Florida Catholics slap down state AG by rejecting religious vaccine exemptions
Florida Catholic bishops have rejected a demand from the state's Attorney General to grant religious exemptions for school vaccinations. The bishops clarified that the church supports vaccination and does not recognize theological objections, rebuking the AG's attempt to link state funding to his personal interpretation of Catholic doctrine.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the intersection of state politics, religious institutional autonomy, and public health policy.
Schooled Florida Catholics slap down state AG by rejecting religious vaccine exemptions The bishops’ snub comes as the state continues to attack vaccines.
138 Credit: Getty | diego_cervo Credit: Getty | diego_cervo Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Florida’s attorney general got a fiery rebuke and some ecclesiastical schooling from the state’s Catholic bishops after he boldly threatened to block funding to Catholic schools unless the church bends to the state’s anti-vaccine policies—policies allegedly intended to uphold religious freedom.
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