Posted on 08/28/2021 6:10:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
AUG. 24 UPDATE: The archdiocese's vaccination policy will take effect Oct. 4, giving unvaccinated employees six weeks—instead of the original five weeks—from FDA approval to get their shots. "We are providing an extra week to allow more time for individuals to plan and schedule their vaccinations," an archdiocese said in a memo yesterday.
Earlier:
The Archdiocese of Chicago this week announced all employees and clergy will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While people will have an opportunity to request a medical exemption, religious objections will not be considered.
The archdiocese and its agencies, including Catholic Charities and Misericordia, join a growing list of organizations requiring COVID shots for most workers and patrons as the delta variant surges.
“We have made this decision convinced that this is the best way to stop the spread of this deadly illness,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, said in a Thursday email to clergy and staff. “Following the lead of Pope Francis, we encourage everyone to be vaccinated as an act of charity. … Religious exemptions to vaccination cannot be supported by Catholic teaching and I have instructed our pastors not to grant them.”
More than 90 percent of its more than 15,000 employees already have been vaccinated, the email says. The policy, which does not apply to volunteers, is set to take effect six weeks after the FDA approves any of the three COVID shots. The vaccines currently are authorized under emergency use.
Unvaccinated people will be required to get tested weekly and wear masks in Archdiocese facilities at all times, according to the policy. Additionally, unvaccinated people may be prohibited from entering the facilities, or unable to use certain amenities, like lunchrooms. An Archdiocese representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The policy comes from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s COVID-19 Task Force, which has been praised by Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady for implementing measures last year that enabled schools to reopen safely.
In a separate email to clergy and staff today, the Archdiocese outlined a new, temporary policy to address paid time off for vaccinated and unvaccinated workers.
While vaccinated employees who test positive for COVID-19 will get 10 additional sick days to cover quarantine requirements, unvaccinated people who are unable to work remotely must use their accrued sick, personal or vacation time.
The Diocese of Joliet, which includes DuPage and Will counties, said in an emailed statement that it does not plan on requiring employees or students in its Catholic schools to receive COVID-19 vaccines, but encourages them to do so if they are able. The diocese says it has over 2,700 employees.
"The Diocese of Joliet echoes the message of Pope Francis’ recent public service advertisement in encouraging all who are able to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” Mary Massingale, the diocese's director of communications, said in the statement.
The Diocese of Rockford, whose 11 counties include Kane and McHenry, also is not requiring that employees be vaccinated. The diocese is, however, highly encouraging its 2,500 employees, as well as its volunteers and members, to get a vaccine, spokeswoman Penny Wiegert said in an emailed statement.
“The Rockford Diocese, like Pope Francis, believes that getting vaccinated against serious illness is an act of love and Christian charity to all the world,” Wiegert said in the statement.
Don’t want to offend the Demonrats’ leader.
As a Baptist, I always have. Your dilemma is the magisterium stands or falls on the infallibility of the Pope, and now we have one that even the average Catholic can see is very fallible.
I’m not Catholic but based on his actions, any Christian can see how bad he is.
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