Appeals Court Sides with Christian Athletes Against Western Michigan University’s COVID Shot Mandate

Catholic World Report ^ | 10/9/21 | Joseph M.Hanneman

[marshmallow]

The judges refused to grant Western Michigan an emergency stay of U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney’s preliminary injunction against the shot mandate for athletes.

Western Michigan University “likely” infringed on the First Amendment rights of 16 Christian student athletes by denying them faith-based exemptions from the school’s COVID-19 shot mandate, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled Thursday, Oct. 7.

The judges refused to grant Western Michigan an emergency stay of U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney’s preliminary injunction against the shot mandate for athletes. Senior Judge Ralph B. Guy Jr., Senior Judge David W. McKeague and Judge Chad A. Readler ruled that Western Michigan’s policy requiring COVID shots for its athletes and its denial of religious exemptions created a burden on the students’ free exercise of religion.

“Enforcement of the university’s policy likely would deprive plaintiffs of their First Amendment rights, an irreparable injury,” read the 11-page opinion. “…On balance, plaintiffs’ strong likelihood of success on their free exercise claim carries the day.”

The three-judge panel upheld Judge Maloney’s Sept. 9 preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the vaccine mandate. The injunction followed a temporary restraining order issued Aug. 31 that allowed the athletes to continue competing without complying with the vaccine mandate. Western Michigan asked Judge Maloney to stay his injunction while the university appealed, but he ruled against that motion on Sept. 23. The university then went to the Court of Appeals.

[wetgundog]

Go un-vaxxed Broncos!!!

[HypatiaTaught]

Another win for the U.S. Constitution.

This entire scam is completely unconstitutional.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

[BigEdLB]

Biden will send the IRS after the parents