Supreme Court Rejects Religious Freedom Challenge Against Connecticut Law

This latest rejection comes as many Supreme Court justices, most notably Justice Samuel Alito, have faced controversy thanks to religious viewpoints, which critics worry may influence their decisions in the court.

Before this law was passed, parents could allow their children to be exempt from receiving these immunizations because of their religion. Now, this no longer is applicable in Connecticut.

Religious exemptions are no longer allowed, thanks to this 2021 law. This has caused many critics of the law to state that this new legislation has hindered on their right to freedom of religion.

This law also was passed during a time when school districts have warned parents of ongoing outbreaks that are only happening because children aren’t properly immunized.

Current students enrolled in K-12 schools who have received these religious exemptions from vaccinations do not need to receive any immunizations. They won’t be affected by this law.

The group has claimed that this law has gone against their right to religious freedom and instead shows hostility to those who are religious in the state.

Brian Festa, the co-founder and vice president of We The Patriots USA, has called this Supreme Court rejection “disappointing.”

“In a disappointing turn of events, the U.S. Supreme Court this morning issued an order denying certiorari review in our lawsuit to restore religious exemptions for schoolchildren in Connecticut,” said the group.

“It is a sad day for health freedom and religious liberty in America, as the Court today also denied review in two cases brought by Children’s Health Defense, one against Rutgers University over its COVID-19 shot mandate, and the other against the FDA challenging its licensure of the covid shot for children. It seems clear that the Court is not willing to take up these cases at this time, no matter how well-pled the complaints, or how compelling the facts,” the statement said.

“But WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN, and we will not lose hope. We know that there is a Divine plan in all of this, and that “all things work together unto good” (Romans 8:28),” said the statement.

“Our case against the State of Connecticut to restore religious exemptions was not fully dismissed by the Second Circuit, which allowed one of our claims to proceed – i.e., that a child with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is entitled to an education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),” said We the Patriots USA.

“So we are asking that you please continue to stand with us. We are engaged in a prolonged war to regain health freedom and religious liberty for as many children as possible. This was just one loss in a single battle, and does not define us,” the group said.

“I would not let my kids in a school that allowed unvaccinated children,” said X user Fran Bookheim.

“People need to worry about themselves and their families. It’s ridiculous just like the covid vaccine which people were forced to take to keep their jobs at some places – now living with side effects and still catching covid. It’s ridiculous. What happened to my body, my choice?” said X user Angela Catalano.

Festa said, “It is our practice at We The Patriots USA to battle on many fronts simultaneously, and to never put all of our eggs in one basket.”

“This is the end of the road to a challenge to Connecticut’s lifesaving and fully lawful vaccine requirements,” Tong said. “We have said all along, and the courts have affirmed, the legislature acted responsibly and well within its authority to protect the health of Connecticut families and to stop the spread of preventable disease.”

Recently, Alito has faced intense criticism thanks to two controversial flags that were seen flying outside his home. One of these flags, an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, has reportedly been appropriated by Christian nationalists and insurgents during the January 6 Capitol riot.

According to these recordings, Alito agreed with a person who stated that the United States needed to return to a “place of godliness.”

For Christian conservatives who have backed Alito during these latest controversies, this court rejection may be a disappointment, especially for those who anticipated the Connecticut law would be struck down.

In 2021, President Biden announced mandates that required employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers were either fully vaccinated or took tests for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. These mandates were later rescinded in 2023.

However, in 2024, a new rule was added to prevent that prevented state agencies from denying employment to those who refused to provide proof of vaccination. Exemptions for this rule include employees who need to submit COVID-19 vaccinations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services employees of an entity receiving federal funding, and a few others.

In late 2021, an anti-vaccine mandate made it through the Ohio State House though ultimately was not adopted. Earlier in the year, Ohio Governor DeWine signed a bill banning vaccination requirements in public schools and universities.

Businesses were also prohibited from discriminating against unvaccinated employees for COVID-19 or any other disease.

Previously, Georgia had banned the practice of vaccine passport programs and compelling private businesses to enact vaccine requirements.