San Diego, Calif., Nov 8, 2021 / 14:47 pm
Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego will accept “any” personal belief exemption for the coronavirus vaccine once California’s mandate for schoolchildren goes into effect.
“In implementing any legal mandate for Covid vaccinations that includes a personal belief exemption, the Catholic schools of the Diocese of San Diego will accept any parents request for exemption as valid,” said a Nov. 1 letter to school pastors and principals from the diocese’s Offices for Schools and Communications & Public Affairs.
“The consensus among legislative analysts with whom we have spoken is that it is unlikely that the legislature will give legislative approval for a mandate without a personal belief exemption,” they said.
On Oct. 1, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that all children enrolled in public, charter, or private schools aged 12 and older would need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, albeit with personal belief exemptions. This mandate gos into effect January 2022.