A federal court ruled Aug. 31 that four female soccer players at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo are entitled to a religious exemption from the school’s mandatory vaccine policy as their legal case goes forward.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney granted a temporary restraining order sought by the four players. University officials had threatened to remove them from the team unless they got vaccinated.
The players, Emily Dahl, Hannah Redoute, Bailey Korhorn and Morgan Otteson, who identify as Christians, say that getting vaccinated clashes with their beliefs. In court papers, Otteson said she has tested positive for COVID-19 but remained without symptoms. As a result, she believes that God has given her “the strength to naturally fight off any illnesses” and “a natural immunity to fight off infection,” reported Yahoo Sports.
Redoute made similar statements, arguing, “Everything that happens to me is the Lord’s conscience, and he is telling me to not get the vaccine.” (Dahl v. Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University)
