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Ryan Tucker told Fox News Digital. "Thankfully, Colorado has also rightfully clarified that organizations principally used for religious purposes are now exempt from the new gender ideology rules." Tucker, one of Camp IdRaHaJe's legal representatives, said the agreement should provide "a sigh of relief" for other religious camps in the deep blue state. 4-H FEDERALLY FUNDED CAMPS UNDER FIRE FOR CABINING KIDS, ADULT COUNSELORS BY 'IDENTITY' Although it was "unfortunate that it took a federal lawsuit" to solve the dispute, Camp IdRaHaJe is thrilled to put this behind them and get back to "focusing on the mission they've been called to," he added. Guidelines on the department's website were updated on June 20 clarifying that churches and camps used for religious purposes are excluded from these gender regulations. A memo was also sent out reflecting this update as well as the following statement: "These rules were adopted for the sole purpose of incorporating CADA into CDEC's rules and do not alter, modify, or supersede the requirements of CADA or its implementing regulations," the Colorado Department of Early Childhood said. The department "has never interpreted or enforced licensing rules to require adherence to CADA and its accompanying rules unless a facility is a 'place of public accommodation' and this memo serves to formally confirm that interpretation," it continued. "We are glad to support Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je's understanding of their ability to provide a Christian camp experience to kids. The CDEC did not take any enforcement action against Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je related to any of the licensing regulations raised in the lawsuit and the camp was never under a threat of closure," said Dr. Lisa Roy, CDEC executive director. ADF said it voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit on Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Print Close URL
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
West Virginia parent sues seeking religious exemption from required school vaccinations
A West Virginia woman filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations for her young child. Miranda Guzman alleges that the state's vaccine mandate violates a 2023 West Virginia law that stipulates the government would not be able to "substantially burden" someone's constitutional right to freedom of religion unless doing so "is essential to further a compelling governmental interest." Guzman sued the state and local boards of education and the county schools superintendent in Raleigh County Circuit Court. West Virginia was among just a handful of states that granted only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order in January allowing religious exemptions. However, the state Board of Education voted this month to direct public schools to ignore the executive order and instead follow long-standing school vaccine requirements that are laid out in state law. Also, two groups have sued over the governor's order, saying the Legislature, not the governor, has the authority to make such decisions. Guzman obtained a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate from the state health department and enrolled her child in elementary school for the 2025-26 school year. But on June 17, Guzman received an email from the Raleigh County school superintendent rescinding the certificate, according to the lawsuit. Guzman's attorneys said "the straightforward legal issue" in the lawsuit is whether enforcement of the state vaccine mandate violates the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. West Virginia Board of Education spokesperson Christy Day referred to a June 12 statement from the board that its intent is to "do what is best" for public school students, educators and school service personnel. "This includes taking the important steps of protecting the school community from the real risk of exposure to litigation that could result from not following vaccination laws," the earlier statement said. A telephone message left with Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Serena Starcher wasn't immediately returned. West Virginia's school vaccination policy long has been heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the country for children. State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before starting school. Morrisey, who is not a party to the lawsuit, held a news conference Tuesday in Beckley in support of Guzman. "This is not about whether or not about parents should vaccinate their children," Morrisey said. "This is about standing up for religious liberty." At least 30 states have religious freedom laws, including one signed by Georgia's governor in April. The laws are modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.
Washington Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
A West Virginia parent sues seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations
CHARLESTON, — A West Virginia woman filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations for her young child. Miranda Guzman alleges that the state's vaccine mandate violates a 2023 West Virginia law that stipulates the government would not be able to 'substantially burden' someone's constitutional right to freedom of religion unless doing so 'is essential to further a compelling governmental interest.' Guzman sued the state and local boards of education and the county schools superintendent in Raleigh County Circuit Court.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
A West Virginia parent sues seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations
A West Virginia woman filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a religious exemption from required school vaccinations for her young child. Miranda Guzman alleges that the state's vaccine mandate violates a 2023 West Virginia law that stipulates the government would not be able to 'substantially burden' someone's constitutional right to freedom of religion unless doing so 'is essential to further a compelling governmental interest.' Guzman sued the state and local boards of education and the county schools superintendent in Raleigh County Circuit Court. West Virginia was among just a handful of states that granted only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order in January allowing religious exemptions. However, the state Board of Education voted this month to direct public schools to ignore the executive order and instead follow long-standing school vaccine requirements that are laid out in state law. Also, two groups have sued over the governor's order, saying the Legislature, not the governor, has the authority to make such decisions. Guzman obtained a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate from the state health department and enrolled her child in elementary school for the 2025-26 school year. But on June 17, Guzman received an email from the Raleigh County school superintendent rescinding the certificate, according to the lawsuit. Guzman's attorneys said 'the straightforward legal issue" in the lawsuit is whether enforcement of the state vaccine mandate violates the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. West Virginia Board of Education spokesperson Christy Day referred to a June 12 statement from the board that its intent is to 'do what is best' for public school students, educators and school service personnel. 'This includes taking the important steps of protecting the school community from the real risk of exposure to litigation that could result from not following vaccination laws,' the earlier statement said. A telephone message left with Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Serena Starcher wasn't immediately returned. West Virginia's school vaccination policy long has been heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the country for children. State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before starting school. Morrisey, who is not a party to the lawsuit, held a news conference Tuesday in Beckley in support of Guzman. 'This is not about whether or not about parents should vaccinate their children,' Morrisey said. 'This is about standing up for religious liberty.' At least 30 states have religious freedom laws, including one signed by Georgia's governor in April. The laws are modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.
