For a couple weeks we were all sure they wouldn't give it to her.
She asked me for advice on what to say in her letter explaining why she wanted a religious exemption. I told her that although we (she and I and our family) know that they use aborted babies IN the vaccines, her workplace higher ups either don't know about it or they do know but don't care. I told her instead to say that aborted babies are used in the research and production of these vaccines and that it goes against every ethical, moral, and religious code we believe in. The use of aborted babies in the research of the vaccines IS well known in her work community and they CAN'T deny it because this information has been public for a long time and has been in multiple news articles and even discussed on some cable news.
I had a feeling that they would accept that explanation rather than saying that aborted babies are IN the vaccines, even though all of us know they are, but again these higher ups would probably deny it and also deny her exemption.
But success! She called in to her place of work to ask for an antibody test (they are allowing those who have had covid in the past to get tested for active antibodies to be able to forgo the vax. Our whole family had covid last December) and the lady on the phone said she didn't need one because she had been accepted for a religious exemption! My mom was overjoyed!
She loves her work and didn't want to stop so she applied for the exemption and she got it! She still has to wear a mask (and this place of work will probably enforce this FOREVER, ugh) but she's fine with that as long as she isn't forced to get the jab or retire.
While I agree with you to an extent, I also can't help but think that the religious exemptions are also a good way to shove in biden's face that we know what our constitutional rights are, and we will use them. I'm sure he and his illegitimate administration would love nothing more than to have a country full of ignorant people who don't realize what their rights are (hence the mass illegal migration), and that's not happening. Every time someone invokes their 1st Amendment rights to a religious exemption from this bullshit, that point is driven home yet again. And invoking it is indeed what should help later for those who are fired anyway, when they take the matter to court. I know we shouldn't have to, but I also think this is the situation we're in, and it is helping people to keep their jobs so they can continue feeding their families without compromising their values or bodily autonomy. You're right, it's not the final answer, but it is a way to keep heads above water right now.