Hawaii Catholic Diocese not giving religious exemptions for COVID vaccines

Hawaii Catholic Herald Sept 1, 2021 (excerpt) 

 … Hawaii residents are free to claim a religious exemption from getting a COVID-19 vaccination where it is mandated, but they will not receive documentation from the Diocese of Honolulu to support such exemptions, mainly because the church has no objections to the vaccine. On the contrary, it wants people to get vaccinated.

The diocese made known its position in an Aug. 13 memorandum to pastors and parishioners from the diocesan COVID-19 Task Force.

“Please note that while the Diocese of Honolulu has not required anyone, including employees, to be vaccinated, vaccinations are highly encouraged,” the memo said. “Pope Francis has made it clear that being vaccinated can be an act of charity toward the community in order to curtail the spread of the virus.”

“While individuals may have differing opinions for medical or moral reasons, as of this memo, dated Aug. 13, 2021, the Diocese of Honolulu will not be granting religious exemptions from vaccine mandates imposed by others,” the memo said.

Other dioceses have issued similar directives….

read … Diocese not giving religious exemptions for COVID vaccines

Related: Pope Francis: "Getting the vaccine is an act of love"