CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Employees of Northshore University Health System are suing over a vaccination mandate.
Fourteen NorthShore employees are part of the lawsuit that seeks class-action status. They said they were denied religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
They’re represented by Liberty Counsel, a Christian Ministry founded by two attorneys.
The suit said the employees have “sincere religious objections” to being vaccinated, because of a connection between the COVID-19 vaccines and aborted fetal cells.
“Plaintiffs have sincerely held religious beliefs that they are being guided and instructed by the Holy Spirit not to accept any of the three currently available COVID-19 vaccines and that it would be a sin against God to do so,” according to the complaint. “Plaintiffs have shared these religious beliefs, and others, with NorthShore, and have asked NorthShore for exemption and reasonable accommodation for these beliefs, but NorthShore has unlawfully and callously refused.”
None of the vaccines actually used fetal cells, but there is a distant connection.
The hospital system, which operates six hospitals in the Chicago area, has set an Oct. 31 deadline for employees to be vaccinated. The suit asked for a temporary restraining order ahead of what the employees said will be their removal on Nov. 1.
NorthShore noted in a statement that the vast majority of its 17,000 workers have been vaccinated. It went on to say that the hospital system understands “that getting vaccinated may be a difficult decision for some of our team members...We value their committed service and respect their beliefs. However, COVID-19 has presented unique challenges that continue to threaten our communities and therefore we must prioritize the safety of our patients and team members in support of our broader mission.”
The 14 employees said in the lawsuit that they are willing to be regularly tested for COVID-19, wear masks, and report if they’re having symptoms, rather than be vaccinated, according to the Tribune.
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