Notes

Please identify your sincerely held religious or moral/ethical belief, practice or observance that is the basis for your request for an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
My sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances that prevent me from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine requirements are that receiving them goes against the teachings of the Bible. The Bible is word of God in which I follow and base my moral and ethical actions on. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Romans 15: 4).” I cannot knowingly participate in something that used fetal cell lines and genetically based therapy. Currently, all the COVID-19 vaccines available are derived from aborted fetuses. Even though this occurred decades ago, the bible says, “You shall not murder (Exodus 20: 13).” The taking of a human life for research, testing, and/or development of a medication is a sin against God. I believe that God creates every life for a reason and every baby has a plan for his/her life, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139: 13-14, 16).” The life of an unborn fetus is a gift from God and part of His work, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jeremiah 1: 5).” To knowingly participate would cause me to go against my biblical beliefs and God. In addition, genetically based therapy alters God’s creation of our bodies. The way the vaccines enter our cells and gives a code that does not originate from our body interferes with God’s intent of the cell. Manipulation of what God has perfectly made in His image (Genesis 1: 26-27) would be compromising my faith.


My sincerely held religious beliefs as a Christian that prevent me from receiving the vaccines are that they go against the Bible. The Bible is word of God in which I base my faith. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us (Rom 15: 4).” I cannot participate in something that used fetal cell lines and genetically based therapy. The vaccines are derived from aborted fetuses. The taking of a human life for research, testing, and/or development of a medication is a sin against God. I believe that God creates life for a reason, Psalm 139: 13-16. The life of a fetus is from God. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jer 1: 5).” In addition, genetic therapy alters God’s creation of our bodies. The way the vaccines enter our cells and give a code that does not originate from our body interferes with God’s intent of the cell. Manipulation of what God has made in His image (Gen 1: 26-27) would be compromising my faith.


Please explain how your sincerely held religious or moral/ethical belief, practice or observance conflicts with the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
The mandate of the vaccine requirement conflicts with my sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances for the reasons stated above and to keep my body as clean as possible before God’s view. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple (1 Cor 3:16-17).” Similarly, 1 Cor 6: 19- 20 teaches us that “You are not your own.” Our bodies belong to God and I must keep it safe and away from anything that might be harmful to my body and I do not believe it would be right for me to knowingly introduce this vaccine. The Bible states, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Cor 7: 1).”


Please identify who can verify your sincerely health religious or moral/ethical belief practice or observance. Examples may include a pastor, minister, spiritual leader, or friends and family members.
Pastor Ivan Calva of Ministerios Jesucristo Rey de reyes
Angel Santos of Ministerios Jesucristo Rey de reyes
Elisabet Flores of Iglesia del Nazareno Comunidad De Fe
Luis Ituburo of Iglesia del Nazareno Comunidad De Fe


Please identify how long you have followed your sincerely held religious or moral/ethical belief, practice or observance.
I have been a Christian for approximately 10 years. My religious and moral/ethical beliefs and practices continue to grow everyday as I am actively involved in our church. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Pet 3:18).”


Please provide any additional information that you think might be helpful in reviewing your exemption request.
I am requesting a religious accommodation from having to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I feel this mandate violates my sincerely held religious beliefs. I have been a nurse for 10 years, and worked at St Joseph Hospital for 6 years. I work in the Emergency Department, and since the beginning of the pandemic I have been working in the COVID unit and continue to do so. I have helped shape the way and the process for how COVID patients enter, are seen, and then treated. I have worked extra hours and come in on my days off to care for the sick. I understand the risks to myself and my unborn baby by not receiving the vaccine. I believe God is my judge (2 Cor 5: 10) and my faith will give me peace in this time. I cannot in good conscience compromise my faith by take the vaccine. “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them (Rom 2: 15).”