Michigan Woman Wins $12.7m Religious Discrimination Lawsuit

Michigan Woman Wins $12.7m Religious Discrimination Lawsuit

Introduction

A Catholic Michigan woman was awarded $12.7 million in a religious discrimination lawsuit after her former employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), fired her for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine due to her religious beliefs.

Background of the lawsuit

The woman, an IT specialist who had worked remotely for nearly 15 years, requested a religious exemption from the company’s vaccine mandate. She argued that taking any of the three available vaccines, which were developed or tested using fetal cell lines derived from abortions, conflicted with her Catholic faith and would harm her relationship with God.

BCBSM denies exemption

Despite her reasoning, BCBSM denied her exemption request, stating her position did not meet the criteria. She was terminated on January 5, 2022.

Catholic teachings strongly oppose abortion, describing it as a “moral evil.” However, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated in December 2020 that receiving COVID-19 vaccines developed with abortion-derived cell lines is morally permissible. The Vatican clarified that vaccination does not imply cooperation with abortion but emphasized that vaccination should remain voluntary.

The woman's argument

The woman argued that the Vatican’s stance allowed Catholics to decide according to their conscience and maintained that her faith prohibited her from receiving the vaccine. While the Vatican advised those who decline vaccination to take precautions against spreading the virus, BCBSM’s mandate and refusal to accommodate her request led to the lawsuit.

The jury’s decision reflects her claim that the company discriminated against her religious beliefs, awarding her substantial damages for her dismissal.

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