By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) The U.S. Coast Guard has granted a religious exemption to an officer who sued after being denied a waiver from receiving a Hepatitis A vaccine that he believed was derived from aborted fetuses.
Lt. Cmdr. Joseph J. Healy, a Catholic from Catonsville, Md., sued the Coast Guard in 2007 after his original request for an exemption was denied. He had stated his Catholic beliefs caused him to oppose abortion, and he believed claimed that the vaccine is derived from the cells of aborted fetuses.
“Christians shouldn’t be punished for abiding by their beliefs against abortion,” said Matt Bowman, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which represented Healy and planned to seek a dismissal of the suit.
“The Coast Guard has done the right thing in recognizing that those who lay their life on the line to defend our shores are entitled to the same freedom as anyone else not to have their particular beliefs disregarded.”
In 2006, the Coast Guard announced that all active-duty members were required to receive the Hepatitis A vaccination unless they could prove immunity. Healy argued in his suit that receiving the vaccination would cause him to “be impermissibly participating in the evil of abortion.”
Eric Young, a litigation lawyer for the Coast Guard, said a notice was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 9 stating that Healy had been granted a temporary religious exemption.
“The Coast Guard rescinded its original denial letter and looked at it under a new set of glasses, essentially, and reached a decision that it was appropriate to grant a temporary exemption,” Young said.
The waiver request notes that “exemption may be revoked under imminent risk conditions.”
Young said religious exemption requests are rare in the Coast Guard and in the last decade, Healy’s is the only one he knows has been approved.
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted May 19, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Not too long ago you took your chances on catching Hepatitis A, then a vaccine came along for prevention. Never heard or wanted to know what the vaccine was made of; was this officer correct? As I understand this he is exempt unless there is a breakout of the disease. If others were to refuse this vaccine there will be more of a chance of passing this disease on to unsuspecting people in crowds and in resturants, it would seem.
posted May 19, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Yes, this article leaves out a rather critical piece of information: WAS THE VACCINE MADE OF ABORTED FETUSES? Why did he believe it was? And why does this article sound like nobody knows for sure?
Ugh, between this and the autism outbreaks, I might prefer just catching polio…
God bless.
posted May 19, 2008 at 7:25 pm
“Ugh, between this and the autism outbreaks, I might prefer just catching polio…”
Not if you had it. And it seems quite unlikely they use aborted fetuses, but if they do, hey, they’ve already been aborted.
And the evidence seems to be that vaccinations don’t cause autism.
posted May 20, 2008 at 10:27 am
I expect the Coast Guardsman got his information from the internet. It is filled with warnings for problems that do not exist. he should speak with a doctor and a pharmacist toget the assurances he needs. It is critical that folks in his position be protected from the variety of medical dangers in theworld.
Joey – I’ve worked with autistic and with folks who had polio as kids. It is nothing I would wish on anyone – or for myself. The vaccines accomplish wonders with minimal risk.
posted May 20, 2008 at 1:06 pm
WebMD info on Hep A vaccine
Although the link says that the vaccine can be derived from human blood or plasma, there’s not even a ghost of a reference to aborted fetuses.
I think the association made by the guy is ludicrous.
posted May 20, 2008 at 1:09 pm
It’s very, very difficult to imagine some sort of unregulated cottage industry made up of how to exploit aborted fetuses.
posted May 20, 2008 at 4:02 pm
It seems like a priest needs to talk with this guy. He needs to be told that it is OK and no doctrine or dogma is being violated. This is the sort of thing that needs cool heads, calm nerves, and a willingness to listen rather than react.
posted May 25, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Let’s hope that this fellow doesn’t catch Hepatitus A since he has refused to (and was allowed exemption) get the vaccine. As to the vaccine being made from aborted fetuses? I would doubt it, but then I’m not a doctor. But as nnmns pointed out…IF that was what the vaccine was made from…the abortion has already taken place. How is that supporting abortion?