Church Should Stand Against Vaccine Mandates

Parents of children at a Milford, Connecticut church school are worried.

They should be. The school may shut down.

But not for the reason you might think.

Milford Christian Church is suing the state over a vaccine mandate that went into effect last year, requiring the church school, Little Eagles, to make their students get all mandated vaccines regardless of their closely held religious beliefs.

The school believes that the new law violates their First Amendment rights.

The church school — including its pre-K program as well as its K-12 Academy — refuses to make its students get vaccines, as it violates its religious conscience, FOX News reported.

According to FOX61, the "Act Concerning Immunizations," updated in 2021, required all students to get vaccinated except those students who had a medical exemption.

Cameron Atkinson, an attorney representing Milford Christian Church stated that the state gave the church "a choice between compelling their students to vaccinate, expelling them if they didn’t, or facing the forceable state closure."

The church will stand against the mandate.

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

In a statement given to Fox61, a spokesperson at the Office of the Attorney General responded:

"The plaintiff will submit information to the court as early as today to provide clarity. As always, the state prefers to work with schools collaboratively to meet licensure requirements and avoid any interruption in the education of students.

"That being said, vaccines save lives. The legislature’s action was fully lawful and necessary to protect public health.

"We have successfully defended multiple baseless challenges to this statute and will continue to defend the statute."

If Little Eagles is shuttered, it would create a hardship for families.

One parent spoke to Fox61:

"It would halt the academic progress. And I want my daughter to start kindergarten when it's time for her to start kindergarten," said Marlene Beauregard. Her daughter attends Little Eagles. "Now, someone is trying to undermine my parental right, my religious right."

For now, the doors of the school will remain open as the case moves through the court system.

Nancy Flory holds a Ph.D. in Communication and a Master of Journalism degree. She has written for local business journals, The Dallas Morning News, and The Colony Courier-Leader. She is a senior editor at The Stream where she writes stories of hope and faith. She lives with her family in Texas. Read more of Dr. Flory's reports — Here.