Federal court backs law removing religious exemption from vaccinations
August 30, 2016
A federal judge has ruled that California’s interest in protecting the health of its citizens takes precedence over the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.
US District Court Judge Dana Sabraw issued his ruling in response to a lawsuit filed against a new state law that removed the personal-belief exemption from the mandatory childhood vaccination law.
“Even outside the context of vaccination laws, the Supreme Court has reiterated the fundamental rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution do not overcome the State’s interest in protecting a child’s health,” the judge wrote in his decision.
“The Constitution does not require the provision of a religious exemption to vaccination requirements, much less a personal belief exemption,” the judge added.
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Posted by: aclune9083 -
Aug. 31, 2016 12:17 AM ET USA
U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Local, state, federal judges--or the Supremes--have no right to change the clear meaning of this text. California first, then the rest follow. Shame, shame.
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Posted by: DanS -
Aug. 30, 2016 10:31 PM ET USA
The ultimate manifestation of the "nanny state!" The state knows better how to protect the welfare of your child. Might as well hand them over at birth so they can be raised in dormitories with no family, all allegiance oriented to the state. Judge Sabraw at long last makes real Plato's ideal Republic.
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Posted by: Terri11 -
Aug. 30, 2016 7:49 PM ET USA
So much for the Nuremberg Code of Ethics. Sad day for our nation. Vaccine manufacturers already have no liability for vaccine injuries because of the 1986 National Vaccine Injury Act, now they have a captive audience to make a profit on. And CA doctors who have written medical exemptions for legitimate reasons being harassed and "investigated". It's a slippery slope..... I predict that within 10-15 years, the schools will mandate psychotropic drugs and birth control pills as well.
