An Ontario Roman Catholic nurse had the right to a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine because of the connection between the injections and aborted fetuses, according to a decision at the Ontario Labour Arbitration. .“There can be multiple reasons for objecting to getting vaccinated, but as long as one of the reasons is sincerely and legitimately based upon one’s creed, as subjectively interpreted and applied, an applicant would be entitled to an exception under the Code and the vaccine policy itself,” said Ontario Labour Arbitration arbitrator Robert Herman in a June decision. .“Once the grievor learned about the fetal cell line connection with the vaccines, even if that connection is factually and objectively quite remote, if the grievor sincerely believes that her faith does not allow her to get vaccinated, that would be sufficient grounds for granting her request for an exemption.” .The decision said the nurse used to work as a public health nurse at Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD), which implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in September. The grievor claimed an exemption based on creed and filed a grievance when her request was denied. .According to the decision, the grievor converted to Roman Catholicism 17 years ago. Searching for a more traditional and orthodox approach, it said she became involved with the Latin Mass part of the Roman Catholic Church six years ago. .Latin Mass members oppose contraception and abortion and support natural law. While the Latin Mass does not prohibit COVID-19 vaccination, it provides members with discretion on this issue. .The nurse said she did not want to take the vaccine because of fetal cell linings. Despite being opposed to fetal cell linings in this vaccine, she received one for measles which contained the material 11 years ago. .PHSD’s vaccine mandate took effect in September, and she filed an exemption request around this time. She retained a lawyer to assist her in filing this request. .The decision said her request did not mention creed or her affiliation with the Latin Mass. Her request said she could not support taking this vaccine because she objected to the fetal cell linings, and it would be sinful to receive it. .In various stages of development, some of the COVID-19 vaccines used cells from fetal tissues when they were being produced. While not all vaccines have contain fetal cells, it has created issues among faith communities..None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain aborted fetal cells..PHSD placed the nurse on unpaid leave in October, and her request was denied soon after. She was terminated in November. .Herman ordered the parties to revert to settling the matter between themselves. .“The grievor was prima facie discriminated against when the Employer applied its vaccine policy to deny the grievor’s requested exemption,” he said. .This decision comes after federal court judge Nicholas McHaffie said the issue of mandatory vaccine orders “raise a serious issue,” but he would not bring an injunction to stop it. .READ MORE: Judge says mandatory vaccinations programs ‘raise a serious issue’.“Rights protected by the Charter are not absolute,” said McHaffie. “Arguments on these issues will be decided at a later date.”
