Catholic woman fired over COVID-19 vaccine refusal awarded $13 million

Nov 13

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

A Michigan court has awarded nearly $13 million to Lisa Domski, a Catholic woman who was fired by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2021. She was fired after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.

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Domski sued her former employer after her request for a religious exemption was denied. She had worked for the company for 38 years.

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She argued that the company violated her rights by firing her after she submitted a written statement from her priest. The complaint explained the vaccine conflicted with her Catholic beliefs.

A jury ruled in Domski’s favor, determining that Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to accommodate her religious beliefs. They also found that the company unlawfully terminated her.

Domski’s legal team hailed the decision as a major victory for religious freedom. Attorney Jon Marko represented Domski. He emphasized the case highlighted Americans’ right to practice their religion without government or corporate interference.

Blue Cross Blue Shield expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating that its vaccine policy was designed to protect the health of its workforce. The policy required all employees to be vaccinated or seek an accommodation.

The company maintains that its accommodation process complied with state and federal law and respected employees’ religious beliefs. BCBSM said it is reviewing additional legal options.

Some Catholics have voiced strong opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine, citing concerns over the use of cell lines from aborted fetuses in vaccine development.

While Pope Francis has supported vaccination, calling it “an act of love,” the church has emphasized that Catholics shouldn’t be obligated to get vaccinated.

Tags: Catholic, Catholic Church, COVID-19, Insurance, Lawsuit, Michigan, Religion, Religious Freedom, Vaccinations, Vaccine mandate

[Karah]

A MICHIGAN COURT HAS AWARDED NEARLY $13 MILLION TO A WOMAN WHO WAS FIRED IN 2021 FOR REFUSING THE COVID-19 VACCINE ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A JURY RULED IN FAVOR OF LISA DOMSKI A CATHOLIC WOMAN WHO SUED BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN – HER FORMER EMPLOYER OF 38 YEARS.

DOMSKI ARGUED THAT THE COMPANY VIOLATED HER RIGHTS BY FIRING HER AFTER SHE REQUESTED AN EXEMPTION FROM ITS VACCINE MANDATE, CITING HER CATHOLIC BELIEFS –

AND GIVING A WRITTEN STATEMENT WITH THE NAME OF HER PRIEST.

BUT HER REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE COMPANY.

THE JURY FOUND THAT DOMSKI’S FIRING WAS UNLAWFUL –

AND THAT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HAD FAILED TO ACCOMMODATE HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

DOMSKI’S LEGAL TEAM CELEBRATED THE RULING –

CALLING IT A MAJOR WIN FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

ATTORNEY JON MARKO SAID –

“Our forefathers fought and died for the freedom for each American to practice his or her own religion. Neither the government nor a corporation has a right to force an individual to choose between his or her career and conscience.”

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD REFUTED THE RULING IN THEIR STATEMENT TO MEDIA –

SAYING “In October 2021, Blue Cross, and its subsidiaries, enacted a vaccine policy requiring all of its employees to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or obtain a religious or medical accommodation.

“In implementing the vaccine policy, Blue Cross designed an accommodation process that complied with state and federal law and respected the sincerely held religious beliefs of its employees.”

THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS IT IS REVIEWING ADDITIONAL LEGAL OPTIONS.

SOME CATHOLICS HAVE VOICED STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE –

CITING “CELL LINES FROM ABORTED FETUSES” BEING USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VACCINES.

POPE FRANCIS CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE VACCINE – SAYING RECEIVING IT IS “AN ACT OF LOVE” –

BUT THE CHURCH EMPHASIZED CATHOLICS SHOULD NOT BE OBLIGATED TO BE VACCINATED.

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