Intro: "Judge Reed O'Connor, the U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Texas, granted a temporary injunction on Monday in response to a lawsuit filed by First Liberty Institute in November on behalf of 35 active-duty SEALs who are Christian and three reservists who are seeking exemption from the vaccine requirement for religious reasons.
- The order prevents the Navy from setting new policies that would allow those who would object for religious reasons to be considered 'non-deployable' or 'disqualified' from Special Operations. - It effectively means the Pentagon can't fire those SEALs for refusing the shot. . .Those who challenged for religious reasons alleged, upon expressing their concerns to other officers, that they were warned that they could suffer serious repercussions for their refusal to follow the mandate, including being snubbed from consideration for Special Operations and deployment missions.
Some Christians have sought vaccine mandates because vaccines have been made with cells derived from aborted fetuses, although religious groups - including the staunchly pro-life Catholic Church, have insisted it is not sinful to receive a COVID vaccine, and has encouraged followers to have one.
Federal judge agrees to temporary injunction for 35 Navy SEALS seeking religious exemption from vaccine mandate and says
'There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment'
Judge Reed O'Connor, from Texas, granted a temporary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by 35 active-duty SEALs and three reservists in November
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Reed Charles O'Connor is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He joined the court in 2007 after being ...
Dec 15, 2018 · Judge Reed O'Connor, a federal judge in Texas, has often sided with Republicans in their challenges to Democratic policies.
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To continue with some context provided:
> 'The Navy service members in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect,' O'Connor wrote in his order. 'The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms.
There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment.
There is no military exclusion from our Constitution.'
> O'Connor said that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their constitutional and RFRA claims.
> DailyMail.com has contacted the US Navy for comment.
> Some Christians have sought vaccine mandates because vaccines have been made with cells derived from aborted fetuses, although religious groups - including the staunchly pro-life Catholic Church, have insisted it is not sinful to receive a COVID vaccine, and has encouraged followers to have one.
> The lawsuit also cited that the Navy violated the group's religious rights including the Free Exercise of Religion Clause of the Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The first law ensures protects citizens' right to practice their religion as they please, so long as the practice does not run afoul of a 'public morals' or a compelling' governmental interest, while the second is 'ensures that interests in religious freedom are protected.'
> O'Connor's order also comes as other U.S Marines face potential discharge or disqualifications for not being vaccinated after the Department of Defense’s mandate on Nov. 28 ordered all active-duty service members to seek vaccination
> In December, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Republican members of Congress signed an amicus brief, backing the lawsuit.
'Forcing a service member to choose between their faith and serving their country is abhorrent to the Constitution and America's values,' said Mike Berry, General Counsel for First Liberty Institute. 'Punishing SEALs for simply asking for a religious accommodation is purely vindictive and punitive. We're pleased that the court has acted to protect our brave warriors before more damage is done to our national security.'
> Other vaccination rules set in place by the Department of Defense have also been earmarked by other lawsuits before Monday's ruling. However, none of those cases had been granted preliminary orders, loosening the requirements."
Reference: https://firstliberty.org/navyseals/
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