Catholic College Vaccine Mandates: Cura Personalis or Needless Oppression? by Edward A. Morse

No Joe Biden, There is No “Private Catholicism” Where You Can Support Abortion, by Matthew Walther
June 26, 2021
EWTN: Who’s Really Weaponizing the Eucharist?
June 26, 2021

[Photo Credit: St. John’s Catholic Church on the Creighton University campus (Public Domain)]

By Edward A. Morse, Crisis Magazine, June 25, 2021

Edward A. Morse is a professor of law and endowed chairholder at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. …

COVID-19 vaccine mandates are being imposed on college students across the nation, including at many Catholic universities. Before returning to campus, students must first scale a vaccination wall or gain a medical exemption. Almost all institutions also provide exemptions for students with religious and conscientious objections. But Creighton University (where I have served on the faculty for over 27 years) has recently clarified that its vaccine wall remains closed; unvaccinated students with religious and conscientious objections to the vaccine are not welcome.

Universities are understandably concerned about providing a safe campus environment. But can an acceptable level of safety be attained without compelling students to violate their consciences? …