Connecticut Church Sues Over Vaccine Mandate

A Connecticut church is suing the state over a vaccination mandate, according to reports.

The Milford Christian Church refused to institute a vaccine mandate for kids in its pre-K and K-12 schools, arguing it violated religious objections to certain vaccines. The state then told the church that since the state altered its laws in 2021 to remove all vaccine exemptions except medical ones, the church schools must institute a mandate, Fox 61 reported.

Attorney Cameron Atkinson, who is representing the church, said the state gave “a choice between compelling their students to vaccinate, expelling them if they didn’t, or facing the forceable state closure,” according to Fox 61.

Atkinson said the ultimatum was “unconscionable,” according to CT Insider.

Those at Milford Christian Church filed a lawsuit against multiple CT state departments.

The state has told the church’s daycare that it needs to comply with the new immunizations law, which got rid of religious exemptions.

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Atkinson, however, stood firm. (RELATED: New York Court System Must Rehire Employees Fired Over Vaccine Mandate, Provide Backpay)

“Our message to the state is clear,” Atkinson reportedly said. “We will obey God first.”

The Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the Connecticut Department of Public Health are listed in the suit, according to Fox 61.

The communications chief and policy chief for the state attorney general’s office Elizabeth Benton said “the state prefers to work with schools and collaboratively to meet requirements and avoid any interruption in the education of students,” according to CT Insider.