"The problem w/ religious exemption is exactly what her husband stated in his letter. Who gets to decide whether your religious reason is “valid”?"
This is a lame excuse to not even try. To post this is misdirecting other people and sowing hopelessness and despair. Why don't you try standing up and fighting for your Rights? In writing to the school your objection, one simply identifies the Statute/Code/Law for the religious and/or personal belief objection and writes verbatim in the letter. In the letter, one should request they contact you if there is any questions. This was all that was required for me to be accepted at a private college for enrolling in my masters.
In case, there is a request for more information, which I don't think will be the case, have affidavits from other people that will vouch for your belief. As with any case, the more you have that can back up your belief, the better.
" Whoever is reviewing it may or may not share your religious beliefs (they probably don’t) but they get to decide if your religious reason is legit."
This simply isn't true. A law is a law. The school does not get to decide what the law is. They must follow what has been legislated into law. If your State provides statutory religious and/or personal belief exemptions, all that is required is to name the Statute/Code/Law. No long-winded letter is needed nor is wise. Be short and concise. Name the Law and thereby object and claim the exemption. I provided a link to the States having Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization Requirements
Colorado has both Religious and Philosophical Exemption statute.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903
This Statute tells you the procedure for opting out:
25-4-902. Immunization prior to attending school - standardized immunization information
This tells you who is exempt:
25-4-903. Exemptions from immunization - rules
(2) (b) (I) By submitting to the student’s school either a completed certificate of completion of the online education module or a completed certificate of nonmedical exemption signed by one parent or legal guardian, an emancipated student, or a student eighteen years of age or older that the parent, legal guardian, or student is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or has a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations.
Enacted Legislation 2020
Colorado Senate Bill 163 requires a person seeking a nonmedical exemption (either religious or personal belief) to submit a certificate of completion of an online educational module or a certificate of nonmedical exemption. It establishes an immunization goal of 95% of each school's student population and requires schools to publish its immunization and exemption rates on a document that is distributed to parents, guardians and students.
Now get crackin. And Stand up and Fight for your Rights.
Ok, wow. I never said that I wasn’t for standing up for religious freedoms or any type of freedom for that matter. As we speak I’m in the process of filling out my religious exemption and plan on fighting for my rights from any and every angle I can. And I appreciate the information about Colorado law, thank you. My point would still be the same when it comes to a law. Who gets to decide what is religiously exempt when bills are being passed and laws put in place concerning religion? I guess in the end I have a problem in general with anyone making laws in a state or mandates at a place of business that require you to have a “reason” for your religious exemption. Within my religion, my personal religious belief might be because I interpreted a certain verse or passage a little differently than the person next to me and that’s my right. It’s a personal, religious conviction and belief between me and God and I don’t believe anyone has the right to put parameters on that. I mean obviously you can’t make things up like “it’s my religious belief between me and God that murder is ok” or something dumb like that. But when it comes to something like vaccines, I don’t think anyone should be required to give their religious reason or that there should be a law. The law is the constitution that says we have freedom of religion and that should be enough. It doesn’t need explanation, it’s pretty self explanatory just like our right to keep and bear arms. That’s also just my opinion though on this particular topic but obviously and unfortunately not the way it is and so I have to work within the parameters that are given to me, which means I have to file a religious exemption and do my best to make sure it’s iron clad and within legal parameters. I’m not making excuses and just giving up. I’m just saying the entire thing is ridiculous from start to finish but that’s why, I’m assuming, the majority of us are here. The entire system is corrupt from every aspect and it’s our job to stand up, resist, and fight for our God given rights.
"Who gets to decide what is religiously exempt when bills are being passed and laws put in place concerning religion?"
Right now YOU do. It starts and ends with the people's house. That is, the State legislature, who creates laws. Those Religious and Philosophical Exemptions were encoded in law many years ago. It is your job (and all of us) to keep those laws in place and to also improve them, to which ALWAYS needs to recognize the SANCTITY of our body. If we are made in the image of God, there is indeed sanctity of Him within us. Sanctity within us gives us the Right over our own body and control over our own health to pursue happiness.
The School have to follow the law. Those Statutes should be looked up for any further insights for filling out the proper paper work. It appeared to me that the form you fill out is all that is required. Ensure you provide the correct information. And they must oblige you of your Right. That ought to be the end of it. I thought I read that Colorado requires you to do this each year. I thought this was odd, but very well, so be it.
"... anyone making laws in a state or mandates at a place of business that require you to have a “reason” for your religious exemption."
Where does CO law state you have to show a "'reason' for your religious exemption"? I didn't find this in the law. Go back and read for yourself. Put only relevant information down. Nothing more. Being concise is being short and nice. Less is more. Do not write information not required.
"Within my religion, my personal religious belief might be because I interpreted a certain verse or passage a little differently than the person next to me and that’s my right."
This is all irrelevant. A philosophical objection is also recognized by CO law. Short answer:
"As provided by CO State Law, CO Statute Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903, I strongly object to being vaccinated based on my deep personal belief."
If it is a religious objection to being vaccinated:
"As provided by CO State Law, CO Statute Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903, I strongly object to being vaccinated based on my deep religious belief."
End of story. The above is all you should need to write. Have a notary public sign the letter or form when you sign it. Make it look official. Verify the CO law for yourself. Ask other people who can add insight.
This is a lame excuse to not even try. To post this is misdirecting other people and sowing hopelessness and despair. Why don't you try standing up and fighting for your Rights? In writing to the school your objection, one simply identifies the Statute/Code/Law for the religious and/or personal belief objection and writes verbatim in the letter. In the letter, one should request they contact you if there is any questions. This was all that was required for me to be accepted at a private college for enrolling in my masters.
In case, there is a request for more information, which I don't think will be the case, have affidavits from other people that will vouch for your belief. As with any case, the more you have that can back up your belief, the better.
This simply isn't true. A law is a law. The school does not get to decide what the law is. They must follow what has been legislated into law. If your State provides statutory religious and/or personal belief exemptions, all that is required is to name the Statute/Code/Law. No long-winded letter is needed nor is wise. Be short and concise. Name the Law and thereby object and claim the exemption. I provided a link to the States having Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization Requirements
Colorado has both Religious and Philosophical Exemption statute. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903
This Statute tells you the procedure for opting out: 25-4-902. Immunization prior to attending school - standardized immunization information
This tells you who is exempt: 25-4-903. Exemptions from immunization - rules (2) (b) (I) By submitting to the student’s school either a completed certificate of completion of the online education module or a completed certificate of nonmedical exemption signed by one parent or legal guardian, an emancipated student, or a student eighteen years of age or older that the parent, legal guardian, or student is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or has a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations.
Enacted Legislation 2020
Colorado Senate Bill 163 requires a person seeking a nonmedical exemption (either religious or personal belief) to submit a certificate of completion of an online educational module or a certificate of nonmedical exemption. It establishes an immunization goal of 95% of each school's student population and requires schools to publish its immunization and exemption rates on a document that is distributed to parents, guardians and students.
Now get crackin. And Stand up and Fight for your Rights.
Also, my mandate is coming from my employer, not a school.
Ok, wow. I never said that I wasn’t for standing up for religious freedoms or any type of freedom for that matter. As we speak I’m in the process of filling out my religious exemption and plan on fighting for my rights from any and every angle I can. And I appreciate the information about Colorado law, thank you. My point would still be the same when it comes to a law. Who gets to decide what is religiously exempt when bills are being passed and laws put in place concerning religion? I guess in the end I have a problem in general with anyone making laws in a state or mandates at a place of business that require you to have a “reason” for your religious exemption. Within my religion, my personal religious belief might be because I interpreted a certain verse or passage a little differently than the person next to me and that’s my right. It’s a personal, religious conviction and belief between me and God and I don’t believe anyone has the right to put parameters on that. I mean obviously you can’t make things up like “it’s my religious belief between me and God that murder is ok” or something dumb like that. But when it comes to something like vaccines, I don’t think anyone should be required to give their religious reason or that there should be a law. The law is the constitution that says we have freedom of religion and that should be enough. It doesn’t need explanation, it’s pretty self explanatory just like our right to keep and bear arms. That’s also just my opinion though on this particular topic but obviously and unfortunately not the way it is and so I have to work within the parameters that are given to me, which means I have to file a religious exemption and do my best to make sure it’s iron clad and within legal parameters. I’m not making excuses and just giving up. I’m just saying the entire thing is ridiculous from start to finish but that’s why, I’m assuming, the majority of us are here. The entire system is corrupt from every aspect and it’s our job to stand up, resist, and fight for our God given rights.
Right now YOU do. It starts and ends with the people's house. That is, the State legislature, who creates laws. Those Religious and Philosophical Exemptions were encoded in law many years ago. It is your job (and all of us) to keep those laws in place and to also improve them, to which ALWAYS needs to recognize the SANCTITY of our body. If we are made in the image of God, there is indeed sanctity of Him within us. Sanctity within us gives us the Right over our own body and control over our own health to pursue happiness.
The School have to follow the law. Those Statutes should be looked up for any further insights for filling out the proper paper work. It appeared to me that the form you fill out is all that is required. Ensure you provide the correct information. And they must oblige you of your Right. That ought to be the end of it. I thought I read that Colorado requires you to do this each year. I thought this was odd, but very well, so be it.
Where does CO law state you have to show a "'reason' for your religious exemption"? I didn't find this in the law. Go back and read for yourself. Put only relevant information down. Nothing more. Being concise is being short and nice. Less is more. Do not write information not required.
This is all irrelevant. A philosophical objection is also recognized by CO law. Short answer:
"As provided by CO State Law, CO Statute Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903, I strongly object to being vaccinated based on my deep personal belief."
If it is a religious objection to being vaccinated:
"As provided by CO State Law, CO Statute Rev. Stat. § 25-4-902, 903, I strongly object to being vaccinated based on my deep religious belief."
End of story. The above is all you should need to write. Have a notary public sign the letter or form when you sign it. Make it look official. Verify the CO law for yourself. Ask other people who can add insight.