Lauren Snyder

I did not realize the Catholic Church had a “religious mission” to force vaccinate students over the religious, conscience, and medical objections of their families—including vaccines derived from aborted fetal cell lines. If the Church’s new position is that vaccines that have previously been “permitted” are now “mandated,” then that is a completely new teaching. But if that is indeed their religious mission, it is not for the state to dispute it. The Church should nevertheless recognize the confusing nature of this “religious mission” in light of some U.S. dioceses not following it. Further, the Catechism strongly emphasizes the right of parents to manage the healthcare of their children and the fundamental right of conscience. It’s healthy and essential for the church to have these conversations. However, a separate question is whether a private school that doesn’t follow state laws protecting parental rights and deeply held beliefs should still be permitted to participate in state programs and receive state funding. Should Muslim schools teaching sharia law in violation of Florida law nevertheless get state funding? I don’t think so.