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The state of Florida and the bishops of Florida are embroiled in a heated debate over vaccine policies in the state’s Catholic schools.
The state government is expanding religious exemptions to required childhood vaccines, and the attorney general has demanded that Florida’s Catholic schools comply in order to maintain eligibility for state scholarships and vouchers.
But the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops says the state is violating its freedom of religion by attempting to dictate its application of Catholic teaching.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Credit: Alamy / Sipa USA.Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a plan to end all vaccine mandates in schools. Last month, his administration removed four vaccines from the childhood immunization schedule required to attend public and private schools in the state.
In addition, his administration has introduced a rule to expand religious exemptions to required vaccines. The new rule, which is pending final approval, would allow exemptions for personal “moral and ethical” objections under the category of “religious exemptions” to vaccine requirements. The state also permits medical exemptions.
Childhood vaccination rates have dropped in the United States in recent years, as more families apply for
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